Charles Carreon is the new Paul Christoforo?

[the_std]

I don't know how many of you have been following the Funnyjunk vs The Oatmeal scandal, but here are some articles/sources about it. For those who don't want to read, I will sum it up:

The Oatmeal is a website owned by Matt Inman, who is a cartoonist. He's pretty popular. Matt notices hundreds of his comics posted on Funnyjunk.com (a user-generated content site) without permission or attribution. He asks Funnyjunk to take them down. FJ says, "We're user-generated, it's not our fault!" and Matt creates a rebuttal cartoon. FJ gets mad, lawyers up and demands $20,000 in damages for defamation and false advertising. Matt laughs and says that, instead of paying them, he will start a fundraiser for $20,000 to donate to two separate charities - The American Cancer Society and The National Wildlife Federation.

He's reached almost $200,000 in donations now.

So Charles Carreon, the lawyer representing FJ, has now personally sued Matt Inman, The American Cancer Society and The National Wildlife Federation. He wants all the money that Matt has raised because of damage to his reputation. Why? He believes Matt Inman has instructed hackers to attack his website and certain online accounts, and therefore he deserves to take money away from charities. Also, in a rebuttal blog post, Matt drew a bestiality cartoon about FJ and Carreon. Here are several articles about it.

This whole thing boggles my mind. I just don't understand a brain that thinks taking money away from charities will undo damage to his reputation. Also, this guy clearly doesn't understand the internet and the way 'net communities will react to pure, unbridled greed and idiocy.

[Nekojin]

He's a certain personality type - he can't back down, because he either has to win or be beaten. So, when his threats of lawsuits are laughed at, he does the only thing he can do - he sues.

Of course, the fact that he's completely off his rocker with his lawsuit doesn't even register on his sensors. The law doesn't matter as much as his ego.

[Duelist925]

This. this is a Shining example of douchebaggery. This is the kind of thing that sounds like a made up story.

"And then the lawyer tried to sue two charity organizations that had no knowledge of what was going on, only barely related to the original issue, and one of which treats a life threatening illness, because his feelings were hurt"

If I did not know it were true, I'd think it were something written by a hack.

[wraiths_crono]

I liked the part where he GAVE MONEY TO THOSE CHARITIES just so he had ground to sue them! This guy is definitely a few cards short.

[Ginger Tea]

This is the only reall reason for SOPA/PIPA, the cartoonist could just get them to take it down or he could just take them down.

But we all know that genuine cases like this featuring someone not a corporation would never get that far if they did enact that pile of crap net law.

[BlaqueKatt]

FJ gets mad, lawyers up and demands $20,000 in damages for defamation and false advertising.

you forgot they wanted Matt to PAY THEM for hosting his stolen cartoons!

[HYHYBT]

I liked the part where he GAVE MONEY TO THOSE CHARITIES just so he had ground to sue them! This guy is definitely a few cards short.

I thought it was the other way around?

[dendawg]

I thought it was the other way around?

Basically somebody, if not Carreon himself, made a $10 donation in Carreon's name. I believe that's what wraith's crono is talking about.

[Nyoibo]

This is the only reall reason for SOPA/PIPA, the cartoonist could just get them to take it down or he could just take them down.

But we all know that genuine cases like this featuring someone not a corporation would never get that far if they did enact that pile of crap net law.

Copyright laws are already in place to cover these types of things, the only thing SOPA/PIPA would do is that the website in question could be shutdown without warning.

[Ginger Tea]

As he had blogged, he had a few half arsed removals but still found a tonne of "I told you guys about this last week" images still hosted, using the current setup they seem to be ignoring requests.

Granted he didnt want to take down the site, just them to stop reposting his images without consent, but if he were inclined under pipa/sopa he could have nuked it with a "I gave you fair warning." post.

I wonder how many photographers have found their work uncredited on ICHCB and their many spin off sites.

Semi off topic, but I really hate graphic rom rips, most say "Give credit to haxorl337n00b." erm fuck off, give credit to the sprite artist who drew those sonic sprites that you lifted from the megadrive roms, all you did was lift the gfx and save as a png.

[Bloodsoul]

I'm reminded of the debacle some years ago regarding Todd Goldman copying David Kelly's artwork.

(newspost at bottom)
http://punchanpie.keenspot.com/daily/20070411.html
http://punchanpie.keenspot.com/daily/20070413.html

This. this is a Shining example of douchebaggery.

It's like Thomas Edison-level douchebaggery.

[Duelist925]

I'm reminded of the debacle some years ago regarding Todd Goldman copying David Kelly's artwork.

(newspost at bottom)
http://punchanpie.keenspot.com/daily/20070411.html
http://punchanpie.keenspot.com/daily/20070413.html


It's like Thomas Edison-level douchebaggery.

And that is Top Tier douchebaggery right there.

Sidenote: Adore the quote in your sig. Love that comic. Need to re-read it again.

[mikoyan29]

Everyone thinks that everything on the internet is theirs for the taking.

[Andara Bledin]

This man is a whackaloon.

Not only is he supremely narcissistic and a raging hypocrite, but apparently he's also violated a legal standard by disclosing information (that he was told that the infringing images were removed) given to him by his client (FunnyJunk.com).

That might just get him suspended. Again. >_>

And his wife acts positively certifiable.

^-.-^

[Seifer]

Is it just me, or is demanding $20,000.00 in lieu of legal action an example of EXTORTION?

I hope Matt files his own countersuit for defamation, copyright infringement, and harassment. FunnyJunk not only stole his artwork and hosted it for years (and profiting from their ad revenues and site hits), but they sent out a message to all of their users with false information. They stirred their followers into a tizzy and encouraged them to harass Matt.

I'd say Matt has a better case than FJ.