Opinion: THQ Sued Over a Tattoo – Do You Own the Art On Your Body?

Laura Mazerall writes:

"In what can only be described as a “sue happy society” it really shouldn’t shock us too much when someone goes after a big company and it makes the news. But this latest legal adventure involving tattoos and THQ put a lot of food for thought on my proverbial table. I’ll give you the back story, then we can discuss."

[Snookies12]

Oh no! I have an Assassin's Creed tattoo, I'll be sued! D:

Lol, seriously though... This is really stupid in my opinion. Trying to sue a company because you tattooed a guy who they recreated digitally in the game with the tattoo???

That's going way overboard. Like THQ is going to go out of its way to find out WHO did every tattoo on each fighter's body and contact the people to make sure it's okay to use the art in the game... -_- Yeah, that's realistic.

[onyoursistersback]

Lol!!! Great!!! I have a guerrilla games tatto! (See my picture) and my cousin has the A from assassins creed too! Lol

[Snookies12]

Yeah, that's what I have. The Assassin's Symbol on my right wrist. :]

[onyoursistersback]

Lol. Ya my cousin has it on the inside of his risk, of his right arm. :)

[thorstein]

How many videos are taken off of Youtube because of "copyright" infringements? While I agree that this guy is overreacting, I can't help but think that if this tattoo artist advertised THQ tattoos, he might be sued by THQ.

[vulcanproject]

What about if I have a birthmark that looks exactly like Luigi poking Princess Peach while Mario looks on, on my ass. Am I at risk of Nintendo suing me and having a court order for the mark to be sanded off?

[ravinash]

Is this tattoo artist suing Carlos Condit or UFC for having his artwork appear on their show or body.
The draw on the show is Carlos, not the art work. the artwork is only part of the known image of Carlos and nether adds or takes away if the work was there.
Once you put your artwork on a person, you can't control where that person goes and what he appears on.
Once you tattoo someone, that work belongs to the person who was tattooed and they can go where ever they want and appear on anything they want.

[DN_Vamp]

Author here: I agree! If Joe the Champ has 20 tattoos from 20 different artists, THQ would have to contact and pay royalties out to all 20 creators. Not gonna happen. But that's what this suit seems to imply.

[Welshy]

On a serious note, i'm planning on getting MGS related tattoos so they can GTFO with this sue-happy nonsense.

[Heisenburger]

This would set a disturbing precedent.

I have Skull Kid(majora's mask) and sonic/shadow the hedgehog(I played SA2 with my sister who is no longer here. So please be respectful).

My point being: I don't like the idea that some of MY art, which I'm sure are copyrighted *images, might be under scrutiny in the future.

People seem to be too keen on the idea of getting a quick buck, with minimal effort.

Idk. I am not judging them, it just isn't how I was raised.

[DN_Vamp]

Terribly sorry about your sister. I personally have two band tattoos and neither me or my tattoo artist are the creators of the core images I used. It's bothersome to think that someday I may have to cover those strictly because the images are not my own. That's an extreme concern, but who knows!

[ab5olut10n]

F this guy. Once I get some ink, it's mine. You got a problem with it being displayed? Paint it instead and hang it on your wall. You already took money for me to wear it, that makes it mine.

edit-I have a lot of tattoos, enough that when you see me you see them. That makes them an inseparable part of who I am.

[KrisButtar]

i agree

i have a few tattoos too and you know, i went through the time and money to get inked, they are mine :)

[DN_Vamp]

From what I gathered, the issue this artist has is that he work was recreated digitally without his consent. It's not so much that the fighter is displaying the tattoo, the issue is that THQ replicated it without permission. I still don't think it's right though.

[Sarobi]

At this point it won't be very long until they sue you for just looking at something without permission... or even worse.. thinking about it

[vitullo31]

Hey i was going to say that first im suing your ass!