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psyraccoon
psyraccoon aka Jeff Hoffman is a 21.2 year old boy, has been a member since March 23, 2007, has scored 1071 submissions, giving an average score of 3.07.
AIM: psyraccoon
  Jul 30 '09 by psyraccoon        8 Comments        Watch this      Share:  Share on facebook    Share on delicious    Share on digg    Share on MySpace    Tweet this    Stumble this    Share this on Kaboodle   
Copyright Infringement- what's taking it too far?
So I have a submission I am about to submit, and I have been thinking to myself if it's going too close to the "don't use any copyrighted material" clause of the rules. The whole composition is made up of scans of pictures from an old Botany book, so I don't know if it's going to be overstepping that boundary...

I think I kind of have my perspective warped by all the arguments amongst Printmakers on copyright and originality, where "as long as you change it in some way, it can be considered original work" seems to be OK.

Tell me, is this going too far? The critique link is below, I'm gonna wait and see what people say before actually submitting it for scoring.

Link To Crittique

psyraccoon
psyraccoon on Jul 30 '09 at 3:18pm
Anyone have any input? I'm totally in the dark here haha
psyraccoon
psyraccoon on Jul 30 '09 at 3:18pm
SHOW ME THE LIGHT THREADLESS GODS
Jellyes
Jellyes on Jul 30 '09 at 3:21pm
it might depend on just how old the book is. a quick google search could probably provide you the answer.
if there's still a copyright on the book, then i wouldn't use the images. im no expert on the matter, though! so don't quote me.

though even if it is within legal bounds, that design needs some work before you submit it. it isn't very attractive or interesting...
ginetteginette
   ginetteginette on Jul 30 '09 at 3:22pm
it's a misconception that you are allowed to use copyrighted imagery as long as you change '50%' or '70%' or whatever percentage most people say it is. that isn't true.

the best thing to do is to check how old the book is. copyright ends 50-70 years after the death of the artist. it's generally best to work with extremely old material that has surpassed its copyrights.

another thing you can do is simply use the images, and if threadless decides to print it, let them know what book, what printing etc the images were taken from and they can try and contact the publisher to grant the rights to printing it via t-shirt form.
psyraccoon
psyraccoon on Jul 30 '09 at 3:27pm
thanks guys, question answered, I gotta go home and check this book now.

Also, what's not doin it for you Jellyes? Anything in particular?
Jellyes
Jellyes on Jul 30 '09 at 3:35pm
it might be just me but i can't help but ask myself why i'd want that on a shirt.
i mean the big flower in the back looks pretty interesting, but the random blobs of purple and strange imagery -- some dude carrying enormous onion-things? -- idk. just not my cup of tea.
im sure you could come up with something more interesting using those botanical images!
psyraccoon
psyraccoon on Jul 30 '09 at 3:45pm
Thanks, you have a good point there. I did have more of an interest in the patterns in these amazing cells, I think I'll rework this to make something new. Also, thank god that this book is copywrited in 1952, it just clears what should be the copyright range. Thanks for that heads up Ginette.
Jellyes
Jellyes on Jul 30 '09 at 3:50pm
goodluck! i hope to see what you come up with:)
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I'm a Graphic Designer studying at Maine College of Art in Portland, ME.
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Tools of the Trade
My Turn!
Revenge Of The Sushi
Robin Readbreast
Birds & The Bees
Living In Harmony (zip-up hoody)
Lions Are Smarter Than I Am
Water, Just Water
Stupid Raisins, Stay Out Of My Cookies
Cyclope
The Ping Pong Championships of '82
Hide And Sheep
Down With CAPITALISM
Mr. Brown
The Last Piece
Two Man Enter, One Man Leave
Red Moon Replay
Folk Rock and Roll
Ballad of the Weekend Warrior
A Tall Tale
Rock the Frog
Freeloader on the Yak Express
Lil' Soap

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Hairwolves (Long Sleeve)
Routemaster
The Future is Feeling
Afternoon Delight

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I'm Not a Pirate
Bone Idol
Now That's Dope
Never Take Your Abilities For Granted
Disbelief
Bacteria
Hope
Monday!!!
Simon Says...
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