[ANSTHRLD] Heraldic Heirs
Coblaith Muimnech
Coblaith at sbcglobal.net
Thu Feb 5 11:17:44 PST 2009
Danielis Lindocollinum wrote:
> For the heir of a dead man: inheritance in SCA heraldry is a transfer
> done when the will (heraldic or real-world) is executed.
When the heraldic will is executed, naturally. But I'm willing to bet
there are any number of registered items whose owners have died that
weren't subsequently transfered to anyone, regardless of any mundane
wills or probates that might have come into play. The College of Arms
has to be informed that a death has taken place and of who the heirs
are before any action is taken, as I understand it. Nobody's checking
to see whether all mumbeldy-thousand owners are still alive and who's
inherited from those who aren't.
Many folks in the Society have no idea that names and armory are
protected after the death of their owners at all, much less that they
are inherited by their owners' mundane heirs if no other intention is
registered with the College. I imagine most of them have never thought
about it. When I mention it to submitters, they're generally startled,
then irritated. I get a lot of, "So in a few years nobody will be able
to register anything!?!" reactions.
Personally, I don't see why there isn't a mandatory "If this item is
registered, upon my death I wish. . ." section on the registration form
that offers submitters checkboxes and "details" lines like those in the
authenticity section. If it were properly written and well explained,
I think we'd get a lot more releases and blanket permissions. Most
folks I talk to assume only their own specific armory (or armory so
like it that it's indistinguishable to the casual observer) is
protected in the first place. If you make it clear to them that that
isn't true and that they can keep their particular design protected
while making it possible for others to register distinct items that
would nevertheless conflict, most think it's a good idea. They just
never seem to get around to doing anything about it.
Coblaith Muimnech
<mailto:Coblaith at sbcglobal.net>
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