<font color='black' size='2' face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The only thing is, Sergio (and Mark) want to be asked beforehand if their TM'd characters are going to be used, even if not for sale. And </font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">definitely</font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">, they need to be credited for the original-- he just "signed" the cards with his initials, saying nothing about copyright/TM owners. It's not hard to get permission-- Mark OK'd my use of Rufferto via e-mail. Dougie also has done Groo sketches-- but not for sale.</font><br>
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<font class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Maybe it's not "worth" pursuing monetarily, but both Sergio and Mark still may consider it worth "shutting down" the infringement because they want/need to retain control of their intellectual properties. And if it's a "PSC"-- why is he SELLING it?</font>
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<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica; font-size: 10pt; color: black; ">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Porter <publicporter@gmail.com><br>
To: groop <groop@groo.com><br>
Cc: Tone <Tone@cranksgiving.net><br>
Sent: Wed, Nov 16, 2011 9:41 am<br>
Subject: Re: [Groop] Possible Groo copyright infringment on eBay<br>
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<div>I think "AECO" is a typo. ACEO stands for Art Card Editions and Originals and PSC stands for Personal Art Card. In other words, cards for amateur artists and fan-art (see <a target="_blank" href="http://www.art-cards.org/">http://www.art-cards.org/</a>).</div>
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<div>Technically I think you are right, Tone. Pretty sure these lots on eBay would all be considered copyright infringement since they are of trademarked/copyrighted subjects and are being sold publicly.</div>
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<div>It is such small potatoes though. In my opinion this is just fan-art, not a significant commercial enterprise, and is being sold for peanuts with no claim to being the copyright owner or subject originator. To me, it would seem rather petty to put the smackdown on such a lightweight transgression by a fan.</div>
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<div>With that said though, the seller/artist really should make note of the original creator and/or copyright holder on the card or at the very least on the sale page write something to the effect of "This is a fan-created piece of art of a previously existing work by ____." That to me would be enough.</div>
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<div>For an interesting discussion, see <a target="_blank" href="http://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2010/05/13/the-messy-world-of-fan-art-and-copyright/">http://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2010/05/13/the-messy-world-of-fan-art-and-copyright/</a></div>
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<div>On a related note, I have perfected forging the autographs of SA, ME, SS & TL, which I am thinking I will use as blackmail in order to get one of my letters printed in an upcoming Groograms (if I ever get around to writing it - it's been probably 15-20 years since I last wrote one). If I am denied, I shall flood the market with unbelievably hideous, poorly drawn and conceived "original and unofficial" Groo-related comicbooks, sketches and doodles, all sold for less than the cost of materials, and thereby render Sergio and Mark as obsolete and remove them from their evil monopoly over their own works. Solid plan, right? Groop-approved? Great. Details and payment options to follow once I learn how to draw.</div>
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<div>From the lurking shadows of the Groop and with kind regards to all,</div>
<div> ~ Porter.</div>
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<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium; color:rgba(127, 127, 127, 1.0);"><b>From: </b></span><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium;">"Tone" <<a href="mailto:Tone@cranksgiving.net">Tone@cranksgiving.net</a>><br>
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<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium; color:rgba(127, 127, 127, 1.0);"><b>Date: </b></span><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium;">November 16, 2011 11:01:46 AM PST<br>
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<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium; color:rgba(127, 127, 127, 1.0);"><b>To: </b></span><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium;"><a href="mailto:groop@groo.com">groop@groo.com</a><br>
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<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium; color:rgba(127, 127, 127, 1.0);"><b>Subject: </b></span><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium;"><b>[Groop] Possible Groo copyright infringment on eBay</b><br>
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<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium; color:rgba(127, 127, 127, 1.0);"><b>Reply-To: </b></span><span style="font-family:'Helvetica'; font-size:medium;"><a href="mailto:Tone@cranksgiving.net">Tone@cranksgiving.net</a><br>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I saw these two auctions being sold on eBay by "hothunter" for Groo<br>
cards, which are clearly not drawn by Sergio.<br>
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"AECO, Original PSC Sketch Groo The Wanderer"<br>
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170730125140">http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170730125140</a><br>
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...and...<br>
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"AECO, Original PSC Sketch Groo The Wanderer"<br>
<a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170730124713" target="_blank">http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170730124713</a><br>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It looks like this person, apparently named Mike Fletcher according to<br>
the descriptions, draws up cards with subject matter, which does not<br>
belong to him, then sells the cards on eBay. At the moment Hothunter has<br>
cards on eBay with characters from Star Wars, Family Guy, Batman, and<br>
Groo. Their starting bids are all $5 or less, but still... if he had<br>
drawn himself or anyone he knew instead of popular fictional characters,<br>
would anyone ever be interested in paying one cent?<br>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I do not know what "AECO" or "PSC" in the item heading stand for, but I<br>
doubt they have any legal justification for his card sales. It is not<br>
like he describes any percentage going to support the Comic Book Legal<br>
Defense Fund or anything like that either. Can anyone in the Groop<br>
clarify what those acronyms mean?<br>
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Gary, is this a case where you might have to inform Sergio or Mark?</blockquote><br>
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