Jackbotnik

Thanks to @MechaGirlOTD, we have confirmation that the most important character in the Sonic film franchise is returning for Sonic 4.

The Plot of Sonic 4:

BREAKING NEWS FROM THE DAILY BUGLE! Rumors are swirling about a so-called “Brand New Day” for the web-head. But we know the truth: when it comes to Spider-Man, a brand new day only brings brand new lies! Watch as brave local hero and newsman, J. Jonah Jameson takes to a local event to confront the wall-crawler before the trailer drops.

J. Jonah Jameson confirmed as next Marvel Rivals Hero.

@Ls1389 Miku Expo tickets for almost front row were like $75 lol

Last thing I’m saying on this because I’m not going to go back and forth anymore because it’s clear I’m not changing your mind and you’re certainly not changing mine. Something eventually will have to give. The Sonic brand isn’t just a free for all that anyone gets to do anything with. SEGA has in the past been cool with fan projects as long as they’re not for profit. Not for profit being the key phrase. As much fun as they are, even the conventions and unofficial fan events are sometimes pushing the limits of what would be ok. At the end of the day, it’s making money using the IP and yes, they’ve been cool about a lot of things, but it seems really like a dumb idea to consistently test boundaries with what they’d be ok with. At what point does it get to where someone could just put out an unofficial Sonic game and charge people for it as if it’s an official release? My fear is that while SEGA has been cool with things like fan conventions, fan art, non-profit fan games, the more people try to push the brand for their own profit, there will be inevitable pushback, and I feel like when that happens, it won’t just be a “World Tour” getting a cease and desist. Like we went from “Hey SEGA is it cool if we make a Sonic game and distribute it for free online for other fans?” to “Hey SEGA, we’re just gonna use your characters for a multi-million dollar world tour to try and make profit for ourselves (you get nothing lol)”. Pretending they’re the same thing / on the same level is asinine.

@Jackbotnik @sonicstadium I glossed over that cuz, do you seriously think it is a genuine worry that SEGA would risk the PR nightmare of what would effectively be a retaliation lawsuit? SEGA don't partake in aggressive IP protection with Sonic and have great fan rapport.

So I saw this and have to say this as a PSA to the Sonic Community: I hate to be that guy, but I would REALLY wait to purchase any tickets for this. It doesn't seem to be a sanctioned SEGA event based on the info provided. While I'm sure Johnny can still tour and sing Crush 40 songs, I would have to imagine that there would be some major copyright issues using Sonic characters in an elaborate World Tour stage show. SEGA is generally cool with fan projects and whatnot as long as they're not for profit. This, on the other hand, is completely for profit and selling tickets using their IP. I don't post about it often, but I work professionally as a graphic designer (last 10 years), so I deal with branding, IP rights, copyright, etc. on a daily basis. Everything about this tour screams "See what we can get away with". My main fear for the community is that people buy tickets for this, the tour winds up getting cancelled or reduced due to legal action, and Sonic fans have to deal with the headache of trying to get their money back. I know I'm just that goofy Eggman guy, but I REALLY get bad/sus vibes from this. I genuinely would hold off on this until more information comes out.

Nope it wasn’t. I see an event that is blatantly going against copyright and flouting an IP they don’t own to try and convince people to spend their money on it. I told people to wait and see more details about the event before jumping in and buying tickets because in my experience, I could see the event possibly running into legal issues (you kinda glossed over the fact the man running this just sued the IP holder and lost). I was using my platform to just give a heads up that “Hey maybe don’t buy tickets for this until more details are released because I get a bad vibe from it.” because it would really suck for a bunch of Sonic fans to be potentially out of money, but go off anyways.

@Jackbotnik @sonicstadium No tickets on sale, no info really available and yet here you were sowing doubt about this using a position of authority and backing it up with industry "knowledge" to convince people. That was irresponsible.

My main point here is that using the Sonic IP and promoting a "multi-million dollar hologram show" using said IP is extremely risky legally. Especially when you - 1: Just were involved in a lawsuit with said company. 2: Are using their IP for profit with a supposed multi-stop "World Tour". My whole issue with this is that it's an unofficial use of the Sonic IP that has a chance of being shut down by SEGA. If that happens, Sonic fans who purchased tickets may be out money for however long it would take to handle refunds.

@teragianelli @sonicstadium @Jackbotnik No worries! 💙We both assumed it came from Johnny, but we had very different reaction to it based on experience. I think Jackbotnik's implied "this is sketchy" is the reason why you assumed a negative.

Spent yesterday spreading the good news… THAT SPIDER-MAN IS WEBBED MENACE WHO DESERVES TO BE STRUNG UP BY HIS WEBS FOR HARASSING THE GOOD PEOPLE OF NEW YORK!!

@pitoumoder @Tonterizo SEGA can use the song however they want and he can perform it. They don’t need to pay him royalties. Source: Court docs haha

@Tonterizo @Jackbotnik ...? there was a whole legal mess a while ago because johnny was owed royalties he wasn't getting. didn't keep up with how that shook out, but my understanding was johnny's case was pretty ironclad and SEGA was gonna have to either pay him out or stop using the stuff he was on.

@ferretsforever It’s not really a “they” thing. Just Johnny.

@Jackbotnik but weren't they working with sega again?

@AmeliaRose2002 You’d be surprised lol

@Jackbotnik I get the skeptics but I'm sure Johnny probably discussed it with SEGA before this was announced.

@Kingraven42069 @starryinkling @_addiea So they totally haven’t retweeted this on Sonic’s official Twitter. Not sure what you’re referring to

@Jackbotnik @starryinkling @_addiea Considering the official sonic the hedgehog X account has reposted and retweeted the teaser for the even it seems that SEGA has knowledge of this and either supports it or fully endorses it and sponsors it

If they can come out and say that this is a 100% SEGA sanctioned event, I'll revoke what I said. Based on what I know of copyright, it seems really odd that he's the only one promoting this tour, through unofficial SEGA/Sonic fan websites and channels. If you had SEGA's blessing for the tour, you would likely want/have them posting about it in addition. My honest guess is that this is a 100% unofficial tour that's trying to hop onto the 35th anniversary hype. Which is fine, it's cool if it provides fans an opportunity to meet up and whatnot. Where I think this is risky is using SEGA's IP as a MAJOR part of the show and making profit off their IP. That would be the equivalent of me selling Eggman merch I made myself but labeling it as "OFFICIAL SONIC THE HEDGEHOG MERCH" just because I had worked with SEGA in the past on things. I would just hate for people in the community to purchase tickets for this and wind up being out money (even for a brief amount of time).

@Jackbotnik @_addiea I think we're selling Johnny short here if ppl assume he's gonna go out of his way to infringe upon copyright and get sued for more than what he owes in terms of finacial compensation he owes to Sega. Though, I do think it is something to at least CONSIDER on your end/tweet.

If he doesn't want to be famous, I'll make him infamous!

Working on debuting a new cosplayer / character this weekend. Any guesses as to who?

@conrad_417 I already buy from the web shop and even then this disincentivizes me

@Jackbotnik Someone points out it incentivises you to buy from theit web shop, as they give 20% back in rewards. Price raises is one thing. But removing the extra Vbucks is a scummy move

This screams "We paid for too many collabs and now we have to pass the cost onto the consumer". I know I just posted about a possible Marvel season, but I would happily sacrifice that for the prices staying consistent, especially with the economy the way it is.