(Untitled)

[stinglikeabee]

Marvel shuts down Livejournal users (via Big Shiny Robot!)

Individual LJ users have been served notices by the LJ Abuse Team and Marvel regarding copyright infringement. Basically anyone who's posted Marvel stuff on scans_daily has been targeted for said infringement. Luckily the text does not mention any repercussions, other than the fact that LJ has

Comments

[stinglikeabee]

I know! I buy DC for the superheroics but when I want something with more substance I head on over to Marvel's Icon imprint. The company has also made great adaptations of classic literature, and now I'm kicking myself for missing out on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Still, not worth it for the huge lapse in judgment and treating fans and readers like criminals.

Marvel is stepping into RIAA-asshole territory, and I do hope it backfires.

(hurray for eBay and $0.25 comic bins!)

[22by7]

What's LJ's part in this mess? I'm not implying that LJ are evil haters, but they've been much more jumpy of late.

[stinglikeabee]

They're complying with Marvel's request to pull down/restrict access to posts that have the company's copywritten content, and sending notices to those identified by Marvel as the perpetrators. No official word just yet from LJ or SixApart, and luckily they didn't over-react by banning those users Marvel named.

[kijikun]

SixApart doesn't own lj anymore (they probably would have banned every member of the community). We are now under Russian rule.

[stinglikeabee]

You're right, it's SUP I'm thinking of and not SixApart.

[stinglikeabee]

He has tried to downplay his hand in all this, saying he merely reported to Marvel and that Marvel was the one insistent on shutting down S_D. In the end, does it matter who started what when this is the result? I agree, it's overkill.

[kadymae]

Consider writing to Ed and Sean and tell them why you're not buying Criminal and Incognito anymore.

[stinglikeabee]

Thank you, that's an excellent idea!

[cold_nostalgia]

I was never really that into Marvel to start with, and what few titles I did get from them gradually dwindled away to nothing. For the past while I've found their arrogance as a company disproportionate to their brand name.

Essentially, comics-wise, they are a big fish in a small and shrinking pond. And considering for the most part that Scans daily, more often than not, encouraged people to actually buy comics and bring in new readers, it was a short-sighted move. It doesn't endear me to the company or make me want to buy any of their products.

If I wanted a free comic I'd just download it.

But maybe they'll feel that they don't need those extra few sales given how well they're doing merchandise and film-wise. We'll see how brilliantly that's going in a few years time. The word fad springs to mind in this instance.

Sorry, that sounded much more bitter than it was meant to be. I'm well over it. :)

[stinglikeabee]

No, not bitter at all. You've eloquently explained, I think, the feelings of many after reading the news. Arrogance certainly sums it up.