Dalek creator on mission to exterminate the imposters
- Publication: London Evening Standard
- Date: 1993-12-09
- Author: Geraint Smith and Nigel Morris
- Page: 19
- Language: English
YOU used to get Blue Peter badges for making bootleg Daleks. Now you're more likely to get sued.
Just as everyone thought it was safe to come out from behind the sofa, the wheezing of the elderly Tardis has brought Doctor Who back from the Time Lords' resthome to his rightful cult status. With him, a huge illegal market in bootleg Daleks has emerged, and the creator of the original item is threatening legal action.
In cellars and garages all over London, the army is assembling, ready to take over the world via advertisements in the personal columns.
There is, it seems, a lot of money in Daleks. Neither are their new constructors small boys with excess egg boxes and an urgent need for a sink plunger.
British Airways computer programmer Allan Young, 30, from Uxbridge, created his Dalek from original BBC plans for his brother's stagnight.
It was going to be used to hide a female stripper but it wasn't ready in time. Now he is trying to sell it, through the small ads for £750.
Another Dalek, said to be in excellent condition, and offering original top and bottom with room for an operator, is on sale for £1600.
When Daleks were young and Doctor Who assistants wore kilts and woolly jumpers, the BBC happily gave out copies of the original blueprints to all comers. This time, though, their creator is not amused.
Terry Nation, who shares the copyright on Daleks with the BBC, has felt it necessary to issue a warning, through his agents Roger Hancock Ltd, that making or offering them for sale without permission is illegal.
'We have considered legal action in the past against such people,' said his agent. 'We have sent stiff letters out to those not authorised to make them and would not hesitate to do so again.'
A source in the BBC confirmed: 'Only one company was ever sanctioned to make Daleks legally while a few were officially auctioned.
'There are a number of bootleg Daleks in existence. You could go out and exterminate them, but that would be a bit tricky.
'However, we have many Daleks backstage here, just waiting to be reactivated.'
GRAPHIC: Former Dr Whos Sylvester McCoy, Colin Baker, Peter Davidson and Jon Pertwee, with Dalek
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- APA 6th ed.: Morris, Geraint Smith and Nigel (1993-12-09). Dalek creator on mission to exterminate the imposters. London Evening Standard p. 19.
- MLA 7th ed.: Morris, Geraint Smith and Nigel. "Dalek creator on mission to exterminate the imposters." London Evening Standard [add city] 1993-12-09, 19. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Morris, Geraint Smith and Nigel. "Dalek creator on mission to exterminate the imposters." London Evening Standard, edition, sec., 1993-12-09
- Turabian: Morris, Geraint Smith and Nigel. "Dalek creator on mission to exterminate the imposters." London Evening Standard, 1993-12-09, section, 19 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Dalek creator on mission to exterminate the imposters | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Dalek_creator_on_mission_to_exterminate_the_imposters | work=London Evening Standard | pages=19 | date=1993-12-09 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=4 December 2023 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Dalek creator on mission to exterminate the imposters | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Dalek_creator_on_mission_to_exterminate_the_imposters | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=4 December 2023}}</ref>
