Possible mouse pad idea

[JMax]

http://jmaxproductions.com/mousepad.jpg

[jadeshand]

crossing the copyright lines, eh, JMax?

How about it, graphic designers, can you come up with a gorgeous mousepad design advertising Save Farscape, but without crossing the copyright lines?

Let' s give it a shot.

[JMax]

:huh:
JH,

It is a drawing, much like the one's you showed me with CBOOL. What? Detail defines copywright?:ewink:

I would be willing to do this on my own, me thinks...at cost only.
Or there is always the "donation route" where this particular design is yours for free...and, "Oh by the way the donation button is just there...."

That is the poor girl's copyright avoidence strategy. Long tried and true in the world around you!;)

J

[jadeshand]

there is something in the copyright laws about 'first generation'. Why don't you send a copy to cofax and see what she says.

I think it looks marvelous, btw. :D

[JMax]

:aok: Good Idea.

Thank you for the compliment.*blush* Something constructive out of a flash I had durring the meeting.

(edited cause I never remember to close tags)

[JMax]

OK so it was shot down by cofax. :(
Just have to figure something else out :D

[nhfearme]

WavScaper just pumped these out!

Please copy to your harddrive. I haven't uploaded these yet:

shadows

http://wavscaper.freeservers.com/wa/shadow1.jpg


http://wavscaper.freeservers.com/wa/shadow2.jpg

[mycattoldme]

What about something like this?

http://www.cathairstudios.com/fs_art/watch.jpg

The text below Watch Farscape says:
relentless pursuit, capture, escape, treachery, torture, fight, run, laugh, love and cry.

Watch Farscape is set in Pritchard, not the fan created Farscape font. I'm checking to see if this is ok to use or not!!

This would also work if the major headline says Save Farscape.

[mycattoldme]

Here is another version with new typography, just in case, and new text added at the bottom which reads:
Watch as Farscape returns in January 2003 on the Scifi Channel • visit www.watchfarscape.com.

http://cathairstudios.com/fs_art/watchtwo.jpg

[JMax]

Nice Job!! :beer:
I think either font would do. They can't come after us for a font unless the font was made specifically for Farscape. Do we know anything about that? cofax?

[nhfearme]

cofax told me to refer to the Faq:

http://www.watchfarscape.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4042

and the Faq says:
Originally posted by cofax
Can we use the Farscape Font on our sites and on ads?

Fonts cannot be copyrighted. So anyone can use the Farscape font if they want. Just don't try to make it look like you're from Henson when you do.

Can we use "Save Farscape" in the Farscape Font?

So long as it's clearly disclaimed and evident that we are in no way associated with the actual show, probably fine. As a noncommercial site, we're not about to cause trademark dilution or customer confusion, which is one of the common complaints (like if you made a soda called "Coba Cola" and used the Coke font for the logo).

So the fonts are ok. If they look too close to professional it would be best to put in a disclaimer. What we need is a normal disclaimer on our stuff anyway... like: "1999 Copyright Scifi, Hallmark & the Henson Co. No infringment intended." and maybe follow it with. "Printed by the fans of FarScape" or "The Watch FarScape campaign" or "Printed by SaveFarScape.com" anyway, it would be nice to have one. :angelgrin

Scorpwanna has the know about Pritchard vs Browny & Scorpwanna's fonts. If you have further questions go to irc.chorn.com #farscape where he hangs out :P

Concerning use of images:

Originally posted by cofax
Why can't we use images from the show on our ads/flyers/buttons/sites?

The images from the show belong to Henson. Henson, as the creator, owns the right to use, manipulate, and distribute those images, including pictures of the cast and Moya. Anyone using those images for a commercial purpose would be violating Henson's intellectual property rights in their creation, and could be subject to legal penalties.

Fannish uses of images and characters are generally noncommercial and recognize the creator's ownership of the product: what this means legally is still being debated. In my personal opinion, a fan-run Farscape site that doesn't claim ownership of the characters is unlikely to get a cease-and-desist letter from Henson. But trying to pay someone else to run an ad containing Henson's intellectual property (e.g., a newspaper or magazine ad containing screen-shots or publicity pictures, however manipulated) is much less acceptable -- and the newspaper in question probably wouldn't approve it anyway.

People have approached Henson about getting them to approve using images for the campaign to save the show -- so far no one has received such approval, and in my opinion it's unlikely to happen.

What about fan-created artwork, like Ratscape's Wanted posters or my picture of Moya I use on my site?

Oddly enough, that doesn't really make a difference. Fan art, like fan fiction, is a "derivative work", and the rights the fannish-producers hold are subject to the original copyright-holder's interests. In other words, Henson actually has a legal right of some sort in my fan fiction and Ratscape's posters. We have a derivative interest.

The use of fan-created art makes it less obvious that we're infringing on someone else's copyright, but we're still doing it.

That said, my advisor said, "There is an extremely strong argument that the posters are "fair uses," at least as long as they are not being sold but are instead distributed freely."

So, we should be aware of this issue, and I think that if we want to run formal advertisements in newspapers and the like we should not even use fan art. However, freely-distributed flyers, posters, and buttons are probably fine, so long as we don't sell them. Non-commercial uses, remember?

That should about cover it. So selling JMax's or Wav's is a no-no 'cause of the similarities of the fan art to the real deal, but mycattoldme's design should be k :bounce:

Any more Q's to cofax need to go in the Faq thread. :rollin:

http://www.watchfarscape.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4042

Well I guess sandinafh's office shot is a no go then :space:

[nhfearme]

we're suffering technical difficulties here... I'll try again:

[mycattoldme]

Actually we do have a disclaimer which should be used on everything that contains anything that belongs to The Jim Henson Company:

Farscape and its characters belong to The Jim Henson Company, and are used without permission.

However, if anything is to be "sold" it should not contain any fan art, downloaded images or the Farscape logo.

As far as using Pritchard in "PAID advertising/web banners/movie ads etc." for the word Farscape - not contained in a sentence and/or not contained in a headline - I'm still waiting for an official yes or no - it may be considered too close to the actual logo - however if the font Pritchard is used in a headline like "WATCH FARSCAPE" it "may possibly" be ok - thats what I'm waiting to find out. But it may turn out that for any PAID ads or anthing that is going to be SOLD we need to use a different font - in my case I used a font from Emigre called Modula Tall.

[wavscaper]

You have to be kidding me.
The shadow pic is considered a copyright issue?

Maybe it's just me, but I personally believe that sales for products like this are not going to be as strong unless it's Farscape related. Just the words Save Farscape in another font is not going to be as attractive, to Farscape fans.

I understand about the "worries" of copyright, but maybe my suggestion of Mouse Pads isn't as good of an idea, with all the restrictions.

I personally have always wanted a Farscape Mouse Pad.
FARSCAPE. Guess I will have to get that one myself.

[jadeshand]

Just a minor point, but isn't "Pursuit" spelled with a 'u' and not an 'e'?

[mycattoldme]

Yikes! Can never seem to design and spell, or type and spell, or think and spell at the same time!

Thanks!

[nhfearme]

No, Wav. I think the mousepad is a great idea. :rainbow:

1) edited until I have more info...

2) I'm not ready to give up on the reproduction of a satisfactory FarScape like image

3) I'm not ready to give up on the idear of a satisfactory Watch FarScape logo for human consumption.

4) We're fighting a battle, not only for our right to pump out a satisfactory mouse pad but any images/logos/graphics we decide on here can go on to embellish skirts, dressers, Christmas cards, table cloths, TV ads, magazine articles.... ad nauseaum!!!

5) I am tempted to take this *whole* conversation to cofax in one of the two Copyright Faq threads! :grr:

We gotta know! We're outta time! & I'm not gonna take it anymore!!!! :jedi:

<gasp!> :thud:

Yes, I feel better now... here is a Pic I snapped off a sim posted in the Ultimate before the world went to dren:

[nhfearme]

I just got word that quoting FarScape is OK :aok: as long as we don’t use large blocks of it :D

Jmax!

:help:

I need a mousepad manufacturer who will work with me! Please help!

I have an idea for an innovation to mousepads that will work for us :bounce: I need a manufacturer that will work with me to develop it! It’s too late for Burbank :headbang: but not too late for the campaign.