Bootleg Tshirt Website List
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Excellent. Let's have the discussion, because we're obviously not on the same page here.
There exists, in the design community, in the world of art in general, an integral aspect of authentic expression known as commentary, whether social, political, or simply general. This aspect of expression allows artists to mimic and parody popular culture concepts, images in the media, even corporate branding, so long as they add to the original, do not unduly attack the original, and generally express something awesome, whether this is of value or not (eye of the beholder stuff).
What this means is I (and other artists, and there are so many of us) can take a popular intellectually owned concept, such as STAR WARS, and rip the hell out of it. OMG I've just been sued by Lucas Films (read: Disney) said like no artist ever, unless that artist simply copies, directly, without changing and adding value, a recognised mark of this owned concept. This aspect of art is protected legally by FAIR USE agreements, and in the interests of parody and satire artists can do what they want to an image that is owned by someone else, so long as they can argue Fair Use, and they do not infringe on the integrity of the owned concept.
The largest T-shirt company on the planet, Threadless (heard of them?) - they do this. It's their bread and butter, but there is a fine line. Sometimes we cross it, and companies do persue us. In South Africa, where I live, as an artist, as a culture jammer, the largest distilling company in the country and the world, SAB, took on a fellow artist for jamming their logo. The brewer lost the case in the Constitutional Court in our country, the highest court in the land, and the small tshirt company was allowed to continue spoofing concepts.
I personally have come under fire for some of my original work... I offended Hindus with this design ( TSHIRT TERRORIST >> Two Designs Under Fire ) and their governing body attempted to haul my company before the Human Rights Commission. The commission stated Fair Use and I was free to display it, but I took it down anyway. There was another case (same blog) where I spoofed Stella Artois, but I decided not to defend myself legally when this brewer approached me, because I realised there was a fine line between copying and originality (and I just wanted to have a dig at Stella for being known as "Wife Beater" in the UK - and I got caught
What I need to get across here, and have attempted to do with these examples, is there is a clear distinction between intellectual property ownership and THEFT. Artists who spoof popular culture own the intellectual rights to their work. People who then steal these designs without adding to them are thieves. If this is still not making sense then perhaps you're on the wrong thread/ forum/ planet (no offense intended).
There exists, in the design community, in the world of art in general, an integral aspect of authentic expression known as commentary, whether social, political, or simply general. This aspect of expression allows artists to mimic and parody popular culture concepts, images in the media, even corporate branding, so long as they add to the original, do not unduly attack the original, and generally express something awesome, whether this is of value or not (eye of the beholder stuff).
What this means is I (and other artists, and there are so many of us) can take a popular intellectually owned concept, such as STAR WARS, and rip the hell out of it. OMG I've just been sued by Lucas Films (read: Disney) said like no artist ever, unless that artist simply copies, directly, without changing and adding value, a recognised mark of this owned concept. This aspect of art is protected legally by FAIR USE agreements, and in the interests of parody and satire artists can do what they want to an image that is owned by someone else, so long as they can argue Fair Use, and they do not infringe on the integrity of the owned concept.
The largest T-shirt company on the planet, Threadless (heard of them?) - they do this. It's their bread and butter, but there is a fine line. Sometimes we cross it, and companies do persue us. In South Africa, where I live, as an artist, as a culture jammer, the largest distilling company in the country and the world, SAB, took on a fellow artist for jamming their logo. The brewer lost the case in the Constitutional Court in our country, the highest court in the land, and the small tshirt company was allowed to continue spoofing concepts.
I personally have come under fire for some of my original work... I offended Hindus with this design ( TSHIRT TERRORIST >> Two Designs Under Fire ) and their governing body attempted to haul my company before the Human Rights Commission. The commission stated Fair Use and I was free to display it, but I took it down anyway. There was another case (same blog) where I spoofed Stella Artois, but I decided not to defend myself legally when this brewer approached me, because I realised there was a fine line between copying and originality (and I just wanted to have a dig at Stella for being known as "Wife Beater" in the UK - and I got caught
What I need to get across here, and have attempted to do with these examples, is there is a clear distinction between intellectual property ownership and THEFT. Artists who spoof popular culture own the intellectual rights to their work. People who then steal these designs without adding to them are thieves. If this is still not making sense then perhaps you're on the wrong thread/ forum/ planet (no offense intended).
You could, but you would have to create a different joke. I'm not the owner of a popular culture concept, I'm an artist referencing these ideas. Why would you want to reference an idea of an idea? It makes very little sense. If I reference Star Wars it's because Star Wars is awesome. If you reference my take on Star Wars what exactly are you trying to achieve? I have already made an artistic connection. You have failed to do this, you're simply copying the copier, ie: you're a pirate without a flag, and that's a real shame.
Threadless recently held a Parody challenge in which 1500 designs were submitted referencing/ mimicking popular culture. By far one of their biggest challenges because it's a viable, flourishing industry. The artists who submitted ripped off everything from Super Mario to Breaking Bad. But the artists didn't rip each other's designs off... that would be stupid. In other words.... between the lines, read you will.
I used my designs (re: this post) to make a point. In that, websites can copy/ paste designs of other artists because copy/paste and photoshop make design theft so easy. And in internet culture ownership is becoming grayed out. There are no owners. 9gag.com is the owner. Facebook is the owner. There are no individual owners anymore, only copies. I was asking people to say: yeah - I came across this one site and it had all these designs on that I have seen like everywhere and in Thailand. On this site hosted in Greece there are designs copied from Threadless, Tshirt Hell, Glennz Tees (my favourite) and others.
Does it matter that I culture jam pop culture? I enjoy what I do.
I Killed Kenny has gone viral and is being bootlegged from UK to Ukraine because it is such a simple, awesome spoof. It can be found on eBay and Spreadshirt because as a design it makes perfect sense. I took the statement "They Killed Kenny" and I personalised it, so the wearer can claim that he/ she killed kenny. No-one had done that before - it was such a perfect, simple switch. Personalisation goes beyond the way in which Kenny dies - it has to do with the wearer becoming closer to a South Park trend. People can now walk up to you, while you're wearing this shirt, and shout 'You bastard!" South Park and Comedy Central kill Kenny in different ways... the design allows you to generalise that in a way that honours/ parodies the idea behind the killing/ re-enactment. I love this design.... it was my first big seller... and people copy it everywhere. In a way I am proud of that. Why don't you copy it? Here's how. Just reverse it. Or... change the copy. Or make the blood a different shade of red. Do you understand that I have just ridiculed your entire precedent? You can do what you want but your achievement is hollow unless it makes a valid point/ adds value/ comments on society, you troll
Here are some other designs from Gadgetbox.gr that have been directly stolen from other artists.
Threadless.com
Hot Dog T-Shirt | Gadget Box Gadgets, Έξυπνα Δώ�α, T-Shirts
Never give up on your dreams | Gadget Box Gadgets, Έξυπνα Δώ�α, T-Shirts
Î*αÏ�ασκευή και 12 | Gadget Box Gadgets, Έξυπνα ΔώÏ�α, T-Shirts
Tshirt Hell
I Support Single Moms | Gadget Box Gadgets, Έξυπνα Δώ�α, T-Shirts
Glennz Tees
Macgyver | Gadget Box Gadgets, Έξυπνα Δώ�α, T-Shirts
Fit Zombie | Gadget Box Gadgets, Έξυπνα Δώ�α, T-Shirts
Banksy
I Support Single Moms | Gadget Box Gadgets, Έξυπνα Δώ�α, T-Shirts
If you're buying these tees off this site, where does the credit go, and I don't mean the cash - f*ck the cash! Real designers created these images... it took time and a love for design, so that some idiot with photoshop can browse the net and set up shop.
Best of luck out there. If you have ability to spoof, or create something completely original, go ahead and put it up on your shop... even spend some time on these forums talking about what is the best printing method and how shall I package my awesome tshirt. Means very little when as soon as it's up and out there it's fair game, fair use aside.
Out
Threadless recently held a Parody challenge in which 1500 designs were submitted referencing/ mimicking popular culture. By far one of their biggest challenges because it's a viable, flourishing industry. The artists who submitted ripped off everything from Super Mario to Breaking Bad. But the artists didn't rip each other's designs off... that would be stupid. In other words.... between the lines, read you will.
I used my designs (re: this post) to make a point. In that, websites can copy/ paste designs of other artists because copy/paste and photoshop make design theft so easy. And in internet culture ownership is becoming grayed out. There are no owners. 9gag.com is the owner. Facebook is the owner. There are no individual owners anymore, only copies. I was asking people to say: yeah - I came across this one site and it had all these designs on that I have seen like everywhere and in Thailand. On this site hosted in Greece there are designs copied from Threadless, Tshirt Hell, Glennz Tees (my favourite) and others.
Does it matter that I culture jam pop culture? I enjoy what I do.
I Killed Kenny has gone viral and is being bootlegged from UK to Ukraine because it is such a simple, awesome spoof. It can be found on eBay and Spreadshirt because as a design it makes perfect sense. I took the statement "They Killed Kenny" and I personalised it, so the wearer can claim that he/ she killed kenny. No-one had done that before - it was such a perfect, simple switch. Personalisation goes beyond the way in which Kenny dies - it has to do with the wearer becoming closer to a South Park trend. People can now walk up to you, while you're wearing this shirt, and shout 'You bastard!" South Park and Comedy Central kill Kenny in different ways... the design allows you to generalise that in a way that honours/ parodies the idea behind the killing/ re-enactment. I love this design.... it was my first big seller... and people copy it everywhere. In a way I am proud of that. Why don't you copy it? Here's how. Just reverse it. Or... change the copy. Or make the blood a different shade of red. Do you understand that I have just ridiculed your entire precedent? You can do what you want but your achievement is hollow unless it makes a valid point/ adds value/ comments on society, you troll
Here are some other designs from Gadgetbox.gr that have been directly stolen from other artists.
Threadless.com
Hot Dog T-Shirt | Gadget Box Gadgets, Έξυπνα Δώ�α, T-Shirts
Never give up on your dreams | Gadget Box Gadgets, Έξυπνα Δώ�α, T-Shirts
Î*αÏ�ασκευή και 12 | Gadget Box Gadgets, Έξυπνα ΔώÏ�α, T-Shirts
Tshirt Hell
I Support Single Moms | Gadget Box Gadgets, Έξυπνα Δώ�α, T-Shirts
Glennz Tees
Macgyver | Gadget Box Gadgets, Έξυπνα Δώ�α, T-Shirts
Fit Zombie | Gadget Box Gadgets, Έξυπνα Δώ�α, T-Shirts
Banksy
I Support Single Moms | Gadget Box Gadgets, Έξυπνα Δώ�α, T-Shirts
If you're buying these tees off this site, where does the credit go, and I don't mean the cash - f*ck the cash! Real designers created these images... it took time and a love for design, so that some idiot with photoshop can browse the net and set up shop.
Best of luck out there. If you have ability to spoof, or create something completely original, go ahead and put it up on your shop... even spend some time on these forums talking about what is the best printing method and how shall I package my awesome tshirt. Means very little when as soon as it's up and out there it's fair game, fair use aside.
Out
Tim... real decent points - I see what you mean... I feel this entire effort has been lost on the fact that I spoof. I know I spoof... Jeez, I call myself Tshirt Terrorist for hat's sake Yes, I benefit from keyword searches, although how much is debatable... I operate out of South Africa and my sales across the oceans can be counted on a single hand any given month. Within South Africa maybe I'd need both hands...
Fair Use is applicable to individual cases for sure, but on the basis of satire (which many of my designs manage to achieve) I feel I have some ground to defend a lot of what I do. Where they don't I plot countless original artist merit points, with freelance illustrators often hand-drawing and altering images. Real art? fake art? Copied art? No art? I don't know. I come up with an idea, I'm inspired by pop culture - I'm working on Anime shirts right now... everything is free to copy. Within reason, surely. Surely within reason. If I make an intellectual connection and someone copies that... where does it end? A comedian comes up with a cool gaff about a popular TV series/ actress. Another comedian tells the exact same joke. Does it matter that the first comedian ripped off a celebrity, or that the second comedian duplicated the gag?
Your thoughts?
My designs aside... there are sites out there ripping off purely, purely original artwork.
That's what I want to see here. Where are these sites? What are these designs?
Who are the original owners who do not get mentioned?
Thanks for your time.
Yes, I benefit from keyword searches, although how much is debatable... I operate out of South Africa and my sales across the oceans can be counted on a single hand any given month. Within South Africa maybe I'd need both hands... Fair Use is applicable to individual cases for sure, but on the basis of satire (which many of my designs manage to achieve) I feel I have some ground to defend a lot of what I do. Where they don't I plot countless original artist merit points, with freelance illustrators often hand-drawing and altering images. Real art? fake art? Copied art? No art? I don't know. I come up with an idea, I'm inspired by pop culture - I'm working on Anime shirts right now... everything is free to copy. Within reason, surely. Surely within reason. If I make an intellectual connection and someone copies that... where does it end? A comedian comes up with a cool gaff about a popular TV series/ actress. Another comedian tells the exact same joke. Does it matter that the first comedian ripped off a celebrity, or that the second comedian duplicated the gag?
Your thoughts?
My designs aside... there are sites out there ripping off purely, purely original artwork.
That's what I want to see here. Where are these sites? What are these designs?
Who are the original owners who do not get mentioned?
Thanks for your time.
Not only is it ironic, I think it's kind of funny.
Harry, to complain about someone stealing your work, when your work wouldn't exist if you hadn't taken the work of someone else is just hilarious to me...
You need to understand that the way you feel about those sites, is exactly the way some people feel about what you do. Tim brought up Fair Use. Did you know that here in the US, that Fair Use is a defense of copyright infringement? It means that you're conceding the fact that you infringed on a copyright, but you have a defense for your infringement.
But the problem with that is that your defense may not always be valid. So, just because you haven't been sued and lost, doesn't mean that you aren't in the same boat as the ones you want list here...
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