Dear ABC: WTF?
About a year ago, I drew a comic regarding everyone's least-favorite lawyer in response to his moronic letter to Russian Ambassador Yuri Ushakov and wrote an accompanying rant regarding the man's insanity on my old blog. By the end of the day, I was happy to have vented, had a new cartoon to add to my portfolio, and people disliked JT even more than before; there really wasn't a down side.
Today, proving that coincidences truly come along at weird times, a friend brought the following information to my attention: in the middle of the Nightline feature regarding Mr. SillyBriefs (originally aired on December 13, 2006), my comic is makes a pretty obvious appearance. The comic is clearly visible when the narrator mentions that JT has become a subject of parody and satire in the gaming industry, and it's been horizontally flipped so the speech bubble is missing. Now, it's awesome that my artwork was featured on national television, but I would've liked to have been notified before it was edited without my permission and spliced into the footage. Seeing as how the comic is only available through my own website and/or my Flickr account, I'm a little stunned that no one at least tried to contact me regarding the use of my artwork.
What's even more infuriating is that, during the exact same clip, G4 TV was given credit for their video parody of the attorney. I have no clue who created the other image, featured right below mine, but I hope you get in touch with ABC to complain if they didn't seek your permission before broadcasting your art. Speaking as an artist, we're often happy to get some free advertising, but it really raises our hackles when we find out our stuff's been used without even giving us credit. It really pisses us off when people also change our art without seeking our permission.
So, before I sign off, I have one last thing to say to Nightline: shame on you for your sloppy journalism. But, thank you for at least partially skewering that pinhead who unfortunately shares my last name.
Hit the jump to see the original comic!
Boy of Tomorrow
Posted to Hot Stuff, Miscellany on 29 March 2007
· Comments (4)
Other stuff like this: abc, comic, g4, jack thompson, nightline, parody, permission, wtf
They didn't edit the speech bubble out, they flipped the picture horizontally. Check out the hair. But they did totally crop the hell out of it.
That was a highly amusing video. I love seeing JT get all flustered when people point out that he doesn't know what he's talking about.
And... I can see why you're upset, but I kinda wish they'd used my art, with or without permission. Maybe I'm just more desperate for attention/recognition than most.
Unleash the long armed bitchslap of the law!
I came across this cartoon in the past and was going to use it on an article about Jackie boy, but my editor pulled the story before I could post.
I definitely give artists credit where credit is due and I can't believe a news show would not do the same.