Unofficial BoC merchandise on Society6

DaveJ · Post by **DaveJ** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 10:12 am

Hope this is in the right forum lads, I assume it's most relevant here..

A few months back I noticed some guy was selling unofficial BoC prints up on Society6 ( A site that sells prints and other merchandise of artist's work, original work, for those of you who may not be familiar with it). He had the poster up of the famous Joe Kittinger image (not even edited in any way to make it "his own"), in a hexagon, with "Boards of Canada" on it of course (His "artwork")

Maybe it's just me but surely this isn't on? He's now selling hoodies, framed prints, all sorts of shit, for quite a high price I must say. Surely he shouldn't be allowed to use an image he does not own to make money off, nor do I think BoC would approve (But then again, look at all the fake t-shirts and all that out there), but still, I don't think this guy should be allowed sell this stuff.

Society6 is a reputable site, and as a designer myself, it pisses me off to see someone throwing a (fairly badly, 5 minute job) designed BoC poster up for his own personal gain. And if it wasn't BoC, I probably wouldn't really give a shit to be honest, would just think the guy was an idiot.

I did write to Society6 a while back and told em. But now they've added more merchandise such as the hoodies, so they must be selling anyway and the guy is surely getting some cash coming in.

Maybe you guys won't see a problem with this, and that's fair enough, but I just thought I'd ask here to see what ye do think, as I think the guy is a bit of a parasite (sorry if that sounds a bit harsh lol), and he may well be a member here!

http://society6.com/Jacobwise/Boards-of ... hed-Canvas

Here's the link, buy the shit if ye want, but think about what yer doing, paying some guy for trying to cash in on BoC's success with an image he does not own.

Just want to know what ye think really guys. Have a nice weekend boys (and girls)

Mexicola · Post by **Mexicola** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 10:44 am

Yeah, this kind of thing isn't new but it does seem a cheap cash-in to me. Let's see what MDG makes of it, although how much he/Warp can do about it I don't know.

DaveJ · Post by **DaveJ** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 11:11 am

Mexicola wrote:Yeah, this kind of thing isn't new but it does seem a cheap cash-in to me. Let's see what MDG makes of it, although how much he/Warp can do about it I don't know.

Glad you agree man. I mean I know there's no shortage of unofficial shit online (so maybe nobody will care, as it's similar. I do think this is a bit more extreme), but this is a reputable site for artists / designers to sell their own original work. This guy just did a crappy 5 min job and didn't even try to make the image unique in any way, if he did I wouldn't have such an issue with it, as It'd be more a homage to BoC / Fan art, maybe selling it would still be an issue.

I assume he is making cash off of this, as I made Society6 aware of it, being a member myself, and they went ahead and added more stuff up as you can see. And its fairly expensive..

Just as a designer, I think this is a cheap cash-in indeed and i'm sure he has no right be be using that image, nor the BoC name. Hope I'm not coming across as a prick, but just doesn't sit well with me. But what can ya do, they didn't listen to me, and for all I know, MDG/BoC may not even have an issue with it. But I thought it should be maybe brought to yer attention

d e n · Post by **d e n** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 12:13 pm

i agree, sort of looks unimaginative

hexagonLife · Post by **hexagonLife** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 12:54 pm

You know, if this stuff was more affordable, I admit that I'd consider buying it. There's barely any official BoC merch I actually want anyway (except some of the posters which are rare as shit).

But yeah, he's profiting too much and there's no way in hell I'd buy this stuff, I'd rather just make my own.

thepastinsidepressant · Sat Jul 20, 2013 1:06 pm

theyre not even nice. the type is something you'd set on a flyer/poster maybe but looks so un-boc. redubble has posters and shirts too for boc, not originals.

check this poster out, see his/her description lol
http://www.redbubble.com/people/hollywi ... r?p=poster

"Sorry if the final product is low-res."

mwuahaha gtfo

i'm going with the IKEA clock, someone posted on here, thats the best one ever, i have plans for that one.

softfokus · Post by **softfokus** » Sat Jul 20, 2013 6:24 pm

i actually like the image. it does seem like a no brainer, but i do not approve of the way they did the text. just remove the text altogether.

kelp · Post by **kelp** » Mon Jul 22, 2013 3:53 pm

I wouldn't buy that crap, looks terrible...

kelp · Post by **kelp** » Mon Jul 22, 2013 3:57 pm

DaveJ wrote:Just as a designer, I think this is a cheap cash-in indeed and i'm sure he has no right be be using that image

Well, the image won't even be owned by BoC presumably, unless they filmed that original footage. I'm sure they bought stock footage.... so really the original film-maker should know about it really as he deserves the credit and money etc Then it's just the issue of writing the words 'Boards of Canada' on the merchandise, which again I doubt you can get away with.