Everything I think is cool is illegal...
So, I read the latest Harry Potter book a few weeks ago. As many of you know, I have a deep and abiding love of Severus Snape. And so The Halfblood Prince left me a little... conflicted you might say. As a show of solidarity and support, I thought I'd start a little underground thing - like those who went around the subways of New York tagging "Frodo Lives" everywhere in the 60s.
I was inspired. I knew exactly the image I wanted to create. I could then use it to print up some t-shirts or maybe even some bumber stickers. I spent days touching it up, tweaking it here and there. I was really worried no one who looked at it out of context (which, of course, would be the point) would be able to tell who it was. Finally I got it just the way I wanted it and sent it off to Cafe Press for printing. Then I get email back:
Two images that make use of the likeness of the "Snape" character from "Harry Potter" were placed into Pending Status.
As you may know there are two distinct Intellectual Property Rights (copyrights/trademarks) in the artwork that you create. The first Intellectual Property Right belongs to the party who created the artwork or design. The second Intellectual Property Right belongs to the individual or business that owns the rights to the content being depicted in the artwork.
With this said, if you have any specific information or rights to use the designs that are currently set to pending status in your account, please let us know.
So, on the one hand, it would seem my concerns as to whether my drawing was recognizable were somewhat unfounded. On the other, to make use of these images, I'm apparently going to have to track down J. K. Rowling, Alan Rickman, or both.
Or invest in some silk-screening equipment.
sigh.
If this kind of thing upsets you, you should read The Future of Ideas and Free Culture by Lawrence Lessig and do everything he says.
I was inspired. I knew exactly the image I wanted to create. I could then use it to print up some t-shirts or maybe even some bumber stickers. I spent days touching it up, tweaking it here and there. I was really worried no one who looked at it out of context (which, of course, would be the point) would be able to tell who it was. Finally I got it just the way I wanted it and sent it off to Cafe Press for printing. Then I get email back:
Two images that make use of the likeness of the "Snape" character from "Harry Potter" were placed into Pending Status.
As you may know there are two distinct Intellectual Property Rights (copyrights/trademarks) in the artwork that you create. The first Intellectual Property Right belongs to the party who created the artwork or design. The second Intellectual Property Right belongs to the individual or business that owns the rights to the content being depicted in the artwork.
With this said, if you have any specific information or rights to use the designs that are currently set to pending status in your account, please let us know.
So, on the one hand, it would seem my concerns as to whether my drawing was recognizable were somewhat unfounded. On the other, to make use of these images, I'm apparently going to have to track down J. K. Rowling, Alan Rickman, or both.
Or invest in some silk-screening equipment.
sigh.
If this kind of thing upsets you, you should read The Future of Ideas and Free Culture by Lawrence Lessig and do everything he says.