A great idea, along with an example of copyright insanity
Pre-pixelated clothes for reality TV shows: one of those ideas that seems so obvious once you see it. I love it! I want to buy a few of these.
However, in the comments below that post, there’s a fine example of how stupid people have gotten about copyrights and trademarks. A poster named Adam wrote:
“I do this for a living. I am the guy that watches shows and tells people what to blur. Funny shirts. However as one person pointed out if I saw these in a show I would have to blur them. If I can track down the person or place that owns the design I have them sign a release so I don’t have to blur the logo.”
What kind of a world do we live in that people have to be “pixelators” for a living? Who are the freaks that would sue if their logo was on someone’s t-shirt in The Real World? And what is the point of blurring something that’s already blurred? Gah.
(Incidentally, I love the design of the Ironic Sans website, with the ink sketched letters and side bars. It’s uncommon to see designs on the web that look this handmade and uncomputery, and yet so darned great.)
This was an interesting read. I can’t comment on the specifics of what
Mr. Professional Pixilator does, or why he’s told to do what he does, as
I don’t know either. But I know from my friends that have worked as film
and TV extras (a.k.a Background Perfomers) that they are instructed
specifically *not* to show up in any clothing with any visible logos.
If they do they either have to change or have the offending logo duct-
taped over by a production assistant. Apparently the reasons for this
are the possibility that a logo could conflict with an advertiser’s
(e.g. if someone was seen wearing Nike on a show sponsored by Reebok)
and the “free” advertising the logo might give to the logo’s owner –
which is more and more of an issue with firms paying for “product
placement” showcasing their goods in TV shows and movies.