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MIT Steals Comic Book Character

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the they-coulda-at-least-swiped-gundam dept.

Merle writes "According to Horizon Comics MIT has stolen images from their comic Radix in a proposal to the US Army as an attempt to gain funds to foot a project in creating a better, stronger type of soldier for tomorrow. Upon inspection of the images themselves, it can be easily seen that minor image alteration and a bit of photoshop magic for the background, MIT did a classic comic book "swipe" and took the credit for it." Well, imitation/flattery/blah blah blah, but man. Thats just strange.

3 of 299 comments (clear)

  1. Sensationalism by sheriff_p · · Score: 4, Informative
    Wired have been running this story for a few days with a slightly more balanced persepctive (read it here), the key quote being:
    In a letter dated May 3, MIT attorney Mark Fischer admitted that MIT had used this drawing of "Val" in its grant proposal to the Army. But Kelly says because "MIT reproduced a very small number of copies (approximately 25 copies)," of the document for "educational activities," the school did not violate the Lais' rights.
    It does seem that at first, one of the MIT professors said their daughter had drawn it, but, the quote above I think says it all...
    --
    Score:-1, Funny
  2. MIT has Issued an Apology by Alien54 · · Score: 5, Informative
    MIT apparently has gotten enough flack over this in the past week that they have issued an apology, removed all offending artwork, etc.

    This public apology is featured on their news page. See the press release here

    Just another example of how timely /. can be at times

    ;-)

    heck even RFN has followed this

    ;-)

    --
    "It is a greater offense to steal men's labor, than their clothes"
  3. Re:Handy Swipes(tm) by dhogaza · · Score: 3, Informative

    Use of another's photos in comps of ads for clients can be subject to fees and transgressing as you describe can, and has, caused the transgressor to be spanked in court on more than one occasion.

    Because, as you point out, it is "swiping" (more formally known as "stealing") another's work.

    The pricing guide I use for sales specifically lists "presenation to client when artwork is not used in the final product" as a billable event ...