Turns out the Strawberry Shortcake people didn't like the Penny Arcade depiction. They reference this comic in some later ones (see here: https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/06/15/reprise ), and you can find the original floating around on the web still (try Googling Penny Arcade Strawberry Shortcake).
Huh, interesting that they would cave to this. Fair use is well established for stuff like this. In one article it says that lawyers for American Greetings argued that parody was covered under fair use, but this was satire which enjoyed no such protection. I find that laughable, but who knows how it would play out in court.
I can only imagine that email address has long since been shut down, lol.
I believe the legal distinction here is that they weren't parodying Strawberry Shortcake, they were using Strawberry Shortcake as a vehicle to make fun of American McGee's Alice. Therefore it wasn't protected by Fair Use.
Turns out the Strawberry Shortcake people didn't like the Penny Arcade depiction. They reference this comic in some later ones (see here: https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/06/15/reprise ), and you can find the original floating around on the web still (try Googling Penny Arcade Strawberry Shortcake).
Oh man, I missed the grimdark Rainbow Brite. I'd watch that.
"excuse my French
But fuck you — no, fuck y'all, that's as blunt as it gets"
- Kendrick Lamar, "The Blacker the Berry"
I believe the legal distinction here is that they weren't parodying Strawberry Shortcake, they were using Strawberry Shortcake as a vehicle to make fun of American McGee's Alice. Therefore it wasn't protected by Fair Use.
There was a Doctor Seuss parody some years back that got shot down on similar grounds, and another one going on right now that seems to have passed the point of losing but waiting to see how bad.
Parody protection is pretty narrow even without all the other whittling away at fair use that has happened over the years. Weird Al gets written license before he does anything, and way more of those prime time animation jokes get cleared with copyright holders than you would ever believe. A lot of that stuff isn't protected and wouldn't fly otherwise. There's been a few artists who get angry about Weird Al's take on their songs, but it's no fair use that keeps them from suing, it's the license contract they signed before he sang his first word.
Exactly, I had my lawyers ask their lawyers about it.
One of the main tests for fair use in a parody is whether it's transformative. I.E., using it in a way that is totally different from the tone and intent of the original work. I'd say they passed that test pretty well. And then turned around and did exactly the same thing in a later comic with Rainbow Brite. For that matter a lot of the comics over the years have lampooned various games, movies, etc... in a similar way. Heck, they slammed Monster for making overpriced surge protectors and Monster is well known for being sue happy. They once sued Monster energy drinks just for using the word. Then there was the full on war with Jack Thompson, also known for suing the crap out of anyone that pisses him off.
Exactly, I had my lawyers ask their lawyers about it.
One of the main tests for fair use in a parody is whether it's transformative. I.E., using it in a way that is totally different from the tone and intent of the original work. I'd say they passed that test pretty well. And then turned around and did exactly the same thing in a later comic with Rainbow Brite. For that matter a lot of the comics over the years have lampooned various games, movies, etc... in a similar way. Heck, they slammed Monster for making overpriced surge protectors and Monster is well known for being sue happy. They once sued Monster energy drinks just for using the word. Then there was the full on war with Jack Thompson, also known for suing the crap out of anyone that pisses him off.
Also, keep in mind that the original comic came out in 2003, well over a decade ago and before PA had the clout and legal acumen they have now. Even if they could have won a lawsuit, they didn't necessarily have the time and funds to be worth fighting it.
You know what? Nanowrimo's cancelled on account of the world is stupid.
Which is how these things normally go; fair use being an affirmative defense means that most small operators simply do not have the resources to contest trademark suits
hold your head high soldier, it ain't over yet
that's why we call it the struggle, you're supposed to sweat
+1
OctoberRavenPlays fighting games for the storySkyeline Hotel Apartment 4ARegistered Userregular
I believe the legal distinction here is that they weren't parodying Strawberry Shortcake, they were using Strawberry Shortcake as a vehicle to make fun of American McGee's Alice. Therefore it wasn't protected by Fair Use.
Wait, so what about Robot Chicken using their... we'll call her Silly Goose Puddin' to be rules-friendly... but using their Strawberry Shortcake-based character in an Amityville Horror parody?
Currently Most Hype For: VTMB2, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, Alan Wake 2 (Wake Harder)Currently Playin: Guilty Gear XX AC+R, Gat Out Of Hell
I'm more curious about why this thread got reposted yesterday.
Any old comic you comment on in the archives will automatically get a thread made for it, if it doesn't already have one - it's likely Peartato was just going through the archive and left a comment on the comic.
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Turns out the Strawberry Shortcake people didn't like the Penny Arcade depiction. They reference this comic in some later ones (see here: https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/06/15/reprise ), and you can find the original floating around on the web still (try Googling Penny Arcade Strawberry Shortcake).
I can only imagine that email address has long since been shut down, lol.
But he's Batman.
Oh man, I missed the grimdark Rainbow Brite. I'd watch that.
But fuck you — no, fuck y'all, that's as blunt as it gets"
- Kendrick Lamar, "The Blacker the Berry"
They talked about this comic in the Q&A at PAX south
There was a Doctor Seuss parody some years back that got shot down on similar grounds, and another one going on right now that seems to have passed the point of losing but waiting to see how bad.
Parody protection is pretty narrow even without all the other whittling away at fair use that has happened over the years. Weird Al gets written license before he does anything, and way more of those prime time animation jokes get cleared with copyright holders than you would ever believe. A lot of that stuff isn't protected and wouldn't fly otherwise. There's been a few artists who get angry about Weird Al's take on their songs, but it's no fair use that keeps them from suing, it's the license contract they signed before he sang his first word.
Exactly, I had my lawyers ask their lawyers about it.
One of the main tests for fair use in a parody is whether it's transformative. I.E., using it in a way that is totally different from the tone and intent of the original work. I'd say they passed that test pretty well. And then turned around and did exactly the same thing in a later comic with Rainbow Brite. For that matter a lot of the comics over the years have lampooned various games, movies, etc... in a similar way. Heck, they slammed Monster for making overpriced surge protectors and Monster is well known for being sue happy. They once sued Monster energy drinks just for using the word. Then there was the full on war with Jack Thompson, also known for suing the crap out of anyone that pisses him off.
Hence my surprise they caved on this one.
Here's some light reading on a very similar case. http://www.ipinbrief.com/when-is-a-parody-a-protected-fair-use-under-copyright-the-law/
Just to be clear, that was a joke. You're not Batman, and tube is right. Real lawyers with real legal experience gave them real advice.
that's why we call it the struggle, you're supposed to sweat
Wait, so what about Robot Chicken using their... we'll call her Silly Goose Puddin' to be rules-friendly... but using their Strawberry Shortcake-based character in an Amityville Horror parody?
Any old comic you comment on in the archives will automatically get a thread made for it, if it doesn't already have one - it's likely Peartato was just going through the archive and left a comment on the comic.