Seems that some magicians here, including myself had make their own magic gimmicks. Like the animation effect mentioned in the mentalist section.

For me I did not purchase the gimmick. But after I watched the effect, I just go ahead and make the gimmick. I had no idea how the original version really work, however the version that i made create a similar effect.

The problem is "Is it ok for us to make our own version of the gimmick without purchasing the original gimmick?"

Why not? Especially if you are not selling the effect or exposing it, and you guessed the secret by watching a performance alone.

Own use.. Yes...

Sell it? No...

Haha. Enough said.

Haha ok! Thanks! =)

Cos recently I was making some other magic gimmicks. Some are original and some have effects similar to existing marketed effects. I want to know if it is ok for me to do that.

I'm working on a levitation effect that is similar to the Icarus effect and I freaked my mom out yesterday with a prototype of it lol.

Let's take the question in another way.

Let's say you have a gimmick that you invented to accomplish an effect that is new and creative. Would you like it if somebody copied your effect by making his own gimmick (may be similar or not) and performed it for others?

A couple of things to take into consideration is this, as the originator, you came up with the gimmick AND the effect to be accomplished. So essentially, when someone copies you without your consent, he/she is now imitating your gimmick and stealing your effect. (2 parts of it)

Do you think this is right or wrong?
Do you think this is okay?

This is really a grey area and is up to the individual to decide for himself. You may decide that it's essentially wrong but is okay(can be condoned).

Yup, it's really quite debatable.

But... the truth is, sometimes people do come up with similar ideas. Like Houchin and Banachek both thought of Stigmamta (abeit different methods). A lot of Jay Sankey's stuffs are improvisation from original sleights.

Though the above examples are more on sleights, I would think it can be appropriate for gimmicks too. I mean, if you can come out with your own gimmick to achieve an effect, then it's to your credit since you spent the brain juice to do it. So in my opinion, you are justified to use it.

The only thing not that good is when you copy the thing wholesale and then try to pass it as yours.

Yes, people can come up with similar ideas independantly by themselves and even then, both sides usually give credit to each other.

But this is different from the case that Ace mentioned whereby he watched an effect and possibly reverse-engineered it to get a solution that works for him.

In this case, it is not done independantly.

Yup, that is what I did. >_<

Hmmm, however there are alot of similar effects on the market. Like raven and subterfuge, criss angel levitation and Icarus effect, and the STS. The methods might be completely different, but the effects are similar. The creators might have done the same thing, watched an effect and tried to get a solution that works.

For the gimmicks I made, I'm not sure if I'm using the same method as the originals. I might be using a totally different method.

Of cos it is not healthy to just copy magic effects. After I made the gimmicks I'll try and make some some improvisation to the gimmicks. Hope I can come up with some new effects as well.

When you buy a product, you buy the performing rights as well..

However, the creators are aware that what they are putting out are different in methodology. This means that either they have consulted the other creator or they have bought the product before.

It's different from your situation whereby you're not sure whether it's the same or not.

For all that you know, you may have come up with something entirely new that is better but cannot confirm it until you buy the original product.