gaia has some new items called “candy horns”
and here’s my avatar trying on the jagged candy horns
Dear Gaia,
I realize that part of your success comes from providing content based off what is popular in media fandoms, but this is the second time something blatantly related to Homestuck has shown up in your shops. Shops that allow you to spend real money on their products*.
I know that this iteration has been altered just enough to escape being a direct infringement under IP and copyright law, but the fact that you are continuing to profiteer Homestuck-related content after an overt rip (using original symbols from the comic in cash shop products) is incredibly disappointing.
(This, along with the other three kids’ shirt symbols, used to be available in the Cash Shop, as well as the 12 zodiac symbols in their respective troll’s colors; the latter symbols protected, obviously, but it made the reference that much more obvious. Cash shop items are only available for a limited period of time, and these have since been rotated out, but the fact that they were once sold for Gaia Cash only remains.)
Unlike much of the other content you take inspiration from, Homestuck is the creation of an independent artist right here in the States whose content is protected by US copyright law, and whose permission you should have sought the moment you thought to use his designs and derivatives thereof. You frequently form relationships with large corporations to release themed items. How is this different? Because he poses less of a threat?
It’s questionably legal, it’s not DECENT, and it’s definitely the last straw for me. I’ve been a member since early 2004, but I’ll be giving all my items away and leaving after 7 years of membership because your creative enterprise has gotten so big you think you can take advantage of others’.
Let me know when you decide to start handling things more responsibly.
~Lexxy
*CORRECTION: I’ve been informed that the horn formulas can only be found, not bought, so in this case Gaia Cash cannot be used to acquire them. The old items WERE Cash Shop items, however, so I maintain my stance that this is not ok.
(via whaoanon)
