How Samson treats its fans...

[carnut]

I had a nice Avatar for years on Myspace; a reworked version of an 80's cover of a Samson album. So, I guess it's a bit a tribute to this band too...



All nice untill I got these mails from someone who calls himselve "creative controller for the estate of Paul Samson "

Hi,
I would just like to point out that the Paul Samson logo is copyrighted, and is a registered trademark. It is an offence to deface a registered trademark, or to use without permission.
You may use the original logo without alterations as long as you credit it as copyright the Paul Samson Estate, otherwise will you please remove it.


Rob Grain, creative controller for the estate of Paul Samson (deceased)

Also from Thunderstick, the drummer (or ex-drummer, dunno) from Samson.

Hey gert, Since when were you a fuckin` member of SAMSON...what right have you got to use a patented logo you twat..expect a lawyers letter pal...THUNDERSTICK.

Well, told them friendly to "fuck off and sue me"...
They filed a complaint to remove my Myspace, which probably will be done , as the Myspace people tend to remove pages withouth warning....

So , what do you think of it ???
Legaly, okay, they are right..But wich worse move can you do as a band by treatening to sue fans for a stupid square inch of Avatar ???
Am I earning something with this Avatar ? Nope ... Are the remaining Samson members gaining something with this ? Nope, in fact they loose alot. As a reviewer for several mags and websites, they will not get ANY credit from me, and I informed fellow reviewers, some for big shot mags, and they share this opinion...
Were are the good days a band would contact you with:" hey man, cool avatar, thanx to remember us, please put our myspace on your friends list" .....

Paul Samson will turn in his grave
You can visit the Samson Myspace at:
<a href='http://www.myspace.com/paulsamsonuk' target='_blank'>http://www.myspace.com/paulsamsonuk</a>

[Prof]

This is completely pointless and, most of all, a disgrace to Paul Samson's memory.
Shall we now be barred from using logos, pictures, LP covers and what have you for avatars altogether? More corporate idiocy, a sign of the times if you ask me. :angry:
Coming from Thunderstick, it really figures, though. 'Reliable' is not the word you'd be thinking of in connection with that man.

A little anecdote for you: years ago, a Dutch buddy of mine founded 'The Church of Godzilla'. It was a small-scale thing, meant to be a tribute to his favourite filmmonster. If I remember correctly, a newsletter, an audiotape with some weird stuff on it and of course an 'official' membership were issued. All free of charge of course (as I said before, this was a tribute of sorts and nothing but a joke). Next thing you know, Japanese filmstudio Toho sent their corporate lawyers on their way. The fun ended there and then, as you can imagine.

In regards to the Samson cover you are/were using: back in the early eighties, a metalhead who was in my highschool class and a huge Samson-maniac, painted the very same image on the wall of the school's coffee place where we used to hang out. I wish I'd made a picture of this 'metal mural'.

[Powerprillipator]

Maybe somebody should tell Thunderstick, that he can take his mask off now. So it would be easier for him to breathe. Brains need air...

PPP