Tattoo Models Deserve Copyright Protection
I’ve been a model for almost 5 years. You might recognize me from the cover of last Spring’s PETCO catalog. I was the one posing with the Kitty Hoots Springy Worms Catnip Toy. (I know I look different. They colored my hair for the shoot. I was also 2 ounces thinner.)
I’ve being having a good run but who knows how long this good fortune will last? The only guarantee in modeling is that success is ephemeral. There’s always a group of new cats right behind you who are younger and cuter. If you’re smart you never pass up a gig and you stash away all the money you can. So when I discovered that my image was being used for tattoos on a massive scale and that I wasn’t being compensated for it, well, that just wouldn’t do.
A little background: I posed for a tattoo artist with the explicit agreement that it would be used for no more than 20 tattoos. It was only an hour of my time and it paid enough to keep me in Little Kriskies for another week. It wasn’t like the resulting images were gonna be used on a large scale where there’d be lots of money that I should’ve gotten a percentage of. Or so I was lead to believe. Long story short, I’ve come to find out my likeness is now in the selection book of every tattoo parlor in the country. Can you believe that!? Not only am I in “The Book,” I’ve become one of the most popular choices in it! I’m right up there with the anchor that says “MOM” and those kanjis symbols that sluts install above their butt crack. If I end up on the ankles of half the 14-year-olds in America why would Meow Mix want me on THEIR cans too? I’ll be over-exposed. I’ll be the new Abe Lincoln. Did you know that Abe Lincoln didn’t get a single penny for being on the penny? Talk about exploitation!
Of course I sued but guess what? There’s no law that protects a cat in a situation like this! And you know why? Get this: Because I’m an animal. You read that right. An artist is forbidden from selling a drawing of Brad Pitt to tattoo parlors because Mr. Pitt owns the rights to his image but that copyright law only applies to humans! And they wonder why we scratch ‘em.
I say it’s time time the law is changed. The U.S. constitution gives everybody the right to bear arms. It doesn’t, however, give them the right to my cat arms.
Okay, that slogan doesn’t work but you get my point.
Comments (4)
Citrus, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but it sounds impressive and I support you fully. Too bad your suit didn’t pan out- you must have had a bad lawyer. I recommend that you hire my buddy Charlie (LLD), who’s never lost a case. It’s about time that our People stood up for their Rights!
Citrus, You made a big mistake. You should have copyrighted yourself like I did. I even have a big time LA Agent who takes care of these things for me. With great looks like mine and of course yours , we can’t be too careful.
You know, BigBoy, you are pretty handsome! Are you busy next weekend? I have some lovely art you might enjoy!
Don’t mind them, Citrus. I think you’re a knockout!