Tim Ellis and Sue-Anne Webster are out in FISM and are also providing some great posts as they go, Sue-Anne’s very detailed post FISM competition reports are a great read once the event is over when she posts them, they provided one of the most complete run downs of the FISM 2006 competition acts we’ve seen.

One of the major concerns about FISM this year was danger of ‘Rip offs’ and illegal copies of effects, DVD’s and tricks.

Tim has posted some info on whats happening regarding this on their blog:

There are some dealers here at FISM 2009 who are known to be “copyists”, however all dealers were asked to sign a document where they agreed they would not sell any “rip-off” items at their stand. Not the ideal anti-piracy situation, but at least a start. Despite that, there have been a couple of minor incidents (one dealer had a brochure offering many illusions including Impaled, Origami and Suspended Dimension – another was selling homemade D’Lites… a few stands away from Rocco) but the FISM officials have handled these breaches of the rules professionally and efficiently. Every copy they are made aware of is being taken seriously and dealt with immediately.

They also talk about the Flash Photography and Video taping (our photos here are all non flash as far as we know) of the performances, and worryingly about what we feared may happen:

One of the main reasons a lot of Americans and Europeans didn’t want to attend FISM China was they felt their act would be illegally videotaped. I’m sorry to have to say it, but you were right. Not only that, but some of the local Chinese magicians told me that DVDs of FISM shows are already on sale in Beijing.

Many thanks to Tim and Sue-Anne for letting us include some of their posts here, and you can read more of their posts over at the Magic Unlimited with Ellis & Webster blog (which is a fantastic read!)