I've seen this situation or similar far too many times in the magic community. It's almost a cliché now. Let's have a healthy, civil discussion over it as I'm interested to expand my understanding as well.

Magician 1 creates an egg trick. There's a golf ball inside it. It's great.

Magician 2 asks Magician 1 if he can perform the egg trick with a variation. Magician 1 approves.

Magician 2 creates an egg trick. There's a lemon inside of it. It's great.

Magician 3 sees both tricks. Magician 3 asks Magician 1 if he can perform the egg trick with a variation. Magician 1 approves on the condition he doesn't use a lemon.

Magician 3 creates an egg trick. There is an orange inside of it. He becomes famous for it.

Magician 1 is fine with it.

Magician 2 is upset because it was his idea to use a citrus fruit.

Magician 3 maintains he created his own method and had permission from Magician 1.

Who is in the right? Who is in the wrong? Is the answer clear?

It gets much worse when 2 or 3 start selling their versions and YouTube videos start appearning

Magician 1 is right.

Magicians 2 and 3 are wrong. You can't fit a lemon or an orange in an egg.

Seriously - 2 can't be upset. It's 1's idea and he gave permission to both 2 and 3.

Let's get practical here. For something to be unique, it must have two of three of the following:

1. Different effect
2. Different method
3. Different presentation

Just based on what you presented, none of the above have anything unique enough to market as their own.

KJ

What about Alexander the Paphlagonian. He pit a small serpent in his egg

How do you pit a serpent? I didn't even know they had pits.

KJ

The vipers do. Lol. Sorry my auto correct messed that one up

This happens so often it is s cliche?