Jan animations shut down by hasbro/C&D

[Flash Fire 386]

I'm not excusing my behavior, but we in the UK don't get the Hub. If we did. I'd pay for it!

 Buy the episodes through amazon or itunes then like others do. 

 

I have to highly disagree with your veiws on fan art too. After all, the sistine chapel art is just bible fan art. 

[Tigerpop198 696]

If this goes into full effect, the pony fan art is going to get very limited. It's kind of sad actually, I have never saw a Jan animation video, but hard work all down the drain, right now.

[Adorkable 2,737]

So basically you just have to make a pony thing in a better (or just different) style than Hasbro's, change the character design of Button Mash (Hasbro didn't give that brown colt a name), and remove any and all reasonable references to My Little Pony, just so the legal team at Hasbro will be happy.

 

 

That's basically it, I think, in a nutshell. ^^"

[[NULL] 906]

Well, that's a shame. I hope this doesn't discourage him from continuing animation.

[DND 2,355]

I thought the Button Mash videos were a bit overrated, but he was the best fan-made pony animator out there by far. Really top-notch quality stuff he posted. Really such a shame... DX

[Rarity Paige Belle 1,854]

Buy the episodes through amazon or itunes then like others do. 

 

I have to highly disagree with your veiws on fan art too. After all, the sistine chapel art is just bible fan art.

 

I would, but I have a Chromebook and you can't download iTunes, or use the amazon store, unless its through the android app.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,392]

Something has clearly forced Hasbro to do this. Something with the copyright laws. I am not too keen on it all myself so I could be completely off but isn't there something saying that they HAVE to protect their copyrights? That's what that statement from Hasbro basically says.

 

So, if this is the case, it is indeed insanely unfortunate and bullshit, but, I don't blame Hasbro or anyone here, except maybe the confusing copyright laws..

[sonicdude558 27]

I would, but I have a Chromebook and you can't download iTunes, or use the amazon store, unless its through the android app.

Google has it on their Google Play store under Movies and TV

[Total Lunar Eclipse 516]

One of my friends from uni works for an animation studio, and he is proud of the few animations he's worked on. Why should he have to see his work ripped off? I asked him about this and he does get upset when he sees r34 and stuff like that.

This isn't about r34. It is about FAN ART. Whether a single drawing or an animated video, suppressing fanart is absolutely sick. What kind of artist is he if he thinks it's okay to take other people's artwork off the web just because they used the same style, characters etc. That's what fanart is.

I understand taking the full episodes of MLP down, but nothing else. 

Hasbro will get what's coming to them if they go too far. The fans are the ones supporting their paychecks after all.

Edited March 22, 2014 by Solar-Wind

[Adorkable 2,737]

This isn't about r34. It is about FAN ART. Whether a single drawing or an animated video, suppressing fanart is absolutely sick. What kind of artist is he if he thinks it's okay to take other people's artwork off the web just because they used the same style, characters etc. That's what fanart is.

I understand taking the full episodes of MLP down, but nothing else. 

Hasbro will get what's coming to them if they go too far. The fans are the ones supporting their paychecks after all.

 

Let's...just calm down for a minute. ^^"

 

You do know that it's not Hasbro's fault, right?

 

And they if they didn't do what they did to Jan, then they may have lost their Copyright to MLP?

 

Then there would be no more MLP.

 

(Kinda)

[Bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb 167]

This isn't about r34. It is about FAN ART. Whether a single drawing or an animated video, suppressing fanart is absolutely sick. What kind of artist is he if he thinks it's okay to take other people's artwork off the web just because they used the same style, characters etc. That's what fanart is.

I understand taking the full episodes of MLP down, but nothing else. 

Hasbro will get what's coming to them if they go too far. The fans are the ones supporting their paychecks after all.

Also the about bazillion toys & board games they hold the rights too

[Coco Pommel 669]

After this, I think I'm going to download any pony related videos I like, as much as it pains me to try and cheat the broken system that is copyright infringement.

[Ohnhai 69]

This sucks because of all the fan videos I've seen Jan Animations is consistently the best out there. Everything from the writing to the art design the characters and animation is up there with the show itself, and I guess right there that is the problem as if you didn't know then You could easily confuse JA's content with Hasbro's content. (Not something you are gonna do with 'Smile HD' for example).

 

 

I hadn't twigged the Button was an actual character from the show (albeit a background pony) so when you rope in the plans for an entire series of button videos I understand where Hasbro comes from. JA,s videos are just too professional and getting to close to an actual product for comfort.

 

I would have preferred if hasbro has just taken down the button vids (leaving meet the Bronies, picture perfect pony... Ect) but when media companys wield the C&D axe they tend to swing it wide..

 

I would add that most of his vids are hosted on other channels so grab them wile you can....

[The Soldier 2,044]

If we protest won't that go against the tolerance part of love and tolerance?

Some promises, just are made to be broken. To hell with Love and Tolerance, as I would find it useless.

[Argumedies 1,748]

If it is legit and semi suspect it is then my personal speculation is that it didn't have so much to do with the character Button so much as the use of Sweetie Bell who IS canon to the show.

 

That's my suspicion anyway.

[Metemponychosis 1,261]

 

 

Hey I'm upset too about this but you're ignoring what everyone has said in the thread already about the legal rights that Hasbro has. You can be upset all you want but its your choice how you deal with that. It's not appropriate to cuss up and down on this forum and not be knowledgable about the basics of how the legal system works with trademarks and copyrights.     Feel free to write a nasty letter to Hasbro if you want to do make your voice heard and get them to see this as a pr disaster. Just don't feel you have to tear into every brony who isn't thinking that the sky is falling or that Hasbro is the big bad guy.

 

 

I'm not upset. I'm pissed. And I'm pissed at you for the way you've talked to me.

And if it is not appropriate to cuss then you can report those comments to the mods.

Tell me how this law works and that it's not a tool for scare tactics and I'll shut up. How is it that fan work puts an IP in danger of being lost when this thing is registered, forcing Hasbro to take legal action.

[Koori 156]

This feels like the beginning of dark days for this fandom.

 

All I am going to say is I really, and I mean REALLY, can't understand the reason behind this C&D even after reading all the previous comments. If they'll really want someone to remove a video that shows a character that was shown in FiM for 2-3 seconds then why the hell did they even let the video be in YouTube as long as it was. I do not believe that they just noticed it. Heck if they decided to C&D animations why not go all the way and C&D every video that shows Derpy, Lyra, Bon Bon. Heck even one or all of the Mane 6 if they're so afraid for the trademark. 

 

Now that Hasbro actually went and sent a C&D for a group of animators, I fear we can expect another one for other animator groups like SillyFillyStudios or the ones that made Children of the Night etc. I also fear the consequences of this whole thing. This will put fear on all animators and possibly all artists and writers. Whose to say they won't be a target either?

 

The whole thing is BS IMO. 

 

What's the point of being a fan if you can't express it the way you want to?

Edited March 23, 2014 by Koori

[BayoUni2847 528]

This is quite a shame, working hours and hours on something that you pour passion into all goes to the trash due to copyright.

[Guest]

Yes, because if a current government is justified in somthing, that means you should never question it, and never try to change the law. I mean, it would be like letting those silly gays marry, churches are within their right to ban gay marriage.

I am giggling because you just compared to protecting copyrighted property to gay marriage. I don't even think I need to comment any further.

[IridscentNionios 1,420]

Double Rainboom wasn't C&D'd; Zachary Rich had written permission from Hasbro to make it. He took it down voluntarily.

Actually in the Rainboom takedown thread it was revealed that Hasbro might have indeed told him to take it down. Revealed Not by Zachary but by others.

Edited March 23, 2014 by nioniosbbbb

[Archer Dash 163]

One of my friends from uni works for an animation studio, and he is proud of the few animations he's worked on. Why should he have to see his work ripped off? I asked him about this and he does get upset when he sees r34 and stuff like that.

If that were me I'd be more like.  Huh, someone actually cared enough about my stuff to make this.  And then I'd probably send them a half-sarcastic letter of thanks.

[M'aiq the Liar 5,804]

I am giggling because you just compared to protecting copyrighted property to gay marriage. I don't even think I need to comment any further.

I'm giggiling because another college 20 somthing thinks that because a book says it is ok, that he should never fight against it.

[NavelColt 22,879]

Boy, despite all those brohoofs, seems like a lot of people didn't bother reading my post on the front page :3 'Hasbro is the Devil' is still flying with a few people. To be honest, a lot of this irritation and drama comes from innocent ignorance of how laws and copyright and trademark works.

 

Something has clearly forced Hasbro to do this. Something with the copyright laws. I am not too keen on it all myself so I could be completely off but isn't there something saying that they HAVE to protect their copyrights? That's what that statement from Hasbro basically says.

So, if this is the case, it is indeed insanely unfortunate and bullshit, but, I don't blame Hasbro or anyone here, except maybe the confusing copyright laws..

 

More or less the problem. If you're to bitch about anything, people, don't bitch at Hasbro for doing occasional C&D's, bitch at the copyright and trademark laws that we're still using after a century of use, of which don't work properly in the modern age of internet and technology. Governments' trying to address that problem with things like SOPA and whatnot, but obviously they're trying to fix things in the wrong direction. Hopefully that'll rectify in the future sooner rather than later.

[Littlepip357 17]

I've been having weird feelings about all the C&Ding thats been happening recently like someone is behind it. Don't know if this has been brought up or not (don't feel like spending hours reading) and I have a feeling I'm just giving this guy attention if he"s just trolling but in the EQD comments for this post http://www.equestriadaily.com/2014/03/mike-vogel-looking-into-concerns-about.html#idc-cover found these links http://vocaroo.com/i/s0AyRKfpf1yo and http://vocaroo.com/i/s1gI2w0pdT2P and a 3rd one http://vocaroo.com/i/s0Zh90VPEg29 Don't know if troll or a real big issue.

Edited March 23, 2014 by Littlepip357

[Fhaolan 4,483]

moonlightavenger, on 22 Mar 2014 - 4:57 PM, said:

How is it that fan work puts an IP in danger of being lost when this thing is registered, forcing Hasbro to take legal action.

This I can help with.

 

Just to confirm, this has more to do with Trademarks than Copyright, which are related but are technically a different set of laws in most countries. I know you know that, I'm just putting that in for anyone else reading this.

 

What Hasbro, as well as Lego, Nintendo, Disney, etc. are doing with various degrees of aggressiveness, is trying to avoid their trademarks falling into the 'proprietary eponym' category. Once that happens, the trademark is unenforceable by law. This has happened several times in the past. Phillips screwdriver, aspirin, kerosene, escalator, zipper, yo-yo were all trademarks of specific companies who lost their trademarks because of this. Most of these happened in the 20's-40's, but the laws haven't changed significantly since then, so the examples still apply and are taught as examples in law school.

 

A court can rule a trademark as being diluted, genericised, or eponymous, and rescind a trademark if the holder of that trademark does not prove that they are actively protecting that trademark. This is supposed to prevent frivolous trademarks being made (It doesn't, but that's another issue), and to keep trademarks from being kept in perpetuity when the holder isn't actually using it (Which it again doesn't.)

 

Once things have started to slide down this path, the courts seem to only recognize the most aggressive actions as protecting the trademark. Xerox, Kleenex, Band-Aid, and several others were 'rescued' this way. So the legal departments of companies like Hasbro, Disney, and others have basically been trained to react in this way. Because as far as they're concerned, it works.

 

Okay, facts over, now we wander into 'this is my opinion' territory, with what I believe is the problem with the preceeding facts.

 

Trademark law was orginally only meant to cover words and symbols used to indicate a Brand. The words 'My Little Pony' for example, is a trademark indicative of Hasbro's MLP *brand*. The idea that specific characters in a TV show and the portrayal on that show are 'trademarks' is stretching those laws beyond their capacity to cope. That kind of stuff is supposed to be covered by copyright, not trademarks. But copyright laws are equally stretched when they have to cope with people making clones of the toys, which wasn't written to cover mass-produced 'sculptures' like that. So we end up having bits of some laws interacting with bits of other laws that originally had nothing to do with each other, but are being forced together in an attempt to make sense of this mess.

 

There's no real incentive to fix it though. It's a rats nest, and the lawmakers simply don't view it as a priority to delve into this one.

Edited March 23, 2014 by Fhaolan