Right, I understand that and all of the legal issues associated with it too. Do you guys really think though that Derek is going to risk being sued to keep this forum open? Just because Trancas is a company with a lot of money doesn’t mean that they can just go and shut the place down, I’m sure if they could they already would. Even if it was shut down another few would pop up and take it’s place. Seems like a lot of you guys on here are more than just visitors to the same forum, you are actually friends. It’s just the way that TWFS puts it makes it seem like you guys are going to try and log in next week and the forum will be gone, or try and get a mask and be told “it’s against the law and you can’t have an indy myers mask anymore”
Derek is not at fault for anything persay. He has a website. But he’s not selling items here, but, if you recall several months ago, there WERE masks posted on the main page with prices and contact information. Why do you think Derek took those down?
I’ll give you 3 guesses, and the first 2 don’t count.
BTW, I don’t have a personal problem with you TWFS, I just don’t agree with you that the future of this hobby is as bleak as you seem to think. Who knows? Maybe trancas will find a way to try and screw this up for everyone, but people are still going to do it. They will keep contacts and worst case scenario we will be forced further underground…but it’s never going to stop.
It’s obvious why he did it, but think about this, he is still hosting a website with a classified section where people are not just trading items, they are selling them for cold hard cash. Maybe I just don’t want to believe what you are saying…at least until I have a few bucks to get some masks that I want
Classifieds aren’t enough of an issue persay, but the DIRECT selling, with mask info, price and contact info for the mask maker, is another story altogether.
Trancas could go after US for the classified activity.
Right, well I’m just going to remain hopeful that the forum remains and we still have these mask makers making great masks. I’m not naive, I know what you are saying is very possible, I’m just going to try and not think about that side of things since I really can’t do anything about it anyway.
Bryan Rayman did not contact Sam directly. Instead, he went to Sam’s provider and pitched a fit. Sam is at MaskFest right now, and will hopefully have a new provider, upon his return home. This WILL NOT hault production with any of the pieces that HSS currently has in they’re line-up. Just a small bump in the road, is all.
See? Now that’s the type of thing I wanted to hear!!! I’m seriously wondering if the main people at Trancas are really making it a priority to stamp out the small mask makers. I’m wondering if it’s really worth their time, effort, and lawyer money.
I hope the answer is no and that this little peon Bryan is causing the problems because he has nothing better to do in his small world. Is this Bryan guy actually a paid employee of Trancas?
Appearently, the current provider that host’s the HSS site, just gave in to Rayman’s demands. Well Sam has a few ways he can work this. I to think that it’s just Rayman working on his own because he has nothing better to do, then to be a thorn in people’s sides.
theshow is right. i think the featured artist is a bad idea, and im sure all have noticed HSS has been the featured artist for the past while. is this just a coinsidence? eh, im thinking not. an angry corporation can cause major problems. now they cant pysically make them stop producing and selling masks but if an artist has to take down his website, change the name of his business, and wont be able to advertise on ebay or MM.net, then it would be very hard for them regain the custumer base they once had.
im not sure how far this will go but it would be foolish to just assume it will stop with HSS. i think the first precaution should be to take down the featured artist section.
i can say if it all went to hell tomarrow im damn glad i got in when i did and snagged several great replicas.
on a side note. artists just selling blanks could be away around the issue. artists protect themselfs by never titling their work with the words “Michael” or “Myers” but a blank certainly doesnt have enough “likness” of the character in raw pull form to constitute as infringment.
Rayman works DIRECTLY with AND for Trancas, he’s running their campaign to find the people doing the infringment. That was one of the tentpole reasons they brought him in to their legal crusade(s) He knew where to find us and the mask makers.
Vader, you’re dreaming man. If they carry this out (They being Trancas) they can put a stop not only to Sam, but every other artist if they so choose. They have the power and the money to do it. They could have a potential “buyer” purchase as mask from Sam after he either gets slapped with an individual suit, or finds other avenues to sell, and then they can REALLY take Sam out legally.
It’s almost not worth the risk, and bottom line whether you or anyone else wants to see it, somebody (Could be Sam) or whoever else, WILL be the “example” by which Trancas acts.
Would YOU wanna be the one they take out to prove their point? I think not.
I know this is a sensitive topic and it is easy for things to get heated, but please try to refrain from the personal attacks.
The truth is, Bryan is just doing his job. He works directly for Malek Akkad and this is one of his many tasks. Yes, Bryan used to sell bootleg DVD’s and collect Indy masks, but the fact is he works for Trancas now. He is a very good web designer and Malek hired him for a reason. Believe me everybody, Bryan is NOT doing this on his own time or for personal reasons. He was asked to do this.
Is it easy to get upset about this? Yes. But the truth is, whether we like it or not, we own illegal pieces. I do, you do, we all do. Copyright infringement is a very serious matter and it seems like they are really starting to crack down.
You and me both. How much longer till not only the makes…but the collectors get cracked down on, and then indy mask makin would be no more. Scary thoughts
