Copyright for activists
Take a look at www.hellkom.co.za and click on ‘Merchandise’ or ‘Make your own T-Shirt’. The owners of the site have decided not to sell their merchandise using regular e-commerce methods, but have instead provided users with hellkom designs that they are free to copy, share and distribute in order to make their own.
According to the site:
‘My attorney has informed me that if I were to forge ahead in my quest to print Hellkom merchandise I would most likely be taken to court. But these ideas are here so people can have their own stuff printed… if you do print something send us a pic!!’
Hellkom has obviously decided that the main aim of the site is to stimulate public debate, and that risking law suits such as those slapped on Laugh It Off, are just not worth the foreseeable costs. They have, in the process, democratised their campaign by giving users a complete guide on how to make your own merchandise, with advice on where the cheapest place is to buy the T-Shirts, to how to iron on the transfers.
The legal notices on the site state that, ‘Except as expressly prohibited on this Web site, you are permitted to view, copy, print, and distribute documents contained within this Web site in any which way you like on condition its for noncommercial purposes.
You may also transmit copies of such portions of materials by email, for your personal, non-commercial use only, provided that you agree not to change or delete any copyright or proprietary notices from the materials.
Although, if you do print something, send a pic!!’
They’re using Creative Commons and they don’t even know it 