Tokyopop? Fuck You.
May 28th, 2008 by Marty
While I’ve made no bones about my hero worship for one Mr. Bryan Lee O’Malley in the past, I think this is an instance where everyone needs to take notice.
Last night, he posted a very powerful rant on his blog, and it’s one that basically any creative type within the width of these words needs to take a look at.
The topic? Tokyopop’s new Manga Pilot program. And how it rapes you, as a creator.
And doesn’t just rape, oh no. It does so with glee, by way of a tongue in cheek, asinine contract, that features such wonderful bits as….
“MORAL RIGHTS” AND YOUR CREDIT
“Moral rights” is a fancy term (the French thought it up) that basically has to do with having your name attached to your creation (your credit!) and the right to approve or disapprove certain changes to your creation. Of course, we want you to get credit for your creation, and we want to work with you in case there are changes, but we want to do so under the terms in this pact instead of under fancy French idea. So, in order for us to adapt the Manga Pilot for different media, and to determine how we should include your credit in tough situations, you agree to give up any “moral rights” you might have.
Yep. That is in a contract. And it gets worse from there.
For the full post, click here, and if you know anyone who this may help/assist, please send the link along.
Personally? Tokyopop never saw a dime from me. And never will. You will not see a project written by me coming from them, and I hope they get what they deserve.
May 28th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Oh my fucking god. I can see he’s trying to frame the “contract” in a no bullshit, let’s rap, buddy buddy kind of way, but damn. Is his target 8 year olds? Condescending does not begin to describe this.
May 28th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Comic veteran Lea Hernandez collected a treasure trove of splodey interwebz vitriol over this very subject here:
http://divalea.livejournal.com/546899.html
That noted, I’ve heard a few aspiring comic writers happy that if their work is good enough that Tokyopop will find an artist for them since it’s hard to find an artist to work on a title for no pay on one’s own. Even then, bad, bad, BAD contract. Who, but the desperate, would sign this garbage?
May 28th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Yah, my buddy Christy Lijewski who works with Tokyopop is pissed. She writes/illustrates Next Exit and RE:Play. She’s basically speaking out against them because they hold the rights to your ideas for a whole YEAR. So you can’t shop around at other places until that year is up, among other things.
May 29th, 2008 at 12:57 am
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May 29th, 2008 at 11:01 am
[…] Horror Guy wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptWhile I’ve made no bones about my hero worship for one Mr. Bryan Lee O’Malley in the past, I think this is an instance where everyone needs to take notice. Last night, he posted a very powerful rant on his blog, and it’s one that … […]