Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!columbia!rutgers!sri-spam!ames!amdahl!kim From: kim@amdahl.amdahl.com (Kim DeVaughn) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: There's No Fun At Pixar Message-ID: <12093@amdahl.amdahl.com> Date: Thu, 13-Aug-87 22:45:19 EDT Article-I.D.: amdahl.12093 Posted: Thu Aug 13 22:45:19 1987 Date-Received: Sat, 15-Aug-87 12:01:22 EDT References: <1681@cadovax.UUCP> <921@hp-sdd.HP.COM> <354@sccc0.teknek.UUCP> <3546@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu> Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Lines: 97 In article <3546@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu>, tim@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu (Timothy L. Kay) writes: > > Let's get some perspective on the situation. While Leo's demo is very > pretty and a superb effort, the quality of the presentation falls far > short compared to the Pixar piece. I hope nobody out there is willing > to claim that the rendering quality of the "$200 program" is in any way > comparable to the quality of that produced by Pixar. Furthermore, the > actual act of juggling was only a very small part of the Pixar flick. > Let's see the Amiga just described create the opening scene with the > rain. How about the spot lights and the diffuse shadows? > > I am not trying to detract from Leo's demo in any way. However, it is > a completely different level of sophistication compared to what Pixar > tried to do. What Leo did in three days is impressive. What Pixar did > in six months is even more impressive. Yes, this is exactly the point! I doubt if anyone here on the net actually *believes* that the quality (resolution, complexity, smoothness, etc) of "Leo's Dream" can match that of Pixar's "Red's Dream". And as you point out, the one scene Leo imitated is only a small part of Pixar's production. BUT, Pixar's position certainly leaves one with the *impression* that the $2K Amiga can do the same job as their $$$$K machine, else why would they be unhappy about it? That's what makes this whole incident so ludicrous! The concept of having a uni-cycle continue to juggle was (perhaps) unique, and I can understand some chagrin at having the concept so quickly imitated. But (so far as I know, not being a lawyer) *concepts* cannot be Copyrighted or Patented, and a publicly displayed sequence of images certainly cannot be considered to be a Trade Secret (though the algorithms and techniques used in their generation could be, if they are appropriately protected). Now, if Leo had *digitized* the sequence of images used to create the scene in question, I (and most of us) would, I think, agree that *that* would be a clear case of infringement, and a "rip-off". But that is not what he did. He came up with a different implementation of a concept, and has himself created an "original work". He should of course give credit to whomever provided his inspiration since *that* was not original, and this he has done. I would bet that the inspiration for some of the scene's in "Red's Dream" and in other Pixar spectaculars did not originate with Pixarians, for that matter. So "what's the beef", Pixar? Or maybe you really *are* afraid of a little ol' Amiga ... :-)? Sigh: o "Pixar" is probably a Trademark (registered or un) of Pixar. o "Red's Dream" is likewise probably a Trademark or Copyright of Pixar. o "Amiga" is a (registered?) Trademark of Commodore Business Machines, Inc. o "What's the beef?" is a knock-off of a Wendy's commercial which was probably Trademarked or Copyrighted by them. o I am not a lawyer. Nothing in this posting should be construed as offering or giving legal advice. o "amdahl" is a registered Trademark of Amdahl Corp. o "Leo" may be a Trademark or Copyright of Leo Schwab, or his parents. He does ride a bicycle and wear a cape, the combination of which may also be a Trademark or be Copyrighted by Leo Schwab. o "Leo's Dream" is his own business. o I have pictures of jugglers and uni-cycles at home. Do I need a license to combine them with Deluxe Paint? o "Deluxe Paint" is probably a Trademark or Copyright of Electronic Arts. This posting is: (c) Copyright 1987 Kim E. DeVaughn, Sunnyvale, CA. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby explicitly granted to reproduce, copy, or distribute it in any form whatsoever, provided that: this notice is retained intact, and that the right to reproduce, copy, or redistribute any such reproductions, copies, or distributions is not abridged, altered, or otherwise restricted in any manner in any such reproduced, copied, or redistributed works. [ Any thoughts or opinions which may or may not have been expressed ] [ herein are my own. They are not necessarily those of my employer. ] There! Have I CYA'd myself sufficiently ... sheesh?! /kim -- UUCP: kim@amdahl.amdahl.com or: {sun,decwrl,hplabs,pyramid,ihnp4,seismo,oliveb,cbosgd}!amdahl!kim DDD: 408-746-8462 USPS: Amdahl Corp. M/S 249, 1250 E. Arques Av, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 CIS: 76535,25