“Violation” Of Copyright Law
Thursday, 1 October 2009, at 10:16Some of you might remember when I used to draw a comic strip called Urban Trash.
Syndicated around South Africa and England between 2005 and 2008, it was centred around South Africanisms. (I like that phrase.) A fat white corrupt Afrikaans cop who spokes delicious English since he were twice, for example, would be a South Africanism. Similarly, a black incompetent taxi driver with a stolen driver’s licence and a wrench for a steering wheel, would be a South Africanism.
And so on.
Of course, The Biggish Five has since replaced Urban Trash, and life has progressed happily.
Well, no.
Not entirely for some, it seems.
This week, I received an email from one Mia Carroll, who (presumably) represents Glamour Doll. From the website:
Glamour Doll is an eye shadow company that strives to bring you fashionable and unique colors to strut your stuff!
With that in mind, Aunty Mia’s message goes on to say:
I am writing to bring to your attention a possible violation of copyright law. An Albuquerque, NM based cosmetics company has named their product Urban Trash.
Notwithstanding the rather vague use of “copyright law”, I popped over to the said product’s page to see for myself.
Furthermore, according to the website,
I started making eye shadows in November of 2008
Dear Aunty Mia.
Thank you for “[bringing to my] attention a possible violation of copyright law”. My comic strip, Urban Trash, which was established in 2005, has indeed experienced a “possible violation of copyright law”. Kindly accept my request to cease making eye shadow, named Urban Trash, in the United States. If you refuse, then I will be forced not to strut my stuff.
Thank you for your understanding in this regard.
Love, Jeremy. (Creator of defunct comic strip Urban Trash.)
Thursday, 1 October 2009, at 10:54
hahahahaha
Seriously, Urban Trash the usage has been around longer then either of your comics and I doubt can be cross country copyrighted.
There’s a soda called Orange Crush, hmmm
Thursday, 1 October 2009, at 10:54
erm (either your comic or their product)
/shrug/
Thursday, 1 October 2009, at 10:57
some people are just idiots. pity them.
Thursday, 1 October 2009, at 11:14
hahahaha!
those americans are crazy!
Thursday, 1 October 2009, at 12:03
I miss the Urban Trash characters. They were kinda’ like the dysfunctional family members you love to laugh at and are forced to deal with at funerals and weddings.
Thursday, 1 October 2009, at 12:18
Why would you wear eye shadow that has the word “trash” in it?
Oh right – it’s America. I have new names for her eye shadow that I think would be more appropriate:
White Trash
Orange Oprah
and
Monster Truck
Thursday, 1 October 2009, at 12:20
No child of mine will wear a colour called “urban trash”! My life as a mother is hard enough!!!!!!
LOL! Jeremy, when the Copy Right Lawyers start reading your stuff, you know you have hit the big time!
Thursday, 1 October 2009, at 12:34
Oh pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze Jeremy take this one to court! I’ll be there every day …… I still miss Urban Trash soooooooooooooooooooooooooo much.
Thursday, 1 October 2009, at 13:25
Don’t want to be an American Idiot…
Thursday, 1 October 2009, at 15:40
I’m crying tears of laughter! strut your stuff … I happen to think you’d look de-lish in some Urban Trash shadow… please make that Friday’s caption picture!
Thursday, 1 October 2009, at 17:10
You gotta love these americans…
Thursday, 1 October 2009, at 23:03
Hope you can win and get your long awaited new website off the ground ( including the Rogues Gallery to end all galleries)
Thursday, 1 October 2009, at 23:05
You know, Grey, I should probably name that gallery after you…
Thursday, 1 October 2009, at 23:31
It would be the “Gallery of Really Excellent Yobboes”
Friday, 2 October 2009, at 00:16
Since this is a discussion on copyright infringement, why not name it a League of Extraordinary Yobboes?
Friday, 2 October 2009, at 12:24
Hahahaha
High5, Jerm
Saturday, 3 October 2009, at 10:40
laaitie was the best!
Sunday, 4 October 2009, at 10:17
Ah!… Urban Trash! that’s what it was called. I digged that era man. There was something so unique & definitively so “underground” about it…
loved it bru!