**The below statements are reiterated from other sources. The opinions are all my own. All external information is linked below. I choose not to list the link to FunnyJunk because I do not support them in anyway. If you want to learn about them more then type their name in a search browser.**
After having a segment on copyright and fair use, I've become more interested in copyright policies. Yesterday I was watching a sxephil video on YouTube about an update on a lawsuit that is trying to get filed against The Oatmeal from FunnyJunk.
From what I gathered, FunnyJunk is a website where users can upload pictures from other websites and then they can edit over and create almost memes. There original artists of the pictures are not credited. FunnyJunk makes money off of adds. So The Oatmeal asked for them to take down his comics that are on their sites because they are making money off of his comics. He created a comic that called out FunnyJunk on their copyright problem. However FunnyJunk stated that they do follow DMCA rules so if they hear a report about copyright infringement, then they will take down the picture and block the user. However there were a good number of The Oatmeal comics and others (including Hyperbole & a Half and Cyanide and Happiness) that were/are still up on FunnyJunk's site.
FunnyJunk filed a lawsuit against The Oatmeal stating that he created slanderous comments that harassed the site and they requested $20,000 from him for the harassment and money that they lost from having to take down his comics which were never credited to him.
The Oatmeal's reaction was perfect. He created a comic addressed to FunnyJunk and their lawyer that he will not pay them $20,000 but instead he decided that he was going to raise $20,000 and give half to The American Cancer Society and the other half to The World Wildlife Federation. The Oatmeal raised the money in an hour and now he has raised over $100,000. And now, the lawyer is filing a suit against The Oatmeal saying that the money he raised for CHARITY goes against some law.
To me the whole thing is ridiculous. I agree with The Oatmeal and his actions. FunnyJunk's request of money from him is just insanely stupid. They want money from an artist who was not credited, and they made money from his comics (and also other comics). I lawyer who took the case is getting a lot of flack including emails and phone calls from people who support The Oatmeal. However, The Oatmeal never stated anywhere to his followers to call and harrass anyone. He stated in a comic that he just wants to create regular comics and not comics that are addressed to the whole possible lawsuit.
Overall, when I heard this I was blown away by the reactions and actions of FunnyJunk as well as their users and their lawyer. I hope that this whole ordeal brings light to misinformed people on what copyright is and how it works.
Here is the link to The Oatmeal's page. He includes links to other comics of his that address the ordeal as well as the letters from FunnyJunk's lawyer Charles Carreon.
Also, donations can still be made to Operation BearLove Good, Cancer Bad.
After having a segment on copyright and fair use, I've become more interested in copyright policies. Yesterday I was watching a sxephil video on YouTube about an update on a lawsuit that is trying to get filed against The Oatmeal from FunnyJunk.
From what I gathered, FunnyJunk is a website where users can upload pictures from other websites and then they can edit over and create almost memes. There original artists of the pictures are not credited. FunnyJunk makes money off of adds. So The Oatmeal asked for them to take down his comics that are on their sites because they are making money off of his comics. He created a comic that called out FunnyJunk on their copyright problem. However FunnyJunk stated that they do follow DMCA rules so if they hear a report about copyright infringement, then they will take down the picture and block the user. However there were a good number of The Oatmeal comics and others (including Hyperbole & a Half and Cyanide and Happiness) that were/are still up on FunnyJunk's site.
FunnyJunk filed a lawsuit against The Oatmeal stating that he created slanderous comments that harassed the site and they requested $20,000 from him for the harassment and money that they lost from having to take down his comics which were never credited to him.
The Oatmeal's reaction was perfect. He created a comic addressed to FunnyJunk and their lawyer that he will not pay them $20,000 but instead he decided that he was going to raise $20,000 and give half to The American Cancer Society and the other half to The World Wildlife Federation. The Oatmeal raised the money in an hour and now he has raised over $100,000. And now, the lawyer is filing a suit against The Oatmeal saying that the money he raised for CHARITY goes against some law.
To me the whole thing is ridiculous. I agree with The Oatmeal and his actions. FunnyJunk's request of money from him is just insanely stupid. They want money from an artist who was not credited, and they made money from his comics (and also other comics). I lawyer who took the case is getting a lot of flack including emails and phone calls from people who support The Oatmeal. However, The Oatmeal never stated anywhere to his followers to call and harrass anyone. He stated in a comic that he just wants to create regular comics and not comics that are addressed to the whole possible lawsuit.
Overall, when I heard this I was blown away by the reactions and actions of FunnyJunk as well as their users and their lawyer. I hope that this whole ordeal brings light to misinformed people on what copyright is and how it works.
Here is the link to The Oatmeal's page. He includes links to other comics of his that address the ordeal as well as the letters from FunnyJunk's lawyer Charles Carreon.
Also, donations can still be made to Operation BearLove Good, Cancer Bad.
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