Time Warner profits from Guy Fawkes masks worn at ‘Anonymous’ protests

[Playinghardball]

Source: Raw Story
By Eric W. Dolan

Some of the profits from the Guy Fawkes masks frequently worn by members of the hacktivist collective "Anonymous" go to one of the largest media companies in the world.

The mask was first popularized by the 2006 film "V for Vendetta," where it was worn by a vigilante fighting against a totalitarian government. Fawkes was a 17th century Englishman who tried to assassinate King James I of England by blowing up the House of Lords with gunpowder.

"Anonymous" members adopted the mask as an unofficial symbol of the movement during worldwide protests against the Church of Scientology in 2008.

The Guy Fawkes mask has been associated with "Anonymous" ever since and frequently worn by protesters.

The New York Times reported that Time Warner owns the rights to the Guy Fawkes mask because "V for Vendetta" was produced by Warner Brothers, one of its many subsidiary companies. Time Warner is paid a licensing fee with the sale of each mask.

More: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/08/29/time-warner-profits-from-guy-fawkes-masks-worn-at-anonymous-protests/

[Cirque du So-What]

1. As much as I hate to admit it, Time Warner is entitled to a cut

I respect intellectual property rights across the board. I couldn't complain about repug candidates co-opting people's music as campaign themes if I pitched a fit about Time Warner getting royalties for those 'V' masks.

[Generic Other]

3. hahaha I have two of them!

I planned to use them when I interviewed for the CEO job at Bank of America.

[ThatPoetGuy]

2. Utter nonsense.

Guy Fawkes masks were around long before V for Vendetta. If people wear masks that are licensed as V for Vendetta merchandise, then Time Warner takes a cut. But plenty of Guy Fawkes masks aren't, and Time Warner has no right to them unless they were sold as V for Vendetta merchandise.

Do Anonymous wear official V for Vendetta merchandise? Maybe individuals do, maybe they don't. I don't see evidence for the claims made here.

The article's author seems utterly clueless. He refers to "Rubie’s Costumes, the New York company that produces the masks," as though it's the only company that makes Guy Fawkes masks.

Psst, Eric Dolan: my mom bought one in London in 1974, before either the comic or the movie of V for Vendetta.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Does it look like the design in the movie?

I very much doubt it. Looking vaguely 17th century with a beard wouldn't mean there are royalties to be paid; but when I've seen pictures of Anonymous protests, they are all wearing the same exact design from the movie.

[Fozzledick]

4. This reminds me of something I read about capitalists selling rope...

[white_wolf]

6. "The Capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them"

-Vladimir Lenin