Chris Escobedo, the owner of Elite Tattoo, has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court of Arizona for copyright infringement against THQ, Inc., the makers of the hit mixed martial arts (“MMA”) video games UFC Undisputed and UFC Undisputed 3. (United States District Court, Court of Arizona Case 2:12-cv-02470-JAT) Escobedo, who is represented by Maria Crimi Speth of Jaburg|Wilk in the lawsuit, tattooed a large lion on the side of Carlos Condit, the current interim welterweight champion of the UFC. The lion tattoo was Escobedo’s original creation, and it is alleged that it was then re-drawn by THQ’s animators for use in the video games. Escobedo did not authorize the copying of his original artwork.
“I would not have agreed to the recreation of the tattoo by an animator,” says Escobedo, who explains that if he had been approached by THQ to license the tattoo, at a minimum he would have insisted on approving the artwork and being fairly compensated.
“People often believe that they own the images that are tattooed on them by tattoo artists,” explains Speth. “In reality, the owner of the tattoo artwork is the creator of the work, unless there is a written assignment of the copyright in the tattoo art.” Escobedo and Condit never had a written agreement. Thus, claims Escobedo in the lawsuit, he remains the owner of the copyright over the image he drew.
Shouldn't be a tattoo artist if he's so possessive of his own work. If you tattoo someone, you're selling your art away to someone. You don't own his skin now, you greedy bastard
As a fellow artist, I can see where he's coming from.
Unfortunately, it's obvious he's just trying to get paid. It's a fucking tattoo. Not a hanging piece of art work in a museum or a clothing line logo.
This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.
This I would be somewhat annoyed by that, but still. You are putting it on a fucking person. People probably steal the idea all the time and its not like its an insanely original piece of art.
If you don't own the artwork, then why are you paying for it? If he wants to own the artwork and get royalties from its performances then he should do it for free. If he painted a picture, he wouldn't charge the canvas a fee and then sell the picture. Once money exchanged hands the artwork was sold.
You tattoo'd someone, contributing to their likeness.
Likeness is the terminology used for these games licensing rights (rights to use the likeness of X fighter). Therefore, unless you agree with the fighter ahead of time that you get a piece of his likeness, you having created the art does not entitle you to jack shit.
You've been paid for your work already, you greedy POS.
/endthread
I'm all for copyright legality, but this tattoo shit does not fit the category.
