Rich Morris' Comics - YAFGC and The ComixBlog

canacreations on eBay is selling Doctor Who shirts with Rich's version of 11 on them. Is this an authorised sale, or do we have an art thief hanging about?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dr-Who-Funny-Shirt- ... 335d2b11af

Art thief. I've sent a message asking for its removal or payment for my work.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention!
-Rich

Check ebay's terms of service and send a complaint there as well, love, if you haven't already. They can pull the listings.

I've sent in a report. We'll see what happens next.
-Rich

Why would anybody do that? I'm so sorry this happened.

I'm not a lawyer, but I'd suggest reading up on your country's intellectual property laws and perhaps consulting one. (a la, cease and desist letters, small claims, etc.) Not defending your IP legally and in writing once you have become aware of the infringement can result in "bad juju for IP owner".

There are all sorts of horror stories about IP creators who don't take the legally required steps to defend their IP. Don't be another one of them. It's unfortunately just a standard cost of being an artist.

Hope you get his butt on a sling. Scammed or not, his pigheaded attitude, coupled with denying credit to artists and a less than ethical business history, is the reason he deserves to lose lawsuits.

Well, it's touchy because Doctor Who isn't my copyright. Neither is Matt Smith, for that matter. I'd rather get the BBC on his ass for cashing in on their property. He "claims" he's got a letter of authorization from them, but I doubt it. I think he's trying to scare us off or something.

He's apparently recently been in a legal battle with Coca Cola for riffing on their logo.

Rich, you may wanna take a gander at this one...

http://canacreations.blogspot.com/

Not sure if he has a leg to stand on. But I thought I'd give a heads up.

a little rummaging has turned up interesting information.

he claims that he has registered this in Canada and that "Canacreations" is a registered trademark of "QUANTUM GROUP HOLDINGS"

well a search of CIPO (Canadian Intellectual Property Office) and their online database turns up nothing. no registered trademarks, copyrights, nothing at all with those names.

one wonders if a request for the CIPO Registration Numbers would be answered

there is something registered to a "Thomas Chow" - in 2001 to a different firm altogether and that he's from Hong Hong.

also for someone so well versed in "copyright law" - the recounting of PMC - "Poor Man's Copyright" aka mailing yourself the items in a sealed package, is telling. since it's a myth. it does not prove copyright at all. no lawyer would tell you to do it.

also in his rant. "500.00 to break even" - erm. the BBC licencing fee on any Doctor Who licences is in the tens of thousands. also looking at his store I see Stargate, Transformers, Daleks (Nation Estate), Torchwood... this is in the hundreds of thousands in licencing terms.....

He's completely and utterly full of crap, but I wonder how often this bluffing has worked on other artists who may not have had such a strong support system? Not to mention he's looking in the wrong country.

Full of crap is right, and absolutely clueless. Carrying this on like he has and being so abusive shows just how dumb and arrogant he is. Time to let the BBC, Hasbro, etc., know what the little crook that owns Canacreations is up to.

I'm sorry, but part of me is amused that he stole someones art, alot of someones now that I've looked on deviant art and the posted links, and he's whining about being called out on it. I'm just amazed at the stupidity, I guess. Of course the greater part of me is outraged on your behalf.

Wrong country is right...Where did he get the notion that you guys were in England?

And why haven't I heard of the battle with Coke? You'd think "Little guy takes on mega corporation and wins" would have been all over the news.

We've got your back, but I suspect that you're not going to get much satisfaction out of this. This guy reeks of being judgment proof. But we'll see if the BBC and other copyright holders lower the boom on him. But they're likely only going to force him deeper underground.

Pity.

Now... were did I put Strategic Air Command's phone number..? I think they're overdue for some joint exercises with the RCAF.