20th Century Solonese Keris

David · 19th May 2007, 11:06 PM

Yes Usmen, a car's parts have many patents, but car parts are not keris. Keris are works of art and spirit. I am sorry, but i have a hard time seeing exactly what the purpose of a patent would be. Would it stop others from copying the style? I doubt it if it is a desireable style. Many talented painters can copy a Picasso painting, but for those who study the art, few will be able to fool those who know or collect it. And if someone can make a copy of someones style so perfectly that even the experts can't tell then i would image that copy must be pretty damn good and every bit as collectable in it's own right as the original. No two keris will ever be exactly alike. Patents are for machine made things that can be exactly repeated again and again, not for works of art and personal expression.

This isn't to say that a smith who creates a new and imaginative form doesn't deserve credit and recognition. You don't need to patent something for that.

BTW Usmen, when you speak of "empus" who are you referring to. It is my understanding that those who can truly be called empu would number less than the fingers on a single hand. That is not to say that there aren't many very talented pandai, some perhaps with greater skills that some who held the title of empu. But i do understand that title as being a rather specific one.

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19th May 2007, 11:06 PM	#30
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,218	Yes Usmen, a car's parts have many patents, but car parts are not keris. Keris are works of art and spirit. I am sorry, but i have a hard time seeing exactly what the purpose of a patent would be. Would it stop others from copying the style? I doubt it if it is a desireable style. Many talented painters can copy a Picasso painting, but for those who study the art, few will be able to fool those who know or collect it. And if someone can make a copy of someones style so perfectly that even the experts can't tell then i would image that copy must be pretty damn good and every bit as collectable in it's own right as the original. No two keris will ever be exactly alike. Patents are for machine made things that can be exactly repeated again and again, not for works of art and personal expression. This isn't to say that a smith who creates a new and imaginative form doesn't deserve credit and recognition. You don't need to patent something for that. BTW Usmen, when you speak of "empus" who are you referring to. It is my understanding that those who can truly be called empu would number less than the fingers on a single hand. That is not to say that there aren't many very talented pandai, some perhaps with greater skills that some who held the title of empu. But i do understand that title as being a rather specific one.