MAIPCO: Protecting magic writers, creators, publishers, and distributors

Bob Farmer has a new long-term strategy for combating the piracy on Chinese websites. To accomplish his plan, he needs the participation of magic writers, creators, publishers, and distributors. If you fall into one of those categories (and only if you are in one of those categories), please contact Bob at bobfarmer@maipco.org. He will tell what’s going on.

It is important that this message gets to as many of the people who are affected by these piracy sites as possible.

Here is the bulletin (below) from Bob. You can download a PDF version of it here to share with anyone you think should see it.

THE MAGICAL ARTS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COALITION
c/o Bob Farmer, Box 1262, Brockville Ontario, Canada K6V 5W2
BobFarmer@maipco.org

February 13, 2018

As you are probably aware, there are numerous Chinese magic sites selling illegal downloads of magic books and rip-offs of magic tricks and props.

Mike Close and I had a discussion about this and we decided something had to be done, so here’s the plan.

I believe in starting at the top and working my way down. The top is the Chinese government in Beijing.

It’s a complete waste of time to go through PayPal, the ISPs, etc., because these sites will simply open up somewhere else. Back in September of 2016, the Chinese government passed a new copyright infringement law. I don’t know what “law” means in China (“Comrade, the Court of the People’s Revolution sentences you to death by being beaten with chopsticks and noodles.”), but I do know that one of the reasons for the new law was the international outcry over IP infringement in China. See now:

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/78xnwy/chinas-piracy-crackdown-is-working-chinese-government-says

https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=f718075c-2ab0-4b12-a42a-5ab51c66cb38

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/16/c_136899865.htm?platform=hootsuite

Governments, ours and theirs, don’t pay any attention to individuals (one individual = one vote); they do pay attention to organizations.

So, I’ve formed the Magical Arts Intellectual Property Coalition (MAIPCO). To become a member, send me an email (unless you’ve already done so). There are no dues or meetings (but suggestions for the secret handshake are welcomed).

I have already had discussions with the government of Canada on this issue (I’ve got good political connections there). They are putting me in touch with the intellectual property attaché at the Canadian embassy in Beijing. A submission from an embassy is much more effective.

Once I get the Canadian person onside, I’ll have him/her contact their U.S. and U.K. counterparts. I want to have a combined Canadian/U.S./UK submission to the Chinese government. My experience in this area is that once you get one person onboard it acts as leverage to get the next one on board.

In doing this, we’ll need a good list of international members of MAIPCO and I need as many high-profile magicians as I can sign up.

David Ben and Julie Eng of Magicana are assisting with a website and other logistical details. More about that later.

In the meantime, we have to spread the word and sign up as many people as we can in the three countries, so please pass this email on to anyone you think would be interested. I’d prefer authors, inventors and performers, that is, people who have had their stuff ripped off.

I know there will be arguments about whether or not there can be intellectual property in magic tricks, but I don’t intend to make this a fine-line legal discussion about what is and what isn’t covered. The people we’re going after are scum and their customers are worse than scum. They will not get the benefit of any doubts.

This is a long-term project, so don’t expect an instant miracle.

Best regards,

Bob Farmer