Marc H. Greenberg, a professor at Golden Gate University’s School of Law has published an extensive case study of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and its important work in the Loyola Entertainment Law Review. On the occasion of its publication, Professor Greenberg has prepared remarks about the article and the organization it supports exclusively for CBLDF.org. Read on for Greenberg’s remarks and the full case study.
Author: cbldf
New Neil Gaiman & David Mack Print Debuts!
The CBLDF is proud to offer our supporters an exciting new premium by Neil Gaiman & David Mack! This beautiful, exclusive print was contributed by our friends at Neverwear. Silk-screened in Austin, Texas these are the variant blue test run, created in very limited quantities prior to the standard edition grey run.
Printed on a gorgeous French paper called Madero Beach, a 70 weight 8.5 ” x 11″ recycled stock, the prints are full of flecks and bits. Creamy off-white, with 3 colors to show off David Mack’s luscious artwork and lettering.
They are hand-numbered, in an extremely limited artist/printer edition of 90. They are not available anywhere else!
Get yours today!
Cross The Border-Go Directly to Jail
What if the comics you took on a plane landed you in jail? That’s the danger facing one American, who could spend a minimum of a year in a foreign prison for doing just that. Turns out that anyone leaving or entering the country can be stopped, searched or detained by customs agents because of comic art in print or on laptops, tablets or cell phones – even without suspicion of criminal activity. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is leading a coalition to defend this case, and has resources to protect travelers traveling internationally. Learn more here, and please make a donation to support this case.
comiXology Joins CBLDF As A Corporate Member
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) announced today that comiXology — the world’s largest digital comics platform with over 60 million downloads to date — has become the organization’s newest Corporate Member. ComiXology joins industry leaders Dark Horse, DC Entertainment, Diamond Comic Distributors, Image Comics, Legendary Comics, Random House, and Threadless as Corporate Members supporting the CBLDF’s important work of protecting the First Amendment rights of the comics art form and its community of retailers, creators, publishers, librarians, and readers.
“There is no time like the present to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund,” said comiXology co-founder and CEO David Steinberger. “With freedom of speech being encroached upon at every corner, especially as new digital content platforms arise, comiXology is happy to show our commitment to free speech and the comics industry with this donation. If you have yet to become a member and are a comic book fan, please do so today.”
“We’re grateful that comiXology is taking this leadership position in supporting the CBLDF’s important work,” says CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein. “We have already seen prosecutions resulting from comics delivered in the digital realm, and those prosecutions are still on the rise. The CBLDF maintains an active program of fighting back when those cases occur, and works hard to challenge unconstitutional laws that would restrict the rights of comics in this new environment. We’re gratified that comiXology recognizes the importance of our work in this area and are putting their financial support behind us.”
Recently, the CBLDF helped fund and guide the successful defense in R. v. Matheson, a case that involved a comic book fan who faced criminal charges in Canada relating to comic books on his computer. The total legal costs of this case exceeded $75,000. After taking the case last summer, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund contributed $20,000 to the defense and also participated in shaping the defense, including recruiting expert testimony for the trial. The CBLDF is currently seeking funds to help pay off the $45,000 debt the defendant incurred as a result of his case, and to create new tools to prevent future cases.
To make a contribution to these important efforts, please visit www.cbldf.org.
CBLDF Hosts Member Appreciation Signings & More at Stumptown Comics Fest!
This weekend, CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein will represent the organization at the Stumptown Comics Festival, where we’ll have signings from Craig Thompson, Dan Piraro, and Ron Randall, as well as a huge array of signed comics and graphic novels that you can get for making a donation in support of our important work! Stumptown is one of the great American independent comics festivals. In addition to the action on the convention floor, the entire Portland comics community goes all out hosting a wide variety of parties, art exhibits and special events showcasing the city’s unique comics culture. Read on for the full scoop on CBLDF’s activities and all the special events happening at the show!
LA Times Festival of Books Tells A Success Story For CBLDF!
Last weekend, Deputy Director Alex Cox traveled to Los Angeles to represent the CBLDF at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. It was a terrific weekend, featuring signings by Sam Humphries (left) and Lev Grossman. The CBLDF raised $3,000 for our important work protecting free speech, and got a glance of a small sliver of what the LA comics scene has to offer. Read on for Alex’s adventures after the jump!
CBLDF’s History of Comics Censorship Presentation, Annotated by Joe Sergi’s Cup of Geek
Joe Sergi, blogger for Cup of Geek went to the CBLDF presentation The History (And Future) of Comics Censorship at C2E2 last weekend and wrote an extensive recap of the panel, with additional research and annotations by the author. CBLDF is pleased to represent Sergi’s post in full as a resource for our members and supporters. Read Sergi’s post after the jump.
Chicago Shows Huge Support At C2E2!
Last weekend the CBLDF team was at C2E2 in Chicago where we launched a huge t-shirt project with Threadless, delivered a presentation on the history of comics censorship, signed up over 30 new members, and raised more than $7,300 for our important work. CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein recaps the festivities after the jump!
Threadless Design Challenge Opens Submissions to Comics-On Tees Vol. 6 by Neil Gaiman!
Threadless kicked off the Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) last night with a benefit party for Comic Book Legal Defense Fund at Threadless Headquarters where a new fundraising effort for the non-profit organization was announced. In July, Threadless will launch Comics-On Tees Vol. 6, a series of four tees based on the poem The Day the Saucers Came, written by bestselling author and CBLDF board member Neil Gaiman. Artists have a chance to design the first tee in the four-part series, and 25% of the proceeds from the chosen design will benefit CBLDF.
Submissions for the first The Day the Saucers Came t-shirt will be scored by the Threadless community, and its 1.8 million community members will help pick the final chosen design. Designs can be submitted through Threadless, and the chosen shirt will be revealed at Comic-Con International in San Diego. The other three tees in the series will feature art from John Cassaday (Planetary, Astonishing X-Men), Ben Templesmith (Fell, 30 Days of Night), and Brandon Graham (King City, Prophet). To submit designs & learn more about this project please visit: http://atrium.threadless.com/cbldf/
CBLDF Blows Into The Windy City For C2E2!
This weekend the CBLDF takes to the road once more for C2E2 and the Diamond Retailer Summit in Chicago! The Fund has great rewards planned for card-carrying CBLDF Members, including a big open bar welcome bash hosted by CBLDF Corporate Member THREADLESS on Friday night and copies of the CBLDF Exclusive edition of Glory #23 signed by Joe Keatinge or Liberty Annual 2011 signed by Frank Quitely both COMPLETELY FREE for card-carrying CBLDF members. Beyond these membership thank you’s, we’re also delivering a presentation on the history of comics censorship on Sunday morning, and have a booth loaded with amazing signed books, prints and more to support our important First Amendment legal work! Read on for full details about what CBLDF has in store for you in Chicago!