Official Twilight T-Shirt Contest Won't Let You Use Anything From Twilight

from the good-luck dept

Fri, Jun 18th 2010 7:39pm — Mike Masnick

David writes in to alert us to the rather hilarious situation where Cafe Press is running an official Twilight t-shirt design contest, where you can try to design a t-shirt for the upcoming release of the latest installment (didn't the last one come out like 3 weeks ago?) in the series, called Eclipse. You're supposed to design a t-shirt related to the movie, and you can win a $500 gift card.

That, of course, is not very interesting. Where it gets amusing is when you look at the restrictions in the fine print (I've bolded my favorites):

No use of the official Twilight movie logo e.g.
All images must be tagged with "twilight movie"
No use of images or depictions of the actors in the movie
No use of profanity, vulgar or hate language
No use of explicit sexual language or graphics
No use of copyrighted material from the movie or its promotional materials (e.g. no use of images of the movie, movie posters or from the movie website)
No political party associations (e.g. republican, democrat, or candidates)
No blood
No fangs
No stakes thru the heart
No coffins
No bats
No use of Twilight book cover images
No pictures of apples
No journals (you cannot create Twilight journal products)
No calendars (you cannot create Twilight calendar products)
No Cards (you cannot create Twilight postcards, greeting cards and note cards)
No Undergarments (you cannot create Twilight thongs or boxer shorts)

So, yes, go ahead and make an official Twilight movie shirt (but certainly not any other Cafe Press product), but don't use anything from the actual movies or books or anything normally associated with vampires. Also, um, can someone explain to me the prohibition on apples?

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Filed Under: permission culture, rules, t-shirts, twilight

103 Comments

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Rose M. Welch (profile), 18 Jun 2010 @ 7:49pm

The cover art for the first book in the series, Twilight, features a pair of hands holding an apple. I think it's supposed to reference temptation, which is a neat reference that's now been wasted on such a juvenile offering. Sad. :(

See the cover here:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1d/Twilightbook.jpg
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Mike C. (profile), 18 Jun 2010 @ 7:53pm

Apples....
The cover of the first book in the series shows a pair of hands holding a red apple. Ads and promotional shots from the first movie also regularly used apples.

/lame excuse for a restriction
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2010 @ 7:56pm

no glitter should also be up there:P
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Poster, 18 Jun 2010 @ 7:58pm

This might be the stupidest thing I've read all week, and I read that story about Pakistanis calling for the death penalty for Facebook's higher-ups.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Sans Pantalones!, 18 Jun 2010 @ 8:02pm

Issabout vampires, right?
No fangs...?

To quote the internet, "lolwut?"
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2010 @ 8:11pm

For sake of comparison...
The band Devo teamed up with Shirt.Woot for a t-shirt design contest with a generous prize, where you can, um, must use one of three logos or the image of their iconic hat in your design from a file they supply. Something must be wrong here... :)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2010 @ 8:13pm

Durrr...
Forgot the link: http://shirt.woot.com/Derby/
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2010 @ 8:17pm

Abuse this "Winter Event happening between the years 2009 and 2011" style
Easy contest winning, just include:

1) Rats with wings (literally)
2) All teeth elongated EXCEPT for Canines.
3) The word "Dawn" plastered everywhere.
4) Credit pages from the inside covers
5) Steaks through the heart.
6) Red jelly (or some non-blood bodily fluid that might be...appropriate)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2010 @ 8:31pm

most win submission
Emo crying guy with ketchup on his mouth (evidenced by a ketchup packet in his hand), and an orange in one hand standing in a wooden packing box with small silhouettes of pterodactyls around him
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Nick (profile), 18 Jun 2010 @ 8:56pm

winning Idea
black shirt, white text:
"I wanted to enter a contest, but all I was legally allowed to make was this lousy T-shirt."

Actually, Tech dirt could make that.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2010 @ 9:04pm

Spell Check in The Title
Hi Mike. Title says: "Official Twilight T-Shirt Content ...", oops, should be "Contest". Cheers.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Richard Corsale, 18 Jun 2010 @ 9:06pm

Re: Spell Check in The Title
It passes spell check :) Auto correct is the likely culprit.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2010 @ 9:09pm

They are forgetting a few
Such as we own the word "Eclipse" which is covered under our copyright, so that is banned. So is the date the movie releases.

I wonder if there is a clause that says they own all images sent to them.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2010 @ 9:48pm

Did they trademark "Sparkle Faerie" or "Sparklepire", yet?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
redwall_hp (profile), 18 Jun 2010 @ 9:54pm

Seriously, what the hell? I despise this franchise. It wasn't so bad before the movies started, back when the people who read it kept to themselves. But the new breed of Twilight freaks, and all of the attention the franchise gets in the media, really get on my nerves. The worst offense? That the media keeps trying to label it a "fantasy series" and compare it to greats like Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Wheel of Time, A Game of Thrones, Dragonriders of Pern, Mistborn, etc. etc.. (Okay, maybe not the last few, since they're not on the most of the public's radar...) No. It's just a cheap teen romance story with a bunch of marketing firepower behind it. It's not even a real gothic horror story, which is kind of a prerequisite for a story so deep into vampire territory, don't you think? (Excusing the oxymoronic vegetarian vampires and their lack of weaknesses or vampire-like traits.) Sorry. I'm done venting. I run a fantasy site, so this bothers me more than it should.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jono, 18 Jun 2010 @ 10:11pm

it's obvious!
Just use the restrictions as the content!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jay (profile), 18 Jun 2010 @ 10:24pm

@redwall_hp

There are other stories. But the fact that they've since transgressed into other genres (gonna keep that quiet for those 17 and under...) they really aren't worth reading.

As I see it, this is just like the 90s when Interview with the Vampire came out. Vampires and werewolves, modern setting, all to fight over a girl or go emo over a lost love from the last century.

*shudder*
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Hephaestus (profile), 18 Jun 2010 @ 10:48pm

renaming the title .... spelling Nazi stuff
"Official Twilight T-Shirt Content Won't Let You Use Anything From Twilight"

... Should read ...

"Official Twilight T-Shirt Conte"S"t Won't Let You Use Anything From Twilight"
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Fsm, 18 Jun 2010 @ 10:56pm

Am I alone...
Or am I the only one that thinks of vampires still as bats that fly in and *POOF*, there's the vampire?

"I've come to suck your bloood!"
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 18 Jun 2010 @ 11:52pm

techdirt saves* twilight.

another fluffy friday piece. yucky.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Jun 2010 @ 12:18am

Re:
I take offense to your use of greats in reference to Harry Potter :)

I only point this out to illustrate that one persons greats are another's trash.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Jun 2010 @ 3:21am

Perhaps the reason they don't want to use anything listed is because they and everyone has already used the listed items a million times over and they want to come up with something new and unique. If that's true then I see nothing wrong with that. Of course I don't expect them to outright admit, "You can't use the following because they've already been killed to death so you must come up with something new instead." That would practically be admitting, "due to our previous uncreativeness we have killed the following to death. To stimulate some level of creativeness, and compensate for our inability to be creative, you must come up with something new."
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Jun 2010 @ 3:23am

Re: FUTAM
Ohhhh capitalization challenged troll... You so random.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
SpacePirate, 19 Jun 2010 @ 3:26am

Noooooooooooooo
They left out:

No prepubescent longing for nonexistent anti-humans.
No getting tingly for eternity.
No quasi-biting semi-people.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Blatant Coward (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 4:40am

Caught between necrophilia,
and bestiality,
Twilight!

(inset picture of furry banana here)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
John Duncan Yoyo (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 4:50am

No Apples?
The Prohibited apples because the shirt is in Flash.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
AW, 19 Jun 2010 @ 4:57am

wait they are "vegetarian" vampires?...OMG I hated the series before, but now I am going to destroy it. That's just what I need people going around saying they are vegetarians to be "cool". As a vegetarian, I'm actually offended for vampires everywhere.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Fabio, 19 Jun 2010 @ 5:52am

Great Entries
Hey,
some of those t-shirts are really great even without any copyrighted material. Things like "I was pale before twilight made it cool" deserve a prize.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
interval (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 6:13am

My submission...
...is going to be a large screw stuck through a baseball.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Louis Smith (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 6:28am

Legal T-Shirt for Contest
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Louis Smith (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 6:29am

Legal T-Shirt for Contest
black shirt, white letters:
This shirt is a tribute to my favorite movie.
However, due to copyrights and
aggressive lawyers, I cannot say
anything about the move, its characters,
locations, props, common terms, or
even tell you what genre of movie it
is as I might get sued by somebody
for something. This shirt in no way
infringes on anyone's copyright for anything.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Bob Vila, 19 Jun 2010 @ 6:56am

This isn't a joke by the contest writers? I chuckled a few times as I was reading the list.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Jun 2010 @ 7:12am

Re: Re:
Can't stand Harry Potter.

I'll admit to having read the first two twilight books before giving up in exasperation. Yeah I'm slow like that.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Jun 2010 @ 8:07am

Re: Great Entries
They want to expand their regulatory copyright capture.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
TwiHater, 19 Jun 2010 @ 8:31am

Re:
I'd go for that except it's probably giving them too much credit. They're pretty crochety about the IP:

http://techdirt.com/search.php?cx=partner-pub-4050006937094082%3Acx0qff-dnm1&cof=FORID%3A 9&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=twilight
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Jun 2010 @ 8:35am

Capitalism
The reason they are releasing back-back movies is because this is the last book in the series, and in order to capitalize as much as possible from all these teenie-bopper fans, they decided to split the book into two separate movies (which they filmed at the same time...)

Money Money Money.

T-Shirt Entry: Real Vampires don't Shimmer!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
mer2329 (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 8:44am

wow just wow
those are some funny rules

I especially find this one funny
No pictures of apples
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Craig (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 9:45am

Please note: The Eclipse design contest is open to residents of the United States and United Kingdom only.
What the hell...just leave six billion plus people out of it, eh? Who cares about all those people; they will just steal the movie anyway.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
The Groove Tiger (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 9:49am

Just put this picture in a t-shirt:

http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/6900000/-Sparkly-monster-critical-analysis-of-tw ilight-6958265-999-1015.jpg
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Aaron Williamson, 19 Jun 2010 @ 10:39am

My design
I've got a design that I think will pass muster:

"Pasty boys & dour girls not having sex."
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Overtkill (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 11:41am

Re: Am I alone...
Indeed. I still laugh at the count when I see him on TV.

Bats beget bats, in my world. I wonder how well bats would help my batting average... :)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Overtkill (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 11:49am

They didn't think of the APPLE first....
When it comes to apples and vampires, the movie FRIGHT NIGHT comes to mind. It seems that the vampire from that film used them to clean his teeth perhaps. :)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Hephaestus (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 2:18pm

Re: Apples....
"/lame excuse for a restriction"

" Also, um, can someone explain to me the prohibition on apples?"

Its a virgin vagina, and clit (red apple) thing. Look at the picture. They dont want people doing shirts showing blood covered arms holding an apple (ie loss of virginity) saying "oh my that was fun". It would ruin the franchise.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Hephaestus (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 2:27pm

Re:
I agree ...

"is a neat reference that's now been wasted on such a juvenile offering."

It is a great picture that made me stop in the book shop and think "That is so hot" and smile all the way home.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Jun 2010 @ 2:40pm

Re:
Well golly, if it displeases you so much then why are you even here? Why don't you start your own blog and save us all from your incessant whining.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chronno S. Trigger (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 2:57pm

Re: Legal T-Shirt for Contest
I was going to enter that shirt (but the contest ended on the 14th).
[ link to this | view in thread ]
TW Burger (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 3:01pm

Re: Apples
Oh, that's why. I thought it was because Steve Jobs would sue.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
TW Burger (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 3:11pm

Re: Fantasy
No, I disagree. Twilight is "fantasy". It's a fantasy to think that forever young and beautiful, super-human immortals are obsessed with a bland, whiny, teenage girl with no discernible unique traits, personality, or motivation. However, since this seems to be the target audience it's a money making machine.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
TW Burger (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 3:14pm

Re:
It's Crowd Sourcing while pretending not to be? Could be.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Sethumme, 19 Jun 2010 @ 5:26pm

You got it ALL WRONG...
It's not hypocritical. It's simply being sponsored by a non-Twilight related organization (i.e., CafePress.com). Just look at the end of the official rules page.
http://blog.cafepress.com/twilight-saga-eclipse-t-shirt-design-contest-official-rules-2/

This is NOT the "official" twilight t-shirt design contest. This is a contest to design a shirt that can take advantage of the Twilight Eclipse craze without infringing on the true IP-holders' rights.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 19 Jun 2010 @ 6:26pm

They want something original
According to the rules entries will be judged on:
Creativity
Originality
Aesthetics
Concept

With a limited number of concepts they are looking for. The limitations are to get original entries instead of a bunch of the same thing over and over. Who wants to judge a bunch of t-shirts that all look the same. The rules add constraints that make entrants think outside the box.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Matt L, 19 Jun 2010 @ 7:07pm

Re: Re: Apples
That's what I was thinking. :)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jeff Woods (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 7:28pm

no apple?
Why no apple?
Probably talking with Steve about plans for iTwilight.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
TW Burger (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 9:30pm

Re: Re: Re: Apples
The 'No fangs' rule confused me more - until I read about the vegetarian vampire stuff. I guess the producers are trying to separate vampirism from blood and make it cool and wholesome. It's sort of like LBJ and Vietnam or BP and the Gulf of Mexico.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
techflaws.org (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 9:50pm

Re: Re: Fantasy
Best desciption ever. I like the actress portraying Bella though.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Pickle Monger (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 10:30pm

Re: winning Idea
Good idea! :)
Actually TechDirt should totally enter the contest with the DMCA T-shirt.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Karl (profile), 19 Jun 2010 @ 11:40pm

Unofficial?
Sorry for pointing this out, but it looks a lot like Cafe Press is trying to do a "Twilight" product, without having to pay the Twilight producers any money. So they "crowdsource" this to fans, with all the copyright restrictions, and hope to come up with something they can sell.

That is, this is in no way an "official" contest. It's official as far as Cafe Press in concerned, but that's it.

I mean, that's the only explanation that makes sense. If it were official, then I'm guessing the Twilight copyright holders would allow a little more leeway.

I'm of course counting on copyright holders making sense...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
WammerJammer (profile), 20 Jun 2010 @ 6:01am

No Blood
That's the low blow. No blood in a Vampire movie. Well it all sounds extremely lame and will only be paid attention to by girls that need to be bitten. Please let a man bite me, please.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 20 Jun 2010 @ 7:52am

@23
AWWWW SUCKS TO HAVE YOU BREATHE THE SAME AIR AS THE REST OF MANKIND. SEE WHY PEOPLE DO THINGS CAUSE THEY CAN.
-----------------
WHAT NO APPLES
OMG HOW AWFUL AND STUPID THIS IS
haha
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jeremy2020 (profile), 20 Jun 2010 @ 7:54am

So with pretty much everything, but 'sparkly' banned...basically the only valid entry is a sequin shirt
[ link to this | view in thread ]
ChurchHatesTucker (profile), 20 Jun 2010 @ 1:46pm

Re: You got it ALL WRONG...
Click through to the Fan Portal link.

All images created for the Official Twilight Saga: Eclipse Movie Fan Portal must comply with the following rules. Please note that the rules may be more restrictive than the CafePress Content Usage Policy, however we need to respect the creative decisions of the author and the movie studio.

Sounds official to me.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
mjb5406 (profile), 20 Jun 2010 @ 2:17pm

Can we call it...
Can someone design a logo and t-shirt for "twitlight" and submit it, please?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 20 Jun 2010 @ 3:17pm

Re: Unofficial?
CafePress explicitly states that the rules are MORE restrictive than what they would normally allow, and that it's the Copyright holders that are putting in the arbitrary restraints.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Marcel de Jong (profile), 20 Jun 2010 @ 3:24pm

My submission would be a stake on the right side of the t-shirt (which would not be a stake through the heart as your heart's on the left side of your body)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Marcel de Jong (profile), 20 Jun 2010 @ 3:37pm

Re: My submission...
Sorry mate, can't let you do that. They played baseball in the first movie.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 20 Jun 2010 @ 4:23pm

Re: They want something original
Right...like trying to build a spaceship resorting only to plastic bags, pencil shavings, ice cream and used tires.

They just want to see some creativity. No way did they mess up and forget to secure enough rights to make the t-shirts. And no way is copyright interfering with what people can and can not do here.

No
.
.
.
way.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 20 Jun 2010 @ 5:06pm

Re: Re:
only two posts mike? isnt your usual trick now to try to shout me down with 7 or 8 posts in a row?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 20 Jun 2010 @ 5:19pm

Re: Re: They want something original
Making t-shirts is a form of creative expression. Apparently you are not capable of creating something original, so you find the rules stifling. Your lack of creativity holds you back. Rather than getting creative you blame someone else for your inability to compete. This is your problem and copyright has nothing to do with it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 20 Jun 2010 @ 5:29pm

Re: Re: Re: They want something original
...that's the best BS you could come up with? Seriously?

If they wanted a "Creativity contest", it wouldn't be labelled with a "Twilight" stamp, now would it?

Who knows, maybe they messed up, and it's supposed to be a "Anything-but-Twilight contest".
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 20 Jun 2010 @ 5:30pm

Re: Re: Re:
Hurrah, he's back to Cospiracy-Theory TAM!

Let's keep poking him and see if he goes through his other routines.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
nasch (profile), 20 Jun 2010 @ 6:10pm

Re: Capitalism
Do they glamour?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 20 Jun 2010 @ 8:13pm

If it weren't for copyrights preventing fans from using Twilight material in Twilight contests that need Twilight material, there wouldn't be contests for fans to use Twilight material!

OH WAI-
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Darryl, 20 Jun 2010 @ 9:46pm

its a DESIGN contest - - stupid..
If anyone read it, they would see straight off that is is a
'design contest'.

Then they ask you to actually DESIGN things, and Mike gets all upset.

It must suck when they specifically state that you (YOU) must design the things, (after all its a design contest), and that you are not allowed to USE THE DESIGN OF SOMEONE ELSE.

That would make it a "COPY CONTEST", and I dont think that is what they are after.

All those restrictions they list, well what does that make or force you to do ?

ACTUALLY THINK FOR YOURSELF,

"I cant copy that, I cant copy that, I cant use apples, I cant use blood"... DAMN,,, "IM GOING TO HAVE TO THINK FOR MYSELF".

If this was not inplace, would you award the prize to the person who did the best job and copy and paste ?

I know its terrible for people to ask you to use your own brains, your own creativity, your own talents, but dont let you steal creativity, talents or skills that other people have.

I dont know why you complain about this kind of thing Mike, I see it as perfectly normal, and acceptable.

They are asking you to design something original, original means not using something someone else has thought up.

And what is wrong with that Mike ? it's a design competition that forces you to actually DESIGN, and not copy somone elses design.

And you complain about it, because they have to design, and the rules state specifically that are not to use existing designs.

You want to you use your brain, and not your cut and copy buttons. I personally think that is totally correct, and right and how could it be any other way and remain fair, or still be an actual competition of design.?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 20 Jun 2010 @ 11:58pm

Re: its a DESIGN contest - - stupid..
If you never copied anything and had to come up with everything yourself you would be a feral kid somewhere in some jungle, walking without closes and hiding in shit.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 21 Jun 2010 @ 12:05am

Re: its a DESIGN contest - - stupid..
Most people I know that are creative used some sort of memory to come up with new things, they used things that worked in other areas and applied to a problem in another area, nothing really new is being born from nothing, it always comes from something, so even it it is a contest not endorsed by the creators it shows very clearly how copyright can stiff creativity, expression and fun.

Copyright is killing the joy in the life of everyone.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
darryl, 21 Jun 2010 @ 4:49am

And yet people can still create, even if you cannot...
And oddly enough, regardless of what you say, many people will be able to quite easily create a work, that is accepted under the condition set out.

There will be alot of them, they will be original designs, and just because YOU cannot use your imagination, and come up with something original, there is no reason many other people can and DO create new and original things.

Sure, I can paint a painting, ill use paint, brushes, different colors and so on, I might even paint something that has been painted many times before, (like a tree, or a face), none of that takes away from the creative input that is required, if you go beyond just copying what someone else has created.

Its really not justifiable, that there are complaints about having to come up with something original. Based on a theme.

or are you complaining that they actually define what is cheating, and what is not?

Do you think they should have a competition with no rules, and allowing you to use anything someone else has designed as much as you like.

What humans evolved, there was no a pool of art, music, and things that people have always gone too to 'ideas'.

MonaLisa is not a great painting because of its uniqueness, its great because its very good, paintings of faces are common, and not unique, its the content that is scarce, not the media, its the content that has the value.

This competition is about you creating your own content, not just use content designed by someone else, (who has creativity). If you do not.

Its not a cut and paste or internet search competition, its a design comp, so they expect you to design something, not find someone elses design.

I dont see a problem with this and I dont see what else they could have done, or what they could have done different that would have pleased Mike. ?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Berenerd (profile), 21 Jun 2010 @ 5:37am

No pictures of apples
WTF? No pictures of apples? I have lost braincells. So to promote the movie we can't promote the movie....nice...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
BBT, 21 Jun 2010 @ 5:48am

Re:
Killed to death?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
PaulT (profile), 21 Jun 2010 @ 6:34am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Apples
"the producers are trying to separate vampirism from blood and make it cool and wholesome"

No, it's because the sparkly vampires aren't really "vampires" in the traditional (folklore) or common knowledge (Bram Stoker) sense. The vampires in the movies don't have fangs, just as they don't get harmed by sunlight and play vampire baseball. They still drink blood, but you don't see gore in the first movie (the one I was subjected to - not pleasant as I am an actual horror movie fan). It's pretty well agreed that the series (up until it got weird in the 4th book as I understand it) was just a big metaphor for Mormonism and chastity.

The "no fangs" bit was probably just to stop people from falling back on vampire cliches (or infringing on Universal's copyrighted works) when they realised they couldn't use movie screenshots. The apple thing was probably just to avoid getting a million riffs on the original book cover - the only thing associated with the series that doesn't feature an actor.
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PaulT (profile), 21 Jun 2010 @ 6:47am

Re:
If you haven't seen it already, watch the Swedish vampire movie Let The Right One In. It's extremely an well made movie along very similar basic lines as Twilight (i.e. a mortal and a vampire fall for one another) but very different both in tone. Both major characters are pre-pubescent for a start, and it has a poignancy and heart that the production line movies don't have.

The original novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist is also excellent, but takes turns further down some very dark roads (for example, paedophilia merely hinted at in the movie is made very explicit). Inevitably, there's a Hollywood remake on its way (retitled Let Me In, and is getting some surprisingly positive buzz).

It might not change your world, but it will reaffirm that actual artists are still working in the genre.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 21 Jun 2010 @ 6:51am

Re: Re: Re: They want something original
Restrictive rules do not benefit creativity, quite the opposite. By telling people what the CAN NOT do, you are pointing them to what they MUST do. You are actually achieving the opposite of the desired effect. Instead of letting creativity flow freely, you are pinning people down, leaving them unable to express themselves freely.

This doesn't mean, of course, that creative works cannot be created, but you are seriously limiting the universe of possible creations with these rules (I'm thinking of set theory here. You have a set T of all twilight related themes which these rules (set R) are chopping off (final set = T - R, which is obviously smaller)).

But I still think that this was some sort of bad planning on their part and not some sort of creativity boosting move. Something they should be bashed for, and not praised.
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Drak, 21 Jun 2010 @ 7:03am

In my day, Vampires sucked ...

http://mcxperi.wordpress.com/2010/05/13/back-in-my-day-vampires-sucked-blood-not/
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Michael, 21 Jun 2010 @ 7:16am

Your T-Shirt is almost perfect
I think the takedown t-shirt you offer is a nearly perfect submission. Some small modifications - like a little "twilight movie" at the bottom and you are done.

"No Undergarments"

I remember the days when a t-shirt was called an "undershirt".
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Michael, 21 Jun 2010 @ 7:21am

Re: And yet people can still create, even if you cannot...
Nobody is saying that cannot come up with content rules, but the rules they have come up with are somewhat stupid. Do you really think the no use of the logo restriction makes sense for an official t-shirt design contest?

I didn't go to school for ad design, but seeing as how the logo is usually a part of the branding, you would actually want the official t-shirt branded with the logo.

That's a bit like a McDonald's ad without the golden arches. Most people would look at it and wonder what the heck it was for.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Jun 2010 @ 7:55am

Re: Re: Re: Re: They want something original
The original creators have already beat set T to death. They do not want a bunch of entries that simply rehash set T over again. They want something from the T-R set. Its that simple and it has nothing to do with copyright. Why do you assume that they actually want an unlimited set of solutions?

While Mike really wants to blame copyright for the rules, copyright has nothing to do with them. This is a nice attempt to connect with fans, they are simply asking the fans to come up with their own stuff rather than rehashing what has already been done.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Jun 2010 @ 7:59am

Re: And yet people can still create, even if you cannot...
Ok, creative creature show us one original that had never been done before?

I'm not holding my breadth because I know you can't come up with anything.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Jun 2010 @ 8:05am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: They want something original
"The original creators have already beat set T to death. They do not want a bunch of entries that simply rehash set T over again. They want something from the T-R set."

You DO realize that set T - R is contained INSIDE set T don't you? That's makes your argument kinda dumb.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Jun 2010 @ 8:10am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: They want something original
Probably what you meant was that they've already beaten set R to death?
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Jun 2010 @ 8:11am

Re: And yet people can still create, even if you cannot...
What you are saying is that an apple is owned by twilight and can't be used anywhere by anyone because they used in the stupid film?

People can't use fangs because it is owned by twilight saga?

It is not their property no idea is, what if someone was to make a vampire with glowing fangs?

"What humans evolved, there was no a pool of art, music, and things that people have always gone too to 'ideas'."

Rome had copyrights?

The Ottoman Empire had copyrights?

The Persian Empire had copyrights?

They all were well known for their love for the arts, the greeks also, the Chinese for 3 thousand years now have a rich history that includes arts, are you saying people didn't do art before? are you crazy? no not crazy you are dishonest aren't you.

"Do you think they should have a competition with no rules, and allowing you to use anything someone else has designed as much as you like."

Why not? Are you saying nobody can be inspired by others anymore? if forbidden now?
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Jun 2010 @ 8:37am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: They want something original
The not so original creators want something original?

That is rich coming from people who did Romeo and Juliet again.
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DT, 21 Jun 2010 @ 8:38am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: They want something original
The not so original creators want something original?

That is rich coming from people who did Romeo and Juliet again.
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nasch (profile), 21 Jun 2010 @ 8:42am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: They want something original
Even if that's true, which I doubt, it's STILL stupid. If they were trying to guide people to different and creative output, all they had to do is say something like "We're looking for something new and different, so be creative. The winning designs will not look like Twilight shirts we've seen before."

The creative people will get it and do something new (although they probably would anyway). And it's dumb to eliminate a really cool and different design that still happens to incorporate one of these banned elements. The not creative people aren't going to do anything creative no matter what you tell them. So basically IMO it's a fail no matter what their motivation was.
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Jun 2010 @ 8:53am

I would rather endure a prostate exam than sit through any of the "Twilight" flicks. The fact that my thirteen-year old niece is busting to see this only reinforces my position.
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C, 21 Jun 2010 @ 9:02am

Original Creators want original works, that cracks me up.

They managed to create Romeo & Juliet in a gothic set again!
and want original content?

LoL
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cysco24, 21 Jun 2010 @ 9:10am

Picture this
Sun eclipsed by the moon, a guy looking eerily similar to Edward Cullen with his head down in sadness. To the right a big sign that says "body glitter contest".
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Jun 2010 @ 10:29am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: They want something original
Whatever, I failed to communicate to you on your own terms, so be it. Anyhow, I think you get my point. They want some fresh entries in the contest. They put up rules around the contest to avoid getting a bunch of stuff thats already been done. Honestly, I don't like the rules and I could care less about the contest. I'm not supporting the contest or the rules. I do think that looking at the rules and then blaming copyright for them is wrong, is not about copyright its about fresh content. At the end of the day, the contest itself is really about connecting with fans - something that gets a lot of attention here on techdirt.
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Movie, 21 Jun 2010 @ 10:32am

What it is original about that movie again?

I know that story from somewhere, I'm pretty sure I saw that a thousands times already and people call them "original creators", WTF?

The film is a rip off of the rip off of the rip off of the rip off all back to medieval times.
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nasch (profile), 21 Jun 2010 @ 11:40am

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: They want something original
They put up rules around the contest to avoid getting a bunch of stuff thats already been done.

As far as I can tell, any commentary, including Mike's, about why these rules exist is pure speculation.

My speculation is that the rules are there not to promote creativity, but to retain control. They don't want anybody to think they can use the Twilight logo or any other trademarks, and they want to prevent movie-related depictions they don't like. Has Twilight merchandise with fangs, blood, and stakes through the heart really been done to death (no pun intended)? I haven't seen any, then again I haven't been looking.
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Justa Comment, 21 Jun 2010 @ 2:28pm

How About a Black to Blue Fade and
Twi As I Might
No Wording Allowed
About A Movie
Maybe...
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Jun 2010 @ 8:02pm

THIS JUST IN!

Due to the usage of hands holding an apple on the cover of the novel, by extension the contest has now banned all usage of hands or forelimbs in submissions to the contest. By further extension to make absolutely sure that no arms will be included submissions cannot have arms inserted where the arms would normally go through. To make sure there are no unauthorised usage of arms all contestants must surrender their arms to the rightsholders as they own all rights to arms.
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Michael Ho (profile), 22 Jun 2010 @ 12:01am

Re: renaming the title .... spelling Nazi stuff
oops. thanks for pointing that out.. fixed.
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Alexandre, 11 Nov 2010 @ 3:38pm

T-shirt Design Ideas that can help them in their creations
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