Malak 's Techdirt Comments

Latest Comments (30) comment rss

  • On the post: Neil Gaiman And Todd McFarlane Fight Over Whose Derivative Character Is Owned By Whom

    Malak ( profile ), 16 Jun, 2010 @ 11:45am

    It's just about paying what you said you'd pay.

    The reason that it's not silly is because its about a content creator being ripped off, not about fair use or derivative work.

    If you agree that you split the royalties 50/50 as equal co-creators, then don't get paid what was greed, you should have the right to some kind of legal recourse.

    If the other party change the copyright notice when the work is reprinted and claim that the three year statute of limitations had expired when you don't spot the change in the reprints within three years, you can probably accuse the other party of unfair dealing.

    I think it's fair to say that one of the three characters at stake was very derivative of 'Spawnworld'. However the other two could easily be guests from another comic. But frankly that's all secondary to simple creator's rights to get paid what you agree you were gonna pay him.

  • On the post: University Sues GM For Using Einstein In An Ad Without Paying Up

    Malak ( profile ), 27 May, 2010 @ 01:52pm

    'Copyright is supposed to be about furthering the advancement of science, and here it's being used to profit off the memory of a great scientist.'

    Either way someone's gonna profit from his memory; I'd rather It was a university than a car company :)

  • On the post: Techdirt Saves* Journalism (And Sells Some T-Shirts)

    Malak ( profile ), 27 May, 2010 @ 10:30am

    Techdirt Saves* should cirtainly become the prefix for all your future live discussion events.

  • On the post: UK Politicians Looking To Repeal Digital Economy Act

    Malak ( profile ), 19 May, 2010 @ 05:34am

    I know at least one new Conservative MP spoke against the bill as part of his election campaign, as not being an MP at the time of the vote it was easier to talk against it from a party that ostensibly supported it.

    I suspect the Conservatives will find it an easy PR victory to agree with the Lib-Dems and toss out the most controversial bits.

    If it happens it's great news.

  • On the post: Because Too Many People Think It's A Good Idea, Australia Holding Off On Approving Adult Video Game Rating

    Malak ( profile ), 13 May, 2010 @ 01:47am

    "G'day. Due to the public consultation not coming back with the answer we wanted, further work needs to be done before a decision can be made. We have requested further analysis of community and expert views, particularly with respect to soliciting the views of groups most likely to support the result we want."

    I wonder what would have happened if the response was overwhelmingly form church groups? Go back and solicit gamer's opinions?

  • On the post: How Not To Win Fans: Game Maker Sues Fan Site

    Malak ( profile ), 10 May, 2010 @ 08:00am

    Games Workshop have always acted like this for years in connection with their miniatures-based wargames... This is very much business as usual for them.

  • On the post: Peter Mandelson Accepts Responsibility For Copyright Infringing Political Poster?

    Malak ( profile ), 07 Apr, 2010 @ 07:31am

    "it takes an image from an old (popular) TV show in the UK"

    Worse - it's a very current (season three has just started airing) and popular show (one of th BBC's tentpoles), it's merely set in the the 80s.

  • On the post: Facebook Threatens Greasemonkey Script Writer

    Malak ( profile ), 25 Mar, 2010 @ 09:27am

    I'm installing this AND setting it as my status!

  • On the post: Why Do Canada And Europe Copyright Money?

    Malak ( profile ), 05 Nov, 2009 @ 09:53am

    Re:

    Here we go, I belive this was the case I remember...
    http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:moosY_DeIk4J:www.artquest.org.uk/artlaw/money/

    "Take another look at the new £5 note: '© THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE BANK OF ENGLAND 1990' is printed on both sides of the note in the bottom left-hand corner. A unique occurrence in the history of English currency; and an original contribution to the historical lineage linking art and money. Why? We asked the Bank of England and were told that the Boggs case certainly 'focused their minds' on the question of reproductions and artistic use of their images. "

  • On the post: Why Do Canada And Europe Copyright Money?

    Malak ( profile ), 05 Nov, 2009 @ 09:49am

    IIRC it was introduced in the UK after the Bank of England lost a court case prosecuting an artist who had created artistic recreation of current banknotes in watercolour at the exact size etc as legal tender. From then on the (C) appeared.

    I think they just wanted another layer of protection to allow them to prevent people getting even close...