Comic book creator Christopher Sebela posted the following, ahead of New York Comic Con this week.
taking orders for custom badges until Saturday (for pickup at NYCC or via mail) so get yours in now. https://t.co/DWIrQ6RuN3 pic.twitter.com/M6GdtlhtwV
— Christopher Sebela (@xtop) 26 September 2019
Badges designed to resemble those work by the Judges of Mega-City One in 2000AD's Judge Dredd comic strip. And with a variety of names and words instead of the name of the Judge in question. But the most prominent having the legend, QUEER.
But not everyone at 2000AD was happy about this. Also attending NYCC. And tweeting publically…
Hi Christopher, we take unauthorised use of our copyrighted characters very seriously. Could you please drop us a line at press@2000ad.com as soon as possible? Thanks!
— 2000 AD Comics (#NYCC Booth 2244) (@2000AD) 30 September 2019
Which set off a host of counter-complaints…
We routinely go through Redbubble and other POD sites to issue cease and desist notices. It is a mammoth task but we protect our creations and creators against unlicensed exploitation.
— 2000 AD Comics (#NYCC Booth 2244) (@2000AD) September 30, 2019
Hi 2000 AD.
I'm gonna sell all of the books of yours I own and never buy any ever again.This kind of intimidation tactic is bullshit and you know it.
— TitanMatrix aka max (@LastGeeksDying) 30 September 2019
Hi, Christopher. Parody is protected speech in the US, even when it's commercial. We aren't in Mega City One.
— Muppet Hamlet (@RulesLawStudent) 30 September 2019
We do what we can to protect our creations and creators against unlicensed exploitation.
— 2000 AD Comics (#NYCC Booth 2244) (@2000AD) September 30, 2019
Parody is fair-use, you knobs.
This isn't Mega-City One, you're not Judges, and the bad PR you get off this isn't going to be worth it.
— Zefram Mann (@zeframmann) 30 September 2019
For anyone reading the replies here, they clarified to me in this thread that they would come after people selling fanart too. If you're tabling at @ThoughtBubbleUK this year, make sure you don't have any 2000AD stuff https://t.co/askK7mqSru
— Mike Maynard (@SkullPirateMike) 30 September 2019
He's not marketing it as "official" dredd merch, it's something for cosplayers and LGBTQ identity. Can I ask how this actually hurts your bottom line/IP?
— Dustin (@JustDrawnRadio) 30 September 2019
Hey I have an idea for a comic book. It's about a guy who goes to cons looking for unlicensed images of characters, and he destroys small indie artists with EXTREME PREDJUDICE. It's called Judged Redd
— Mike Maynard (@SkullPirateMike) 30 September 2019
Hmmmm so should people STOP cosplaying Judges at con, especially in many cases when they have to commission custom badges and props from makers to basically act as free marketing? And in that case, will your booth people have lawyers ready instead of taking happy pics with them?
— ✨Anabel S Pumpkins (@anabelsays) 30 September 2019
There is definitely irony that the publisher of a parody comic book character designed to satirise and parody over extensive application of the law, attempt to overextend the law to deal with someone making and selling a few parody badges.
Not to mention that 2000AD itself was the subject of such legal concern, sued over the infamous Burger Wars appearances of McDonald, the Jolly Green Giant and Burger King, and has regularly run knock-off parodies of one thing or another over the years.
Then-publishers IPC settled out of court, publishing a half-page retraction and agreeing never to reprint the offending episodes. In 2014 the UK law was changed to implement a European directive on copyright law allowing the use of copyright-protected characters for parody. As a result, Rebellion announced in 2015 that it would re-publish the suppressed episodes for the first time in 2016. Which they did.
Now it is imperative for trademark owners to protect the use of their trademarks, or suffer the possibility that they may lose them. But it is also important to recognise the role of parody – just as Rebellion does in its own comic books.
UPDATE: Just got out of seeing Joker and it looks like everyone sat down and sorted things out.No more badges… for now.
Hey, so, to make things clear, @2000AD and I had a chat about stuff and they're not mad and I'm not mad. They're just looking out for their property, same as I or any of you would do with your stuff. Whatever crossed wires went on, it's fine now, we're all talking nicely.
— Christopher Sebela (@xtop) 30 September 2019
They're husting, same as me and same as anyone else in comics. None of us are trying to get rich or make enemies, we're just here to make comics. I don't begrudge them for a second looking out for what's theirs.
— Christopher Sebela (@xtop) 30 September 2019
I'm not doing anymore badge sales after the orders I've already taken. I totally get where they're coming from and I'm not a dick who rides roughshod over people when I can avoid it. So, all settled. Be nice. They make great books. Go buy some.
— Christopher Sebela (@xtop) 30 September 2019
this has been a supremely long day and it's only 1pm
— Christopher Sebela (@xtop) 30 September 2019