MB&F Turtle Automaton: Originality Debate

So I've been spending way too much time lately on IG but it's better for my wallet than going to watch boutiques.  Yesterday, there was a little brouhaha that brewed up over a turtle automaton series released by Max Busser & Friends (MB&F).  The problem had to do with the fact that there was similarity to a blue turtle automaton made by someone else about 5 years ago, Raul Pages.  Both MB&F and Raul Pages have been covered on PuristSPro in the past.  The world of mechanical animals - automatons - is a strangely fascinating one and I'm not an expert in it.

I've never met either Busser or Pages and I don't own anything from either of them.  But I felt great sympathy for Mr. Pages because he is a small workshop guy who is apparently trying to do something he loves.  Max Busser is by all appearances one of the good guys, but let's be honest, he is the much bigger player here with decades of experience and economic resources gathered from working at JLC and Harry Winston and many contacts in the industry.

So I was disappointed to see MB&F's response (see below) that was threading a fine needle and made mention of the fact that (1) turtle automatons have been done by others; (2) Mr. Pages' automaton was a unique piece and cost overwhelmingly more than what their automatons represent.  I think it is disingenuous.  I don't think anyone with half a functioning brain is claiming that MB&F should not be allowed to do their version.  The history of horology is pretty much about every watchmaker re-using/re-discovering-/tinkering with what some dead watchmaker already did.  Give credit to MB&F for adding the hidden bird. 

But the visual similarity is disconcerting to me and Max Busser knew about Mr. Pages well before.  Look at the turtle automaton made by Asprey a few decades ago.  When Mr. Pages made his turtle, his version did not look anything like the Asprey one.  The point that a few of us are making to MB&F is that if you are going to come out with your take on something done by someone else living, then make it truly your own and let the other living artist have his/her due.  At minimum, they could have shown Mr. Pages some respect and not have done the blue color one.  I don't believe that MB&F is going to have trouble paying their rent & their payroll if they cannot sell 10 pieces of something.  Whereas it is likely a very big deal to Mr. Pages to get that kind of income.

We have this parallel in watches with the Gerald Genta designs (Royal Oak -> Nautilus -> GP -> Hublot -> Piaget) and the Rolex oyster case among the famous examples.  I feel there are grey areas of course.  When should the brand/manufacture completely avoid doing something that is a reproduction vs. an innovation?  When one person out of 10 tells the brand/manufacture it is a reproduction?  Or when 5 persons out of 10?



Raul Pages work, pic credit Quill and Pad




MB&F version, pic credit MB&F




pic credit MB&F




Asprey turtle from 1989, pic credit Sotheby's


MB&F response below








Mr. Raul Pages response below