WEEZNERS GETTING RIPPED OFF!

In Jeff's defence, he DOES make a living as an artist. And fucking great artist too. (Plus a nice guy) Copyright theft is THEFT plain and simple. I have a friend who just sucessfully sued a rock band from Germany for stealinbg his art for their album cover. Total cost out:$2000 Total award: $10,000 plus legal fees.
Nobody makes a stand then they keep on doing it.
Its all fine when it when it's somebody else's but when it happens to you who will scream the loudest? The "lay down and take it in the ass" attitude is not cool at all.
GM and Ford sue all the time over copyright on repro parts. No difference. Movie companys, comic companys, toy company all sue over infringment everyday.
The people in question are using somebody elses work FOR PROFIT. Go read about copyright law and see the heavy fines involved. The courts don't take intellectual theft lightly.
Judging by the shitty artwork, they have no talent and more than likely no money. I say make an example of them. The artists should band together and sue the fuckers.
But as always this MY opinion and like bellybuttons, everybody has one.

 

Entertainment Tonight tells everybody what to like. And like lemmings, they (civilians) abide and fall in line. A true masterpiece could be viewed as SHIT until some genius like fittycent re-does it. A poor black southern man welding scrap metal together as yard art is discovered by a N.Y. gallery agent and the brother's art is NOW acceptable because a suit and tie deems it so.
Weesner is a super nice guy, quiet. Not likely he'll go into a rage about this. He is fortunate because, not only does HE know his art is superior, he just happens to be popular enough that most everyone else will still dig Weesner's stuff over any imitation.
Personally, I will continue to plug along and draw my cars. It is TRULY frustrating to not get the credit you may deserve, but unless you want to spend the time and money to go after these people, you HAVE to get over it. I suck as a business man and I've never really known how to install lightbulbs around my name. I'm trying though. Oh yeah, I DO think nice guys can win (or at least sleep at night).

 

[ QUOTE ]

Nobody makes a stand then they keep on doing it.
Its all fine when it when it's somebody else's but when it happens to you who will scream the loudest? The "lay down and take it in the ass" attitude is not cool at all.


[/ QUOTE ]

I agree, but you have to choose your battles wisely. Most of the time it is not worth it.

 

I'll say somethng else, too....without naming names.

the amount an automotive artist receives for work in automotive magazines is an absolute fucking crime. janitors get more per hour than we do.

example: ONE [1] illustration in BrandX-news magazine will pay more than 4 pieces of automotive art. don't believe me? I'll show you the fuckin' invoices.



you know why we continue to do this for a living? 'cause we love it, 'cause it's important.

 

The design looks WAAAY to similar to me. Maybe you can't protect yourself from this kind of theft...but ignoring it or over-looking it is WRONG. We all "borrow" from each other and even from artists we don't know...but paying tribute or putting a new spin on old ideas is completely different from blatant theft.

[ QUOTE ]
Why are you all complaining about being poor and not having any money,if your stuff is as valuable as you think, you should be rich.


[/ QUOTE ]

Not sure what that meant, but I will say that it's hard to get rich off of your own hard work if someone is out there cutting your throat with cheap imitations.

 

I can attest to this...

[ QUOTE ]

the amount an automotive artist receives for work in automotive magazines is an absolute fucking crime. janitors get more per hour than we do.


[/ QUOTE ]

But I also can attest to this...

[ QUOTE ]
you know why we continue to do this for a living? 'cause we love it, 'cause it's important.

[/ QUOTE ]

You won't meet a group of people more into cars than the people that spend countless hours toiling over automotive based artwork that the masses won't even notice. And it sucks that they have to spend time watching their ass instead of churning out artwork that we can all enjoy.

Automotive artists are as important a part of the hobby as anyone, and I agree that they should be treated as such. Without their guidance and ideas, things would be a lot more stale.

Excellent points, Mr. Picasso.

 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

Nobody makes a stand then they keep on doing it.
Its all fine when it when it's somebody else's but when it happens to you who will scream the loudest? The "lay down and take it in the ass" attitude is not cool at all.


[/ QUOTE ]

I agree, but you have to choose your battles wisely. Most of the time it is not worth it.

[/ QUOTE ]
Not worth it??? By who's standards?
If my family goes hungry from some dumbfuck ripping off my shit, I'd say it's worth it.
I'm not fighting to win, I'm fighting SURVIVE!!!
Check out what Foiled said. It's hard enuf out there with somebody being crooked. BULLSHIT I SAY!
If somebody stole your fucking awesome idea at work and got a promotion out of it, don't think you'd like it too much.
Sorry but as a person who makes a living out of being creative I don't take copyright theft lightly.
And sorry to Jeff for hi-jacking your post! I need to go find my happy pills.

 

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree, but you have to choose your battles wisely. Most of the time it is not worth it.

[/ QUOTE ]
Not worth it??? By who's standards?
If my family goes hungry from some dumbfuck ripping off my shit, I'd say it's worth it.
I'm not fighting to win, I'm fighting SURVIVE!!!
Check out what Foiled said. It's hard enuf out there with somebody being crooked. BULLSHIT I SAY!
If somebody stole your fucking awesome idea at work and got a promotion out of it, don't think you'd like it too much.
Sorry but as a person who makes a living out of being creative I don't take copyright theft lightly.
And sorry to Jeff for hi-jacking your post! I need to go find my happy pills.




[/ QUOTE ]

Hey there Flatlandman, Don't get all sanctimonious with me. I try to eek out a living with this stuff and I know it sucks to be ripped off. Did you even READ what I posted?!
No, it's not worth it most of the time. You damn well better be sure you have a case if you are to pursue going after someone. Tell you what, you go ahead and fight every battle that comes down the pike, meanwhile, I'll keep drawing. And don't throw the "I've got a family to support" thing in there. It's insulting! I have two boys myself, you think I am going to let someone take food out of their mouths?! WTF

 

[ QUOTE ]
I suck as a business man and I've never really known how to install lightbulbs around my name. I'm trying though.

[/ QUOTE ]

I got your back, man. leave it to me.

 

Picasso rules.

 

Dan, You're killing me!

YUR the BEST.

 

I've got a similar problem, not as the one being ripped off, but as the one doing the ripping off. First some background.

I have a good friend that without whom, my automotive exploits would not be nearly as sucessful. In short, he can fix anything and I feel like a dumbass around him. Not because I am, but that is just how much he knows. Everybody's problems find his garage eventually. So I joke with him that his garage is HOT ROD HELL, where all the bad cars go... yeah, just like the tshirt company. He laughs. Now he wants that painted on a sign above his garage. It's ten times more fitting to him than some kid wearing a tshirt, but I know that is irrelevant also.

So I designed a sign with that on it, with my own car design (you've all seen my designs.. it's no secret that Weesner is a creative hero of mine) and a pin up girl, and it looks nothing like the art the shirt place uses. It just uses their copy. Which I know is bad, but it's just a sign on his garage at his house. He also wants it painted on his truck with 24 HOUR SERVICE on the bed sides. Pretty funny, cause that's pretty accurate.

So it's more the copy that is potentially to be comped not the graphics. I'm not making any money off this. Nor will/does he from his RESCUE EXPLOITS. Will you guys still respect me in the morning??

 

Weesner rules!

 

That would have been a great t-shirt transfir in the old Car-Toons mag!

 

Jeff, Johnny, Dan(s) and the rest of you HAMB artists have my respect and admiration (that and 2 bits will get ya a cuppa coffee). I'm proud to share cyberspace with you.

Everyone has an opinion, very few have actual ideas. Original thought is a very valuable thing, and anyone that doesn't respect that is a fuckin' moron.

Django, e-mail Hot Rod Hell and (gasp!) ask permission. Your work is good, and you respect their copyright, so they'll probably grant it to you, with some limitations. Just don't go slapping the design on shirts for sale.

 

I have a Weesner '32 roadster tattoo'd across my back but you better believe I got his blessing before I had it done. Spent some $$ on shirts and posters with him too.

I think it is pretty shitty that some redneck with a silkscreen machine can rip off a good artist like Weesner. I hope to help support some of our resident artists after my RPU is finished by collecting some original pieces.

A few "must-haves":

Barnett
Jeem
Picasso
Weesner
Django

 

Harrison, add Sailor to that list. He's not around much anymore, but the guy is an amazing painter and a great HAMB supporter. I've got one of his originals on my wall.

 

[ QUOTE ]

A few "must-haves":

Barnett
Jeem
Picasso
Weesner
Django

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think I'm worthy of this list, but thank you for the inclusion.

I sent HHH an email. We'll see what they say.

 

[ QUOTE ]
Harrison, add Sailor to that list. He's not around much anymore, but the guy is an amazing painter and a great HAMB supporter. I've got one of his originals on my wall.

[/ QUOTE ]

damn fuckin' straight. I love that man.

 

At least Keith won the latest Best Ad comp in the latest BurnOut mag!!.

Love Keith's stuff. Hope he stops these thieves. They have no self-esteem/pride if they have to rip-off people's work/ideas to make a living.

My zines partner suffers a similar plight due to a large Australian hot rod mag trying to rip off his ideas up North. They are scum!!

 

[ QUOTE ]

Big A/FA...got a small image to post?never seen his stuff.

[/ QUOTE ]

yes.

 

Hey Jeem, it seems you took it the wrong way. My point is that I will go tooth and nail over bring ripped off. Any theft is reason enuf for me. As for family, I got three little girls who are my world and nobody will take away from them. It wasn't directed at you or anybody else for that matter.
The point being is that if said no talent rip off shirt company makes a deal with, say, Wal Mart, they get fat while the artist who came up with the orginal idea goes on starving.
You are than more entitled to keep on drawing and not do anything but my question is when do you say ENUF and start to fight back? We are all the same side.
Sure there times when it ain't worth much other than asking them to knock it off via a lawyer. I myself won't sit back and watch my friends and collegues get burnt.
Once again, my opinion...

 

Hey, no problem here. I think we are just coming from two different vantage points on the same side of an issue.

Don't worry about me, If your scenario were the case, you can rest assured ACTION would be taken. I was referring more to the vague aspects of a concept vs. an outright image theft.

Misunderstandings. It's what makes the world go 'round....

 

NOW I feel all fuzzy inside. Now stay tuned for an big annoucement in the VERY near future for all the artists types out there in HAMB land.

 

There is one way to do your part to curb this kind of ripoff. Know the difference and don't buy the inferior art...... The art is obviously tremendously inspired by Keith's, but it wasn't traced, hence not legally a ripoff........ I've seen a lot of art on bootleg products in my day that I knew where the ideas came from.......I've also seen a lot of 'original' art that was being passed off as original that I knew damn well was a ripoff. It's almost a rite of passage with today's 'KULTURED ARTIST' to paint flyneyes or RatFinks...I paid some bills myself doing just that until BDR hisself gave me the confidence to do my own stuff........hell, nowadays it's kool enough to say that you're a kustom kulture ratfink style promoter of art. especially if you have not a shred of talent yourself. ..... how many dollars have been made by bootleg copies of WCC's shirts that had art done by my friend Jack Rudy?....... The only way to keep the biggest share of the dough is to market and control it all yourself.... and let me tell ya, that shit ain't easy........ no matter how hard ya work, it's still small potatoes compared to mass marketing......I look at it this way, if yer getting ripped off, either on purpose or by influencing another artist, that means yer doing something right........ It should inspire you to do something completely new, make your old stuff obsolete...... maybe even change up your style....i think our brand of art, as meaningless in the big picture as it is, will live on after we've gone.... to inspire, artists or builders , etc....... that is what we do it for..... that's immortality my friend....... that's what the tshirt, "VON DUTCH LIVES" means.........life is waaaay too short to go chasing copyright infringements..... i don't have the legal teams or the money for them.......as much as it sucks, ya almost have to take it on the chin if you're any good........I'm just thankful I suck and that there are a lot of people better than me that I can rip off.......When I grow up, I want to paint like Weesner.........

 

i would be pretty pissed if someone used my carclubs name and a simular design of something that was drawn for the club

i mean if i ever saw someone wearing a shirt like that on a show or something i would demand the teeshirt
its like false advertising, like they belong to the club...