Culture

BBC forces fan to remove Dr Who knitting patterns from website

by Broken Simulacra | May 13, 2008 at 12:16 am

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While the BBC encourages Dr Who fans to make their own video trailers and comic books, one thing they must not do is make knitted toys.The BBC has slapped a craft website with a copyright infringement notice for displaying knitting patterns of Dr Who characters. The patterns, which were created by a Dr Who fan, contained instructions for making stuffed toys resembling the Ood and Adipose monsters from the cult TV series. The Open Rights Group, speaking on behalf of website owner Mazzmatazz, has questioned the whether the patterns "actually damage the commercial interests of the BBC" given that they were available for strictly non-commercial purposes.Bemused fans will also be wondering why the patterns have been banned when instructions for making a pumpkin Dalek are still available on the internet.

More details at News.com.au:
http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23690642-5014108,00.html

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thescribetony

at 16:31 on May 13th, 2008

Sounds like a plot by The Master--better get Torchwood on it.

Broken Simulacra

at 19:09 on May 13th, 2008

Hahaha -good idea!

Jordan Yerman

at 04:28 on June 19th, 2008

It's just silly: it only promotes a BBC property in a market which the Beeb does not exist at all. (iPlayer took long enough- are they gonna learn knitting now?)

Broken Simulacra

at 20:19 on June 20th, 2008

Yes, it makes the BBC look quite petty especially given that what Mazzmatazz was doing was strictly non-profit. It wasn't like she was pirating videos.

Update: Mazzmatazz is now "in talks" with the BBC, which sounds hopeful. Maybe the BBC really is planning to have a Dr Who creative crafts section and it would be great if Mazzmatazz got paid to be a consultant.