Chris and copyright - Revision history

Hurtful Truth Level: /* Sonichu as a copyrightable work */ chris has been profiting for years

2025-08-18T18:34:35Z

Sonichu as a copyrightable work: chris has been profiting for years

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:34, 18 August 2025
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	In reality, any work that uses previously copyrighted work as a basis is a derivative work. This means that while it may have substantial original elements that the creator definitely holds a copyright on, it cannot be published or distributed without the permission of the original copyright holders. The reality isn't ''entirely'' clear-cut, however, and there are several exceptions to this rule, both well-understood ({{w\|Fair use\|Fair Use doctrine}}, which allows limited use of copyrighted material for journalistic and scholarly purposes) and less well understood (there's an ongoing debate about the emerging copyright issues like digital rights and the remixing arts).		In reality, any work that uses previously copyrighted work as a basis is a derivative work. This means that while it may have substantial original elements that the creator definitely holds a copyright on, it cannot be published or distributed without the permission of the original copyright holders. The reality isn't ''entirely'' clear-cut, however, and there are several exceptions to this rule, both well-understood ({{w\|Fair use\|Fair Use doctrine}}, which allows limited use of copyrighted material for journalistic and scholarly purposes) and less well understood (there's an ongoing debate about the emerging copyright issues like digital rights and the remixing arts).

	~~Unfortunately for Chris,~~ Sonichu is a fairly clear-cut case of a derivative work. While the character design itself has ''some'' originality despite its blatantly derivative style (and as such might have passed the teacher's inspection), as far as backstory is concerned, Sonichu is explicitly said to be a fusion of two existing characters - by Chris as its creator and in the comic story itself.		Sonichu is a fairly clear-cut case of a derivative work. While the character design itself has ''some'' originality despite its blatantly derivative style (and as such might have passed the teacher's inspection), as far as backstory is concerned, Sonichu is explicitly said to be a fusion of two existing characters - by Chris as its creator and in the comic story itself.

	Fundamentally, Chris wanted [[Electric Hedgehog Pokémon]]; if they are just some made-up characters and ''not'' Pokémon, they just aren't ''true'' enough for him. Unfortunately, Chris doesn't understand that such "made-up" characters are how people ''define'' creativity. Many creators do indeed borrow ideas from another work to create inspiration for original stories and concepts. Had Chris took inspiration from ''Pokémon'' and ''Sonic'' and made his own original creations that weren't just the two franchises mish-mashed together, it would be fine. However, the ''Sonichu'' comic makes copious usage of concepts from them both (as well as a myriad of others)~~, meaning that anything Chris does to profit from ''Sonichu'' would render him liable to be sued~~.		Fundamentally, Chris wanted [[Electric Hedgehog Pokémon]]; if they are just some made-up characters and ''not'' Pokémon, they just aren't ''true'' enough for him. Unfortunately, Chris doesn't understand that such "made-up" characters are how people ''define'' creativity. Many creators do indeed borrow ideas from another work to create inspiration for original stories and concepts. Had Chris took inspiration from ''Pokémon'' and ''Sonic'' and made his own original creations that weren't just the two franchises mish-mashed together, it would be fine. However, the ''Sonichu'' comic makes copious usage of concepts from them both (as well as a myriad of others).

	~~This would be harmless enough if he weren't actually profiting from it, but~~ [[Chris and business\|he]] [[OfficialCWCmart\|is]]~~, and if any~~ of ~~the franchises he has plagiarized from decided to pursue legal action, Chris would be torn to shreds in court. Fortunately~~ for ~~Chris~~, ~~an autistic moron hocking products on [[Etsy]] is unlikely to incur~~ the ~~wrath of a major multinational company;~~ the ~~worst~~ he~~'s likely~~ to ~~receive is~~ a {{w\|Cease and desist\|cessation demand}}.		Despite Chris [[Chris and business\|having]] [[OfficialCWCmart\|profited]] off of ''Sonichu'' for over a decade, the companies who own the characters he used as inspiration for it have yet to issue so much as a {{w\|Cease and desist\|cessation demand}} or any other form of legal action.

	===Ban from Lulu===		===Ban from Lulu===

Hurtful Truth Level: /* Geno Samuel's YouTube channel */

2025-08-13T20:34:33Z

Geno Samuel's YouTube channel

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:34, 13 August 2025
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	===Geno Samuel's YouTube channel===		===Geno Samuel's YouTube channel===
	In [[April 2025]], [[Geno Samuel]] began uploading videos for a ''[[Sonichu: The Animated Series (Geno Samuel)\|Sonichu: The Animated Series]]'' onto YouTube, without getting permission from Chris. The videos used Chris's artwork from the ''Sonichu'' comics, in particular ''[[Sonichu 0]]''. Subsequently, on 5 [[May 2025]], YouTube took down the videos and issued a copyright strike onto Geno's channel, following a copyright claim by Chris.<ref>[[:File:Geno Samuel - YT - Chris copyright removal request.jpg‎]]</ref>		In [[April 2025]], [[Geno Samuel]] began uploading videos for a ''[[Sonichu: The Animated Series (Geno Samuel)\|Sonichu: The Animated Series]]'' onto YouTube, without getting permission from Chris. The videos used Chris's artwork from the ''Sonichu'' comics, in particular ''[[Sonichu 0]]''. Subsequently, on 5 [[May 2025]], YouTube took down the videos and issued a copyright strike onto Geno's channel, following a copyright claim by Chris.<ref>[[:File:Geno Samuel - YT - Chris copyright removal request.jpg‎]]</ref> Geno evaded by uploading onto Twitter instead, though chose not to create more episodes. Chris later lifted the strike after chatting with Geno.<ref>[[Jesus Christ Chan - Sonic 2006 Speed Playthrough Part 3]]</ref>

	==Chris's views==		==Chris's views==

Hurtful Truth Level: /* Geno Samuel's YouTube channel */

2025-08-13T20:21:05Z

Geno Samuel's YouTube channel

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:21, 13 August 2025
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	===Geno Samuel's YouTube channel===		===Geno Samuel's YouTube channel===
	In [[April 2025]], [[Geno Samuel]] began uploading videos for a ''Sonichu: The Animated Series'' onto YouTube, without getting permission from Chris. The videos used Chris's artwork from the ''Sonichu'' comics, in particular ''[[Sonichu 0]]''. Subsequently, on 5 [[May 2025]], YouTube took down the videos and issued a copyright strike onto Geno's channel, following a copyright claim by Chris.<ref>[[:File:Geno Samuel - YT - Chris copyright removal request.jpg‎]]</ref>		In [[April 2025]], [[Geno Samuel]] began uploading videos for a ''[[Sonichu: The Animated Series (Geno Samuel)\|Sonichu: The Animated Series]]'' onto YouTube, without getting permission from Chris. The videos used Chris's artwork from the ''Sonichu'' comics, in particular ''[[Sonichu 0]]''. Subsequently, on 5 [[May 2025]], YouTube took down the videos and issued a copyright strike onto Geno's channel, following a copyright claim by Chris.<ref>[[:File:Geno Samuel - YT - Chris copyright removal request.jpg‎]]</ref>

	==Chris's views==		==Chris's views==

Hurtful Truth Level: /* Geno Samuel's YouTube channel */

2025-05-05T09:19:58Z

Geno Samuel's YouTube channel

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:19, 5 May 2025
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	===Geno Samuel's YouTube channel===		===Geno Samuel's YouTube channel===
	In [[April 2025]], [[Geno Samuel]] began uploading videos for a ''Sonichu: The Animated Series'' onto YouTube, without getting permission from Chris. The videos used Chris's artwork from the ''Sonichu'' comics. Subsequently, on 5 [[May 2025]], YouTube took down the videos and issued a copyright strike onto Geno's channel, following a copyright claim by Chris.<ref>[[:File:Geno Samuel - YT - Chris copyright removal request.jpg‎]]</ref>		In [[April 2025]], [[Geno Samuel]] began uploading videos for a ''Sonichu: The Animated Series'' onto YouTube, without getting permission from Chris. The videos used Chris's artwork from the ''Sonichu'' comics, in particular ''[[Sonichu 0]]''. Subsequently, on 5 [[May 2025]], YouTube took down the videos and issued a copyright strike onto Geno's channel, following a copyright claim by Chris.<ref>[[:File:Geno Samuel - YT - Chris copyright removal request.jpg‎]]</ref>

	==Chris's views==		==Chris's views==

Hurtful Truth Level: /* Patreon leaks */

2025-05-05T09:19:09Z

Patreon leaks

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:19, 5 May 2025
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	Interestingly, Chris's intentions to keep future Sonichu pages exclusive to his patrons could be considered a form of [[Chris and the law\|fraud]], as [[DStecks]] already paid Chris ''$1000'' in [[September 2015]] to make 100 pages of Sonichu, which, according to Chris's page count estimate in [[CLog 06232017]], would cover the vast majority of the volume to be released.		Interestingly, Chris's intentions to keep future Sonichu pages exclusive to his patrons could be considered a form of [[Chris and the law\|fraud]], as [[DStecks]] already paid Chris ''$1000'' in [[September 2015]] to make 100 pages of Sonichu, which, according to Chris's page count estimate in [[CLog 06232017]], would cover the vast majority of the volume to be released.

			===Geno Samuel's YouTube channel===
			In [[April 2025]], [[Geno Samuel]] began uploading videos for a ''Sonichu: The Animated Series'' onto YouTube, without getting permission from Chris. The videos used Chris's artwork from the ''Sonichu'' comics. Subsequently, on 5 [[May 2025]], YouTube took down the videos and issued a copyright strike onto Geno's channel, following a copyright claim by Chris.<ref>[[:File:Geno Samuel - YT - Chris copyright removal request.jpg‎]]</ref>

	==Chris's views==		==Chris's views==

FromtheWordsofBR at 05:57, 20 September 2024

2024-09-20T05:57:22Z

Show changes

Crinja404 at 17:49, 28 March 2023

2023-03-28T17:49:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:49, 28 March 2023
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	Unfortunately for Chris, Sonichu is a fairly clear-cut case of a derivative work. While the character design itself has ''some'' originality despite its blatantly derivative style (and as such might have passed the teacher's inspection), as far as backstory is concerned, Sonichu explicitly said to be a fusion of two existing characters - by Chris as its creator and in the comic story itself.		Unfortunately for Chris, Sonichu is a fairly clear-cut case of a derivative work. While the character design itself has ''some'' originality despite its blatantly derivative style (and as such might have passed the teacher's inspection), as far as backstory is concerned, Sonichu explicitly said to be a fusion of two existing characters - by Chris as its creator and in the comic story itself.

	Fundamentally, Chris wanted [[Electric Hedgehog Pokémon]]; if they are just some made-up characters and ''not'' Pokémon, they just aren't ''true'' enough for him. Unfortunately, Chris doesn't understand that such "made-up" characters are how people ''define'' creativity. If Chris ~~had elected to merely ape~~ Sonic ~~art style~~ and ~~plot elements from video games~~, ~~he might have something that is borderline acceptable and could avoid legal prosecution~~. However, the Sonichu comic makes copious usage of ~~things~~ from the Sonic and Pokemon franchises (as well as myriad others), meaning anything Chris does to profit from Sonichu renders him liable to be sued.		Fundamentally, Chris wanted [[Electric Hedgehog Pokémon]]; if they are just some made-up characters and ''not'' Pokémon, they just aren't ''true'' enough for him. Unfortunately, Chris doesn't understand that such "made-up" characters are how people ''define'' creativity. Many creators do indeed borrow ideas from another work to create inspiration for original stories and concepts. Had Chris took inspiration from Pokemon and Sonic and made his original creations that isn't mish-mashed together, it would be fine. However, the Sonichu comic makes copious usage of concepts from the Sonic and Pokemon franchises (as well as myriad others), meaning anything Chris does to profit from Sonichu renders him liable to be sued.

	This would be harmless enough if he weren't actually profiting from it, but [[Chris and business\|for two years he was]], and if any of the franchises he has plagiarized from had decided to pursue legal action, Chris would have been torn to shreds in court. Fortunately for Chris, an autistic moron hocking products on [[Etsy]] was unlikely to incur the wrath of a major multinational company; the worst he's likely to receive is a {{w\|Cease and desist\|cessation demand}}.		This would be harmless enough if he weren't actually profiting from it, but [[Chris and business\|for two years he was]], and if any of the franchises he has plagiarized from had decided to pursue legal action, Chris would have been torn to shreds in court. Fortunately for Chris, an autistic moron hocking products on [[Etsy]] was unlikely to incur the wrath of a major multinational company; the worst he's likely to receive is a {{w\|Cease and desist\|cessation demand}}.

Dysprosium19: Small grammar tweaks

2022-12-26T23:04:18Z

Small grammar tweaks

Show changes

Gray Deign: typo

2022-12-15T03:50:43Z

typo

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:50, 14 December 2022
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	{{quote\|It’s a lovely piece of art, I am not stealing it, I am using it in full appreciation of the artist that drew it, as much as possible.		{{quote\|It’s a lovely piece of art, I am not stealing it, I am using it in full appreciation of the artist that drew it, as much as possible.

	And, it doesn’t matter: it has Sonichu and Rosechu; they both, all the others and the city of Cwcville, are mine, regardless.\|Chris, responding to a fan's accusation of ~~plagarism~~<ref>[[September 2017 tweets#Chris attempts to justify stealing from fanartists]]</ref>}}		And, it doesn’t matter: it has Sonichu and Rosechu; they both, all the others and the city of Cwcville, are mine, regardless.\|Chris, responding to a fan's accusation of plagiarism<ref>[[September 2017 tweets#Chris attempts to justify stealing from fanartists]]</ref>}}

	==References==		==References==

Gray Deign at 03:50, 15 December 2022

2022-12-15T03:50:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:50, 14 December 2022
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	[[Image:SonichuCertificate.jpg\|thumb\|Chris's copyright registration certificate.]]		[[Image:SonichuCertificate.jpg\|thumb\|Chris's copyright registration certificate.]]
	[[File:Troll_lawyers.jpg\|thumb\|Chris telling some trolling stupid corporate lawyers that he owns the rights to Sonichu.]]		[[File:Troll_lawyers.jpg\|thumb\|Chris telling some trolling stupid corporate lawyers that he owns the rights to Sonichu.]]
	{{Quote\|...anyone using my characters and all Without My Consent are Criminals, and such people should be reported to the [[Jerkop\|Police]] immediately.\|[[Chris]]\|[[CWCipedia]]'s Copyright page}}		{{Quote\|...anyone using my characters and all Without My Consent are Criminals, and such people should be reported to the [[Jerkop\|Police]] immediately.\|[[Chris]]\|[[CWCipedia]]'s Copyright page<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20161007104757/http://archive.sonichu.com/cwcipedia/index.php?title=CWCipedia:Copyrights</ref>}}

	As with many things, Chris has a very limited understanding of '''copyright''' and how it's enforced. He is vaguely aware of what it is: some sort of a legal right that creators of things have that lets these creators to tell others what they can and can't do – a very [[naïve]] view, though not entirely incorrect.		As with many things, Chris has a very limited understanding of '''copyright''' and how it's enforced. He is vaguely aware of what it is: some sort of a legal right that creators of things have that lets these creators to tell others what they can and can't do – a very [[naïve]] view, though not entirely incorrect.
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	Chris believes he has the right to use any fanart depicting a ''Sonichu'' character for his own purposes. A key example is his banner for [[Patreon]] and YouTube, which uses another person's fanart of Sonichu and Rosechu<ref>https://gabmonteiro9389.deviantart.com/art/Sonichu-Rosechu-Wild-and-Angelica-artwork-293015701</ref>, even though the accounts are meant to showcase his own work, and he has not given credit to the original artist.		Chris believes he has the right to use any fanart depicting a ''Sonichu'' character for his own purposes. A key example is his banner for [[Patreon]] and YouTube, which uses another person's fanart of Sonichu and Rosechu<ref>https://gabmonteiro9389.deviantart.com/art/Sonichu-Rosechu-Wild-and-Angelica-artwork-293015701</ref>, even though the accounts are meant to showcase his own work, and he has not given credit to the original artist.

	~~When a fan pointed out that he was plagiarizing the work for himself, Chris replied:~~

	{{quote\|It’s a lovely piece of art, I am not stealing it, I am using it in full appreciation of the artist that drew it, as much as possible.		{{quote\|It’s a lovely piece of art, I am not stealing it, I am using it in full appreciation of the artist that drew it, as much as possible.

	And, it doesn’t matter: it has Sonichu and Rosechu; they both, all the others and the city of Cwcville, are mine, regardless.}}<ref>~~https://sonichu.com/cwcki/September_2017_tweets~~#~~Chris_attempts_to_justify_stealing_from_fanartists~~</ref>		And, it doesn’t matter: it has Sonichu and Rosechu; they both, all the others and the city of Cwcville, are mine, regardless.\|Chris, responding to a fan's accusation of plagarism<ref>[[September 2017 tweets#Chris attempts to justify stealing from fanartists]]</ref>}}

	==~~Sources~~==		==References==
	<references/>		<references/>

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	==External Links==		==External Links==
	* {{w\|Copyright\|Wikipedia article}}		* {{w\|Copyright\|Wikipedia article}}
	* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060513032521/http://sonichuchandler.tripod.com/CWCcop.htm\| Archived copy of Chris's "Christian's On the Lookout!" page.]		* <s>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060513032521/http://sonichuchandler.tripod.com/CWCcop.htm\| Archived copy of Chris's "Christian's On the Lookout!" page.]</s> broken link

	{{Chris and}}		{{Chris and}}