May have been the losing side ... by lexigeek

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

May have been the losing side ...

POSTED BY: LEXIGEEK
UPDATED: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 05:03
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VIEWED: 2500
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Tuesday, October 24, 2006 10:32 AM

Dear browncoats, beagles and friends of all types,

It is with great regret that I will be closing the virtual doors to www.BlackMarketBeagles.com this Friday, October 27. I believe that I have been careful enough in my artwork to avoid violating copyright, but Universal’s recent crusade to eliminate all fan-based merchandise (and to impose hefty fines against violaters) has made it far too risky for me to continue operating online. This is a crushing blow, which fills me with an aching sadness. This was, as many of you know, my way of giving back to the browncoat community that has given so much to me.

I will continue running my blog on the site, to talk about various browncoat-related goodness (it’s still out there, I know it is), but after Friday, the Black Market Beagle merch will no longer be available online.

I’d love to hear from some of you who have bought my products over the last year. Please feel free to e-mail me at adam@blackmarketbeagles.com. I hope to see you all in December.

Hopefully things will change in the future. Until then, fellow passengers …

Stay Shiny,
Adam

--
Shiny Firefly & Serenity-inspired shirts at www.blackmarketbeagles.com

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006 10:40 AM

ZZETTA13

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006 11:27 AM

WHIMSICALNBRAINPAN

Oh no, not you too!

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle." http://whimsicalnbrainpan.blogspot.com/

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006 12:48 PM

MINIME

I'm sorry.
I've never bought any fan merchandise myself, but I totally support the concept and the fan community it fosters.
I am incredibly sad and the many forces conspiring against the Browncoat faith.

Minime

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006 1:51 PM

LEXIGEEK

Quote:
Originally posted by Whimsicalnbrainpan:
Oh no, not you too!

I'm afraid so. :(

--
Shiny Firefly & Serenity-inspired shirts at www.blackmarketbeagles.com

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006 2:30 PM

FOLLOWMAL

I'm so sorry Lexigeek.

I just am not understanding Universal's reasoning behind this. Ya'll are the fans who promoted the movie and have since promoted the 'Verse in every way you can. This seems like such a meanness on their part.

I have seen comments on Whedonesque that suggest that this might be an overzealous lawyer who is just a little aggressive. I am so hoping that is the case and that things improve.

Until then, you've got all our support.. I hope you know that.

"You hold. Hold 'til I get back." Mal
Go to www.bigdamnthankyou.com and check it out!

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006 2:55 PM

TENTHCREWMEMBER

Could you please just make it stranger? Stranger. Odder. Could be weirder. More bizarre. How about uncanny?

I'm purging all "SERENITY" items from my store as we speak. I hate that I am doing it. Each "delete" is like shooting someone I love. However, I can't afford lawyers or licensing fees or anyother of the strongarm nonsense Universal is imposing on folk who helped make their movie happen.

They're paranoid and crotchety.

I will still be offering my other great items, as I still intend to give back to the Browncoat community, but regrettably not with as much fervor and inspiration as I used to (i.e. non-"SERENITY" stuff only).

Keep flying, stay shiny and I'll be seein' you in the Black!

BWAH!

TCM

http://www.cafepress.com/10thcrew

*Download my Firefly Games for FREE at
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=13&t=12622
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In or near Ohio? Join us!
http://p097.ezboard.com/bohiofireflyfans
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/firefly-ohio

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006 3:00 PM

FOLLOWMAL

Oh TCM, you too?!

My goodness this is a dark day in the 'Verse.

Same goes for you... we're here.

"You hold. Hold 'til I get back." Mal
Go to www.bigdamnthankyou.com and check it out!

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006 3:14 PM

LEXIGEEK

TCM, I feel your pain.

We'll get through this, 'cause we're browncoats.

--
Shiny Firefly & Serenity-inspired shirts at www.blackmarketbeagles.com

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006 3:29 PM

WHIMSICALNBRAINPAN

Please know Lexigeek, TCM, and all of the many Browncoats out there who have had to stop selling their shiny stuff, that our thoughts are with you. If there is anything we can do just let us know. I'm so very sorry.

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle." http://whimsicalnbrainpan.blogspot.com/

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006 3:32 PM

TERRI

Boyo, boyo. Terrible, terrible things. The thing about fan stuff (merch, vids, and otherwise) is that it's made by people who have spent a painstaking amount of time watching the show, getting all the nuances and then coming up with ideas that all fans can get and enjoy. It's 9 to 10 times better than the mass-produced stuff, and will continue to be just because the fans care more. I'm sorry to everybody whose put their heart and soul in stuff, just to see it shut down by 'the man'. Now, this is a terrible thing. Really disappointing and I'm sure just terrible for you. However, maybe we can imagine more official stuff. Official stuff that will let us show Universal how much we care for Serenifly and the franchise, and maybe it'll only be the first step to another BDM, or BDS(season). At least, that's what we can hope.

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006 3:37 PM

TENTHCREWMEMBER

Could you please just make it stranger? Stranger. Odder. Could be weirder. More bizarre. How about uncanny?

Quote:
Originally posted by FollowMal:

Oh TCM, you too?!

My goodness this is a dark day in the 'Verse.

Same goes for you... we're here.

Ayup. Gotta protect me and mine. Not giving up completely...just knowin' when to leave a man (or 2 or 3...) behind. In this case, movie-inspired designs.

I guess some folk don't know what a good thing is. I reckon I might start boycotting future Universal releases much the same way I boycott all things FOX. They're biting the hands that feed them.

Anyway, thank you to all the Browncoats who have supported all the Browncoats, like myself, the past few years. I hope many of you have had opportunity to avail yourselves of our trade, and I hope that you will have opportunity to do so in the future. If not, well, it's been fun (and a blue metric f**kton of work!) creating things for the BEST. FANS. EVER.

I'm sorry for what has happened to 11th Hour. Buddha knows she was my inspiration. Heck she was the very first Browncoat I ever contacted. She deserves better than this Corporate abuse too. I'd like to propose that *IF* they truly lean on her for the money, every Browncoat sends her $1 (U.S.)for the fines and/or legal fees she incurs over this travesty (all excess can be donated to Equality Now).

On the upside, you can express what you think by wearing this ( http://www.cafepress.com/10thcrew/1571142 ) if you like. I'm very proud of this one.

Yeah, I branched out from Firefly stuff a long while back...and suddenly this is fandom related.
Whodathunkit?

BWAH!

TCM

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006 3:46 PM

6IXSTRINGJACK

I feel really bad for you and the others who have been suffered needless attacks for promoting a show that was abandoned and a movie which will only have many more viewers for the sequel, do in no small part, to organizations such as yours which faithfully promoted them. This is a truly sad day.

This is capitalism at it's worst.

Copyright laws are out of control and on days like this it seems like there is nothing that we can do about it. Big studios, lawyers, middle-men and their ilk are scrambling to put laws in place to control the internet and trade because they're scared. They're quickly realizing that if they don't put in these legal controls soon and destroy the freedom of the internet as we know it, people will realize that the middleman is not not necessary in the 21st century, considering the power of the people behind the internet. We can not let them take this away from us!

I'm going to stop talking and thinking about this for the moment, because when I do think about it, I start plotting dangerous thoughts in my head and this is not the time or place for me to be plotting. There will be a day when the people take their freedom back from the oppressors who abuse our legal system and turn it against us, and that day is comming soon. There are many of us out here that share these sentiments. Big Corp/Gov may have all the lawyers and the money, but we have the numbers and we are not robots, nor do we worship money. We will not be slaves!

They can beat us down but we WILL rise again!

My thoughts are with all of the victims of this, the most recent Alliance attack on the people. I wish you luck in your future endeavors.

"A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned." http://www.myspace.com/6ixstringjack

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Wednesday, October 25, 2006 4:06 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

I am sorry to hear you are closing down shop Lexigeek, but given the heavy handed tactics of those go sa lawyers for Universal I can't blame you protecting yourself. It is a real shame and it will be a blow to the browncoat community.

I am afraid that many of the online stores will be gone as word of what Universal is doing to 11th Hour spreads. No doubt it won't be long before before there are few if any shops left. That leaves us buying only from the licensed vendors for Universal, who as far as I know are Stylin' Online and Hot Topic. Guess if they eliminate the loyal fans Universal can gouge us for whatever they want to charge for a shirt.

Anyone else feel the need to go underground?

__________________________________________
Holding the line since December '02!

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Fans:

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/richmondbrowncoats/

http://www.richmondbrowncoats.org

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Wednesday, October 25, 2006 5:03 AM

TAKEMEFLYING

Quote:
Originally posted by BrownCoat1:

Anyone else feel the need to go underground?

*raises hand* I second that notion. Don't buy licensed crap just because it's the only stuff left out in the open. We know where the goods are, we know who to continue supporting with our dollars....

I know where my money will go - to support artists who are fans and fans who are artists.

Whoa. Good myth.

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