"Lawyers, Dogs and Money" by Michael Strassburger, Modern Dog Design Co.
I've been thinking a lot about Public Enemy frontman Chuck D, and his unapologetic, confrontational delivery of "Fight the Power" which has become my design studio's theme song of the past year.
Spike Lee approached Public Enemy because he wanted a defiant, impassioned song for the movie he was directing. Who can forget the adorable Rosie Perez and her badass dance moves during the opening credits of Do the Right Thing?
When the song originally came out in 1989, it was about racial tension in Brooklyn. But since it's release it has become an anthem for disenfranchised youth, and those who feel oppressed or marginalized in our society.
At this particular moment in my life—while our company Modern Dog is going through a legal battle with some of the largest and most powerful corporations in the world—that song speaks to me, and I like to play it loud.
Because of our situation, many of our friends and colleagues have wanted to host crowdsourcing fundraisers, which we initially declined (we thought we could handle it on our own). Since then we've received so much support and additional offers of help that we've decided to go ahead and set up a fundraiser to help offset legal expenses as our case proceeds to trial. Any surplus funds will go to causes we believe in: The Link Program and the McKee Project.
We've set up a trust to make sure our fundraiser is transparent to anyone considering making a donation.
I know that many people think owning a copyright or a patent offers some kind of protection, but this is simply not true. It means absolutely nothing unless you are willing and able (with an emphasis on "able") to protect and enforce it. I don't believe that the current legal system favors the small company, or the individual artist. I don't even think we are on the same playing field.
Copyright law should protect everyone, not just those who can afford to litigate. I think Chuck D—who actually studied to become a graphic designer—would agree.
For all the info you'd ever want to know about our case please visit Friends Of Modern Dog.
{"http:\/\/www.rockpaperink.com\/content\/column.php?id=388":{"comments":{"data":[{"id":"498048216891374_6149882","from":{"name":"Joann Arruda","id":"587335993"},"message":"This is my friend Robynne + Mike' s company fundraiser. Even a small donation of $1.00 sends a strong message that copyright is for EVERYONE. Please consider helping this very important cause.","can_remove":false,"created_time":"2012-09-10T04:31:05+0000","like_count":2,"user_likes":false},{"id":"498048216891374_6151712","from":{"name":"Jeff Fisher","id":"730536405"},"message":"Go get 'em Robynne and Mike!","can_remove":false,"created_time":"2012-09-10T16:48:33+0000","like_count":3,"user_likes":false},{"id":"498048216891374_6152027","from":{"name":"Matthew L. Porter","id":"781191179"},"message":"We sell ideas. That is all we sell. If we do not FIGHT THE POWER-ful who take our ideas without asking in order to profit themselves and their shareholders, we are worthless. I proudly support Modern Dog in their battle... I hope it is not Don Quixotic, an \"Impossible Dream,\" a fight against rats and other predators who put bull's eyes on the backs of creative thinkers and shoot at them for sport using Live Lawyers as ammo. Even if Modern Dog does not prevail,, go down nipping and snarling, leaving the rats staggering, cut and bleeding from gaping holes in their reputations. (Draw that, you unimaginative assholes.) I hope my $50 helps leave nick.","can_remove":false,"created_time":"2012-09-10T18:46:20+0000","like_count":5,"user_likes":false},{"id":"498048216891374_6154751","from":{"name":"Amy Graver","id":"1042328286"},"message":"We're behind you 110\u0025 Robynne Raye and Mike!","message_tags":[{"id":"632293067","name":"Robynne Raye","type":"user","offset":22,"length":12}],"can_remove":false,"created_time":"2012-09-11T10:41:11+0000","like_count":2,"user_likes":false},{"id":"498048216891374_6155672","from":{"name":"Meg Farrell","id":"1487311617"},"message":"email me at mfarrell\u0040farrellaw.com... getting to you through Amy Graver and willing to lend my firms resources.","message_tags":[{"id":"1042328286","name":"Amy Graver","type":"user","offset":61,"length":10}],"can_remove":false,"created_time":"2012-09-11T15:03:50+0000","like_count":1,"user_likes":false,"comments":{"data":[{"id":"500020830027446","from":{"name":"Amy Graver","id":"1042328286"},"message":"You are awesome Meg. Thanks!","created_time":"2012-09-14T16:35:07+0000"}],"count":1}},{"id":"498048216891374_7058970","from":{"name":"El Evangelista Cesarin","id":"100001959673850"},"message":"\u00f1lKGB","can_remove":false,"created_time":"2013-04-09T17:37:23+0000","like_count":2,"user_likes":false}],"paging":{"next":"https:\/\/graph.facebook.com\/498048216891374\/comments?limit=25&offset=25&__after_id=498048216891374_7058970"}}}}
Follow Us
Subscribe to our RSS
Email Signup