Fandom bootlegging

**Fandom bootlegging** refers to the act of taking fan art, illustrations, and content created by another person and redistributing it for profit. Within the *The Adventures of Tintin* fandom, this practice is most often applied to pastiches and other fan comics. The act of bootlegging fandom content has declined in frequency since the rise of online image sharing and archiving, but it continues to happen on online marketplaces such as eBay and Delcampe.

## Summary

Fan art theft is is common in most popular and/or large fandoms, but in the *Tintin* fandom, the phenomenon has notably been a problem long before the internet era. The most famous example of fan art being bootlegged without its original creator's consent is the pastiche Tintin in Thailand; three "pastiche pirates" in Belgium somehow obtained a copy of Bud E. Weyser's original zine, and mass produced pirate copies until Hergé's estate stepped in. Another notable example is Rémi Lucas halting his *Tintin and Me* comic series after its third instalment when he discovered bootlegged versions of his comics.

Illustrations of *Tintin* characters are the biggest targets of fandom bootlegging. Sadly, the more an illustration emulates Hergé's art style or the more aesthetically pleasing it is, the more it holds risk of being stolen.

## Forms of bootlegging

The two most frequent forms of bootlegged fan art are zines and postcards. In recent years, there has also been a rise of bootlegged art being reprinted on badges, T-shirts, and even metal champagne caps. On-demand printed goods services, such as Redbubble, are sometimes prone to hosting reposted artwork. This happens when a bootlegger finds high-resolution fan art and reuploads it to their own account, offering it for sale despite not having actually created it.

Pastiches will usually be reproduced in bootleg or magazine format, and sold online with no indication as to whether or not they are original copies. Mockup album covers and illustrations will often appear reprinted on postcards; these listings will very rarely cite the actual artist, and the more inexpensive they are, the more likely the postcard is a bootleg.

## Counter-measures

In order to dissuade bootleggers, fan artists will often include disclaimers on their uploads or accounts asking viewers not to reproduce their content. These copyright statements help give proof that the artist never intended nor authorized any bootleg versions. Some artists may choose to put watermarks on their online uploads, trademarking the image itself, or to upload their images in a DPI too low to be printed out in high quality.

Buyers may be tempted to pursue a bootlegged item because of its affordability. However, they are advised against purchasing these, because it will directly financially support bootleggers and motivate them to continue operations. Buyers should examine postcards and pastiches before purchasing, in order to avoid getting a low quality or unauthorized product. Things to look for include:

* Print quality. Does the art appear to have been enlarged or re-scaled? Does it look like it has been printed from a home printer?
* Artist attribution. Is the artist's name visible anywhere in the listing or on the product?
* Artist's wishes and availability. Has the artist made any statements elsewhere online asking buyers not to sell their art? Do they have an official store or print shop account elsewhere?
* Limited editions. Has a rare pastiche been reposted for very cheap? Is it missing a copy numbering designation?

For example, art by Harry Edwood and Yves Rodier is most frequently reproduced by bootleggers. Both artists have made a point of only uploading their fan art to the internet in lower resolution, and Rodier uses an official Society6 for the few prints he has made available for sale. Meanwhile, bootlegs may appear stretched-out or washed-out, indicating an image has been enlarged from standard web viewing size to print size.

## References

1. ↑ Tintin et Lucas - Tintin est Vivant
2. ↑ Sample Copyright Notice - Privacy Policies