LA Company Steals Mpls Artist's Work
Thread started by
HerculesTRockefeller at 04.29.11 - 12:42 pm
Greetings from Minneapolis,
I am a cyclist from Minneapolis, and while I have never been to LA, much less cycled there, I have a message/request for the members who happen to read this.
There is a Minneapolis comics company called Residue Comics (http://residuecomics.blogspot.com/). The artist behind it, R. Lootine, created the character Chump (NSFW: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1ajX6S3LNcw/TavcuGZIxbI/AAAAAAAAALg/jZoYaC-XfCk/s220/CHUMP.jpg) over 20 years ago, and Chump is the best known and most beloved character.
Recently, an LA T-Shirt company X-Large (http://www.xlarge.com/) stole the image without permission, consent, notification, or compensation (http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/224731_10150218945997938_30153072937_8534465_8198002_n.jpg).
Theft of art from hard-wroking underpaid artists is lame. If you agree with me, please let X-Large know how you feel:
FB page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1548084592
other FB page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/XLarge/191293307441
Contact: http://xlarge.com/contact
Phone: (323) 666-3483
Address: 1768 N Vermont Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
The Minneapolis side of this discussion is happening at:
http://mplsbikelove.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=20568
Thanks,
Hercules T. Rockefeller
aka Mike Jones
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You mah favorite rapper. When is you comin out wit new material? I need to get my video ho fix, nahmean? Stay up.
Stop art thievery.
-Dexter-04.29.11 - 12:55 pm
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you're doing this wrong, let the company be successful, then you sue for millions
66604.29.11 - 1:05 pm
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You should try 4chan if you want a personal army. I here they do good work.
Otherwise what time does this ride start?
sack or crack you choose04.29.11 - 1:06 pm
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Disclaimer: I am in no way associated with the artist or his company.
I don't know if he has the funds, time, or inclination to play lawyer games. Even if he does, it would be nice if this X-Large company would take a large PR hit, too.
Have considered 4chan, not sure how I can frame this to be trollworthy.
The ride is in one week in Minneapolis. If you start now, you can probably make it (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Los+Angeles,+CA&daddr=Minneapolis,+MN&geocode=FYqYBwIdm77z-CkT2ifcXcfCgDH0CEYlb98v4g%3BFf1WrgIdJOhw-im9u3eTkDOzUjEH7novhMmfkw&hl=en&mra=ls&dirflg=b&sll=39.599745,-105.752135&sspn=16.166634,28.081055&ie=UTF8&z=5&lci=bike).
Also, Southern rap sucks. West coast is okay, sometimes.
HerculesTRockefeller04.29.11 - 1:26 pm
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Also, this:
Xlarge Clothing
3218 1/2 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
(323) 522-3008
HerculesTRockefeller04.29.11 - 1:29 pm
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When you are suing over copyright infringement, the lawyer doesn't cost a penny, they take a percentage of the resulting claim. So if he cares, he will sue. If he doesn't, he won't. If it's not a big enough deal that he will hire a lawyer, why should expect a bunch of people he doesn't even know to waste THEIR time, helping HIM out? I'm not.
outerspace04.29.11 - 5:06 pm
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I've lived a few blocks from the X-Large store for over 10 years.
I haven't purchased anything there in years ... but 90% of everything I have seen in their store windows is derivative of some other design ... often a primate of some sort ie Ben Davis Logo, Donkey Kong, etc. Its what they do.
Just like in early hip hop, samples, lyrics, and tunes were taken unabashedly and turned into something slightly different to create something new. Now companies like Blue Note & Trojan make money selling compilations of songs that are now more famous for having been "illegally" sampled rather than the quality of the original song which is often brilliant.
But I digress...
The artist you speak of is the victim of "appropriation" which may just be a classy way of of saying "stealing creatively" (as opposed to real "creative theft", which is also rampant in our culture).
Regardless ... I don't think there is any shame or bad PR to be had over a T-Shirt Graphic. X-LArge's entire business model is built round playing around with other peoples ideas and trying to make them their own. Not as good, but every bit as desirous of a Bad Boy image as Ice Cube's brilliant sampling manifesto "Jackin' for Beats".
Ah more dirgressions ...
The point is if the law has been broken, the artist in question or those who manage his business, needs to lawyer up and get what's his. Saving that smart artists always do what they can to capitalize on their own exploitation through money or fame (an artists 2nd most valuable form or currency).
I think you will find that most people here don't shop at XLARGE to begin with, and for the people that do, they probably don't care that much.
Appropriating ideas is a double edge sword, when an artist does it against a corporation or pop culture entity everybody loves it. When it happens to somebody that's not rolling in cash some people care and some people don't.
But the law is the law and when you shift from art to business free expression takes a back seat to money rules. If there's been a violation the money rules. Homeboy will get paid. In the mean time I'd rather save my public outrage for life saving bicycle infrastructure and driver education.
peace
trickmilla responding to a
comment by HerculesTRockefeller
05.2.11 - 2:51 pm
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Jakarta!
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2011/0429/Jakarta-launches-car-free-days-to-give-residents-respite-from-traffic
tern05.2.11 - 3:42 pm
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Honestly, I believe that law you speak of is heavily in favor of large corporations, not artists. As my friend Jenn put it: "Unfortunately, the laws are really set up to protect the Disneys of the world."
Also, appropriation is not the same as plagiarism. Sampling another's work in a creative way is appropriation. Taking an entire image and slapping your own company's name on it without citation is plagiarism.
But anyways... apparently, XLarge is actually a Japanese company. A statement from Residue Comics:
"Residue Comics received a letter from representatives of the XLARGE brand, which is apparently based in Japan now. They seem willing to work with Chump and the rest of the Residue Comics gang, but the process is slow going. We'll keep you posted. Thanks again for all the support on this thing. It's great to know folks are willing to stand-up for cartoons they believe in!"
HerculesTRockefeller05.5.11 - 4:07 pm
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@Hercules - study the law, then you will know what you are talking about and realize the world is not against you and your friends.
Study the law. Read what it say, go over what has been violated. Then talk to a lawyer.
PS stop bitching like a kid and handle this like an adult
revolution05.5.11 - 4:18 pm
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HEY WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT, LOL!!!!
I SWEAR IT'S NOT MEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
X-Large responding to a
comment by revolution
05.5.11 - 4:21 pm
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HAHA this entire time I'm like... "XL... like TT/MR XL?"
et responding to a
comment by X-Large
05.5.11 - 5:58 pm
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does this have anything to do with bikes besides us both owning at least one?
trickmill: I appreciate your posts. they are generally both interesting and informative.
XL: Miniapo-dangerous route???
nolikedrive responding to a
comment by et
05.5.11 - 8:50 pm
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wait we have to own at least one bike to be on MR?
Two_Feet responding to a
comment by nolikedrive
05.5.11 - 9:37 pm
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