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| IBM International President, David Sandy |
Dear IBM Ring Contact,
I am writing to you with some information I’d like you to consider sharing with your Ring members. I know this is lengthy, but I really believe the content is quite important.
As you know, there is an ever-growing concern within our industry dealing with ethics in magic. Specifically, I am referring to the act of stealing another inventor’s intellectual property and building/manufacturing these tricks and illusions for resale. This unethical practice seems to have become more popular than ever before. Perhaps, in part, because our own industry has not policed itself very well… or perhaps because many have felt there couldn’t be anything done to stop this practice… or perhaps, and unfortunately, some people just don’t care. This does not change the fact that this behavior is wrong and unethical.
Now, of course, I realize that it isn’t all “black & white”. There are some “gray areas” that challenge the definition of which ideas belong to which specific creator… and how does the modification of an original idea affect the infringement of the inventor’s intellectual creation. However, just because there are some “gray areas” doesn’t mean we should ignore and turn our back on the obvious encroachments.
So, with all of that said, I want to strongly encourage magicians around the world to read and seriously consider the Code of Ethics as jointly accepted by the International Brotherhood of Magicians and Society of American Magicians on May 8, 1993. These six points were the result of a cooperative effort by both organizations for the betterment of magic.
- All members of the International Brotherhood of Magicians agree to:
- 1) Oppose the willful exposure to the public of any principles of the Art of Magic, or the methods employed in any magic effect or illusion.
- 2) Display ethical behavior in the presentation of magic to the public and in our conduct as magicians, including not interfering with or jeopardizing the performance of another magician either through personal intervention or the unauthorized use of another’s creation.
- 3) Recognize and respect for rights of the creators, inventors, authors, and owners of magic concepts, presentations, effects and literature, and their rights to have exclusive use of, or to grant permission for the use by others of such creations.
- 4) Discourage false or misleading statements in the advertising of effects, and literature, merchandise or actions pertaining to the magical arts.
- 5) Discourage advertisement in magic publications for any magical apparatus, effect, literature or other materials for which the…
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