Even though there’s a growing business around the wares they create and parade, cosplayers rarely run into legal problems from the people who own the copyrights to the characters they’re dressed up as. Which only makes this legal problem all the more absurd.
Seeing as cosplay is in essence a form of homage, and in many ways can be free promotion for a game/movie/comic/TV show, the people who make games/movies/comics/TV shows usually embrace the art. Something carpet companies could learn a thing or two about.
At this year’s DragonCon, props builder (and cosplayer) Harrison Krix made one of the standout outfits, designing a camouflage pattern that matched the carpet of the Marriott Marquis Atlanta, the hotel the convention was being held at. It was amazing, but carpet designers Couristan Inc. aren’t happy.
Seems Krix was selling some of the fabric he made for the costumes on textile site Spoonflower, so that others could make their own for next year’s show. He’s since had to pull the design, having received a Cease and Desist from Couristan.
Someone really needs to start running law classes on “perspective”. Or, at the very least, remind people of the difference between the spirit of the law and the letter.
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16 responses to “Cosplayer Cops Legal Threat From…Carpet Company”
Are they worried another carpet company might steal their hideous design?
Oh sure, laugh and say hurtful things, but some poor designer is probably reading this now and saying, “Oh fuck you guys, I won an AWARD for that thing! And it’s novel and bright! Or would you trolls prefer some bourgeoisie EN 1307 example template in navy blue or grey? Philistines.”
…Actually, if they were saying that I would lose sympathy shortly after ‘bourgeoisie’.
they look like tiles from a Greek/Roman villa rather than a carpet. The Marriott Hotel actually paid for that?
They? What they? I only saw a carpet in that photo. 😛
the carpet looks like tiles. All I see is carpet too
Ugh, I like how the article is written like the carpet guys are big meanies for picking on innocent cosplayer… Who is bootlegging their design. FFS it’s clearly nog just “homage” then…
I suppose carpet places have to do something to earn money, since they always seem to be going out of business/ordered too much stock
What did you just tell us there’s another liquidated, going out of business rug sale? Turkish thread, Prussian weave and Egyptian stitching. With crazy, crazy prices never to be repeated? Best better run on down and get myself a rug before I miss out. 😛
Yeah… I kind of agree with you. I mean if they were having a go at him just for making and wearing his outfit then I’d say they were just being dicks. But considering he’s copied their pattern (hideous as it is) and is actually selling it then I think they’ve got a fair case.
Totally agree. This idiot has tried to PROFIT off another person’s IP. Plunkett has again missed the ENTIRE point. Someone really needs to start running classes on “comprehension” for him.
Pretty sure there’s a big difference between stealing the design to create competing carpet, and using the design to create specialised fabric that can be used as camo for that carpet. The design is quite clearly intended to be specific to that event and purpose, and they are not negatively impacting the original owner’s ability to profit from their own product and design as they are competing in a completely different market, specifically clothing fabric rather than carpeting. There is a case to be made if the guy is actually just covering the costs of creating the fabric rather than making a profit, but that would be a matter for the lawyers to argue over.
How is getting busted for actually selling a design you don’t own, absurd?
Awesome idea for a cosplay but I see where the carpet company is coming from.
hmmm never thought it would come to carpet talk on here.
If intellectual property owners do not enforce their rights then they run the risk of having the courts rule that they have waived their ownership in said property (or right to enforce it).
In many cases the intellectual property owner themselves may not even be aware of any alleged infringement – having retained a law firm to identify and deal with such matters on their own.
It’s rarely because the IP owner wants to be a kill-joy.
KerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrPLUNK!!!