io9: DC Comics Tells Artists to Stay Out of NFT Business or Else

[Agent Z]

José Delgo, a former DC and Marvel comics artist, used to be best known for his run penciling Wonder Woman back in the ‘70s and early ‘80s. Now, he’s probably most famous for making $1.85 million dollars by selling NF Ts—or non-fungible tokens—of his drawings online, many of which featured Wonder Woman and other licensed characters. DC Comics is apparently not pleased with this development.

Of course, the real problem is DC didn’t get a cut of the sales of art featuring its intellectual property and is worried that other artists—who work for DC or otherwise—may try the same thing. So the publisher, by way of Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs Jay Kogan, sent out a letter to the creative teams and freelancers employed by DC, letting them know in no uncertain terms NF Ts are a no-no.

After stating the company had big plans for the digital ownership market, Kogan presented a velvet glove with an iron fist tucked inside. The letter, which leaked online earlier today (io9 has reached out to DC for more information, but the company declined to comment), reads in part: “As DC examines the complexities of the NFT marketplace, and we work on a reasonable and fair solution for all parties involved, including fans and collectors, please note that the offering for sale of any digital images featuring DC’s intellectual property with or without NF Ts, whether rendered for DC’s publications or rendered outside the scope of one’s contractual engagement with DC, is not permitted. If you are approached by anyone interested in including any of your DC art in an NFT program, please let Lawrence Ganem, DC’s VP, Talent Services know.”

There’s a lot to take in here, and of course, DC Comics absolutely owns Wonder Woman, Batman, and all its characters, and it has every right to want to hold dominion over that intellectual property in the NFT industry. The company would probably do the same with physical fan art of DC Comics characters, if it could think of any possible way of managing that on an ongoing basis.

https://io9.gizmodo.com/dc-comics-te...-or-1846466427

[Vakanai]

Eh, I don't see the problem. Seems like a normal business thing.

[Restingvoice]

Do they ever ask for a percentage when artists sell original pencil and ink?

[Timothy Hunter]

Good on Jose Delgo. NFT just seems kind of moronic to me. You pay for a jpg file? They make the argument that it still has value because the client is paying for the ORIGINAL file, but who cares if it's just a digital image?

[Restingvoice]

They care because someone... a lot of someone, put value in that particular jpeg.

Kind of like how a famous artist's sock on the wall is more valuable than my sock on the wall.

[MajorHoy]

They care because someone... a lot of someone, put value in that particular jpeg.

Kind of like how a famous artist's sock on the wall is more valuable than my sock on the wall.

It would also depend on whether the sock was washed or just worn before being hung on the wall . . .

[Bunch of Coconuts]

They care because someone... a lot of someone, put value in that particular jpeg.

Kind of like how a famous artist's sock on the wall is more valuable than my sock on the wall.

There’s also a market for pre-worn panties, but nobody seems to want mine.

[Vordan]

Eh, I don't see the problem. Seems like a normal business thing.

Here’s the thing: Artists selling artwork featuring DC’s characters is a legally grey area and always has been. Both DC and Marvel turned a blind eye to it because it wasn’t that profitable and it kept the talent happy (also probably let them get away with not paying talent all that much). But now that stuff featuring DC’s characters is selling for millions? Yeah you better believe AT&T will have a problem with that.

If something isn’t worked out it could mean the end of artists being able to sell stuff featuring DC’s characters.

[Citizen Kane]

Not really surprising that DC employees are being told that they can't sell DC artwork, original pieces or not. It would be more concerning if they were targeting fanart.

[Primal Slayer]

Shouldnt DC try to start paying their actual artists before coming for people trying to make some decent coin? Dont they owe Alex Ross residuals?

[Swamp Thing 2099]

Eh, I don't see the problem. Seems like a normal environment-destroying thing.

Fixed it for you.

[Shadowcat]

It’s Jose Delbo.

[Nite-Wing]

Dc won't be seeing any money from this digital art trend ��
Of course they are against their employees making a side hustle

[MajorHoy]

Dc won't be seeing any money from this digital art trend ��
Of course they are against their employees making a side hustle

But it's a side hustle with characters they (DC) own, so it's not just artists making money for their artwork outside of DC. DC wouldn't even have any connection if the artwork involved characters that DC didn't own.

And it gets to be a slippery slope when a company allows others to use their (DC's) property to make money outside of DC. What happens when an artist draws DC characters in pornographic scenes and charges money for that? Does DC have any right to stop the artists from depicting, say, Superman and Batman having sex with each other?

[Restingvoice]

But it's a side hustle with characters they (DC) own, so it's not just artists making money for their artwork outside of DC. DC wouldn't even have any connection if the artwork involved characters that DC didn't own.

And it gets to be a slippery slope when a company allows others to use their (DC's) property to make money outside of DC. What happens when an artist draws DC characters in pornographic scenes and charges money for that? Does DC have any right to stop the artists from depicting, say, Superman and Batman having sex with each other?

Oh that one they already did. A few years back, they ordered an exhibit showing Superman-Batman pairing to be shut down.