allaxis.ca

QuoteI don't get it . . . This kind of backhanded "theft" seems rampant in this sport. *** oh relax. Dolphin. Wings. Teardrop. Racer. Reflex.

Thank you for your input and I recognize and appreciate your statements and the value of dz.com. I will no longer make that design available via the internet. Sincerely Mike X McKinlay

Well, it does stray from the original enough as to not confuse people, while it does maintain some 'original content'. The usage of a different color and the inclusion of additional text would surely give the impression that it in now way is associated with dz.com. I'm thinking if we simply drop the 'DOT' it really separates the designs and simply make a statement. Tell me, the pink, is that color the Pantone 212C or is it the web-safe #ff3399?

The new username is a change from an older name, dzculture, which did not tie into my new online persona. Again. I'm not trying to create dissension amongst the masses here but what I'm sensing is that the image in question is simply too close to the original. Would it be considered a more 'correct' parody if it were more like this? We all know and understand the value of that parody. If you have never realized the fact that MANY of the threads are nothing more than one person venting, then that last image may very well be a more truthful 'PARODY'. Sincerely Mike 'X'

WOW!!!! That's a lot of chatter over a T-Shirt. Thank you to my friend Mark who forwarded this thread to me. Firstly, I, in no way, meant do downplay the value of Dropzone.com and its affect on the skydiving industry. It has allowed us all to have a place, outside of our respective skydiving centers, to vent, learn, buy, sell and discover more about the sport we all love. I have been a member of Dropzone.com for years and will continue to be one for years to come. Now let’s get to the point at hand. The art of parody has been around as long as art itself. “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” appears in Charles Caleb Colton's Lacon (1820) Let's look at the history of MY parody shirt. It all starts here.... Please check the date of the start of the thread. http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1204775;search_string=font;#1204775 I first produced this shirt as a means to survive because I had been injured in a plane crash… http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=1321894;search_string=mike%20x;#1321894 I sold maybe 10 shirts at that time and people appreciated the humor behind it. I guarantee that 10 shirts does not make you a fortune, but it does equal rice and beans for 6 months. Since then I have not produce many (if any) more. I decided to revamp the designs this year because of the lack of fun shirts on the market. It’s really that simple…. #### Regarding the legalities behind the design… Here are some outside information reference points that may be of interest. *** Appropriation Art http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appropriation_(art) *** Art Parody http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/high/Lauren-cards.htm And of course we all recognize these images…. http://www.jumpersportswear.com/images/apparel/0042T.jpg... Snickers http://www.jumpersportswear.com/images/apparel/0038T.jpg... Budwiser http://www.jumpersportswear.com/images/apparel/0020T.jpg... Survivor http://www.jumpersportswear.com/images/apparel/0047T.jpg... Superman http://www.jumpersportswear.com/images/apparel/0037T.jpg... Da Vinci ... produced by a very reputable company. And how about the 1,520 skydiving designs on 33,400 products available at cafepress. WOW!!! Does this one ever look like the one I designed in 2002!!! http://www.cafepress.com/buy/skydiving/-/pv_design_details/pg_2/id_653531/opt_/fpt_/c_666/ or http://www.cafepress.com/buy/skydiving/-/pv_design_prod/p_storeid.10729107/pNo_10729107/id_4276085/opt_/pg_/c_/fpt_ Where is the reference to Altimaster in this item? ####Specifics “The content and software on this site may be used as a resource. Any other use, including the reproduction, modification, distribution, transmission, republication, display, or performance, of the content on this site is strictly prohibited.” I feel that I have followed these broad legalities. I did use the Drpozone.com logo as a reference resource but I did not reproduce, modify or republish the logo. Of course we all recognize the similarities, but each element was created individually. I did not use the font described in the first link and subsequent text (bum? kid? slut?) are all true statements of who we are. I’d love work with Sangrio and have these parody shirts be a part of his stock. I’m sure this thread wouldn’t exist if I had simply communicated with him regarding this. (I think I will!) ####And now for responses to thread comments. ExAfo - “I say it's the skyride peeps behind this” mx - Please. I too understand the hard work people put into their life endeavors. Skyride, in my opinion, does not have a heart behind its organization. I feel these shirts HAVE a heart and are to be worn by people whose lives revolve around the DZ. We all know dropzone bums, sluts and kids. jtval - “Holy shit, $35? Does that come with a blow job?” squeak - “i have no issue with it other than the price $35.00 for a T shirt BLOWS” mx -Well, sorry jtval, no blow job for you. The cost of the shirt is, by no means, outrageous. Factor in buying QUALITY shirts individually, $6-$8 each. I do print the designs myself and even that heat transfer is costly, $2+ per sheet. The cost of postage in Canada IS outrageous!!! I have priced these for all states and provinces. It costs me almost $11 to ship to BC, $9 to California, $7 to Florida and $10 to Canada’s maritime, not including the packaging itself. The average shipping cost on a ‘custom t-shirt’ on ebay is $12 and it will always total around $30+ for a custom shirt. I make, maybe, $3-4 per shirt, maybe. and squeak – It’s $35 for a long sleeve shirt. The T Shirts are only $32. Grips – “Not to mention two bill to get it shipped to Oz.” mx – Airmail, to the other side of the planet. Otherwise, ground shipping is considerably cheaper if you are willing to wait the 8-12 weeks it typically takes, if it doesn’t get lost. catfishhunter (cfh) - “…I'll order a shirt because they are cool.” mx- thank you. cfh - “But if they are stealing the logo and profiting off what HH has built…” mx- Um…. Andy Warhol, Campbell’s Soup? Anyone??? Bueller?? cfh “ …then yeah kick them in the nuts.” and… “ …then a beat down should take place in Toronto.” and… “ …someone in Toronto kick those guys in the nuts.” and… “ If someone tried to steal my company Logo… you can rest assured I would make damn sure they wished they hadn't.” and… “ They are Skydivers so they know a beat down is the appropriate response to ripping off another jumper.” mx- Great! Now I’m being threatened with physical violence, or is that the typical mentality that perpetuates the notion that America is a violent and law-suit hungry nation. Having lived in Florida for 7 years I know that my fellow skydivers come in all shapes and sizes and not all of them resort to violence the moment one of their beloved icons becomes a point of interest. cfh – “…try making a shirt with the Nike Swoosh…” mx – WOO-HOO! Done!!!! http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/detail_page.cgi?ID=56630;d=1 To everybody involved, interested or who simply has expressed their opinion… and especially to Sangrio, I’m sorry to have caused such a stir. These designs are simply done to pay homage to my life and to others who may share my opinion, values and experiences. It gives me great pleasure to see my artwork displayed in various places and formats, (does anyone like my photo in the centerfold of this months Parachutist Magazine?) and I’m honored to have a complete thread dedicated to one of my designs. All I can ask is that the next time any of you are producing an artistic tandem, year-end or YouTube video, with that popular song that you downloaded from your favorite bit-torrent site, that you play from your iPod or burnt CD, and claim as your own realize the similarities between what you are doing and what I have done. Woe the day that Bono comes after us all for our liberal usage and adaptation of HIS songs, Where The Streets Have No Name, Vertigo and of course, Beautiful Day. Yours truly Mike ‘X’ McKinlay USPA D-22966, AFFI, Coach, Tandem, Pro CSPA C-2311, IB, C2, EJR, Tandem etc. skydive_mister_x@yahoo.com http://allaxis.ca ps. I’ll always be a dropzone bum.