After three and a half years of skinning Marvel Comics characters here at The Skindex, the other shoe has finally dropped.
Despite the fact that Marvel Enterprises Inc. does not actually make any PC gaming product which provides the same gaming experience that my skins do in their respective games, they have demanded of me (as is their legal right, of course) that I cease and desist in any further production of and distribution of products that appear to have their copyrighted likenesses as they have determined this website has become a threat and has engaged in unfair competition with Marvel Enterprises Inc.
I, of course, am happy to oblige as it is their legal right to control what is done with their copyrighted property.
I do find it unfortunate that the current regime at Marvel Enterprises Inc. finds that an excited and enthusiastic fan community is a threat to their business as is evidenced in their notice. They seem to have mistaken this paltry fan-site and its collection of fan-art with some kind of corporation out to steal revenue from them with misdirection. I have been ordered to disgorge any and all profits made from the distribution of these materials.
Never has the Skindex, as a website nor I, Jared Benson, as its owner and chief contributor made a single cent or more in profit or even generated revenue of any kind from this endeavour of appreciation for my favourite comics. Moreover, I have incurred a great deal of expense, both personal and financial, to maintain what is essentially a monument of honour to the creators of each of these characters and to the company that provides the fans with wonderful entertainment on a monthly basis.
As a result of this disagreement, I have removed all skins from this website that use the likeness of any Marvel Enterprises Inc. property.
I have decided to retire from the world of skinning. Not surprisingly, it has lost any sense of enjoyment and wonder for me.
Thank you to everyone at Marvel Comics in the past who has been supportive of my efforts. Being allowed (and yes many powerful individuals at Marvel Comics have known of my highly public and advertised website over these years) to make these skins for the last three and a half years has been a blast!
Jared Benson
Click here to read the letter from Marvel Enterprises Inc.
www.skindex.net/marvel_letter.htm
Despite the fact that Marvel Enterprises Inc. does not actually make any PC gaming product which provides the same gaming experience that my skins do in their respective games, they have demanded of me (as is their legal right, of course) that I cease and desist in any further production of and distribution of products that appear to have their copyrighted likenesses as they have determined this website has become a threat and has engaged in unfair competition with Marvel Enterprises Inc.
I, of course, am happy to oblige as it is their legal right to control what is done with their copyrighted property.
I do find it unfortunate that the current regime at Marvel Enterprises Inc. finds that an excited and enthusiastic fan community is a threat to their business as is evidenced in their notice. They seem to have mistaken this paltry fan-site and its collection of fan-art with some kind of corporation out to steal revenue from them with misdirection. I have been ordered to disgorge any and all profits made from the distribution of these materials.
Never has the Skindex, as a website nor I, Jared Benson, as its owner and chief contributor made a single cent or more in profit or even generated revenue of any kind from this endeavour of appreciation for my favourite comics. Moreover, I have incurred a great deal of expense, both personal and financial, to maintain what is essentially a monument of honour to the creators of each of these characters and to the company that provides the fans with wonderful entertainment on a monthly basis.
As a result of this disagreement, I have removed all skins from this website that use the likeness of any Marvel Enterprises Inc. property.
I have decided to retire from the world of skinning. Not surprisingly, it has lost any sense of enjoyment and wonder for me.
Thank you to everyone at Marvel Comics in the past who has been supportive of my efforts. Being allowed (and yes many powerful individuals at Marvel Comics have known of my highly public and advertised website over these years) to make these skins for the last three and a half years has been a blast!
Jared Benson
Click here to read the letter from Marvel Enterprises Inc.
www.skindex.net/marvel_letter.htm
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Burns: Hmm... who's that goat-legged fellow? I like the cut of his jib.
Smithers: Er, the Prince of Darkness, sir. He's your 11 o'clock.
Burns: Hmm... who's that goat-legged fellow? I like the cut of his jib.
Smithers: Er, the Prince of Darkness, sir. He's your 11 o'clock.
