Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

Features, Fundraising, Homepage, News Blog

Celebrate Neil Gaiman’s Birthday with a CBLDF Fundraiser!

by Betsy Gomez • November 3, 2011

Perennial Fund supporter Neil Gaiman celebrates his birthday on November 10, and the ladies with the Fangirls: Comics Club and A Comic Shop are ready to party! You can join them at The Geek Easy inside A Comic Shop (114 S. Semoran Blvd, Winter Park, FL) on November 10 from 7:00 – 11:00 p.m. for comics, music, games and more. Neil will be calling in so everyone can sing Happy Birthday to him! To celebrate, the organizers are also holding a raffle to raise funds for CBLDF.

For more details, visit the Facebook event page here.

Fundraising, Homepage, News Blog

Come See The CBLDF At MIX!

by cbldf • November 3, 2011

This weekend, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is headed to MIX, the Minneapolis Indie Xpo! We’ll have a booth open both days, where we’re thanking donors with a terrific array of signed books from authors including Charles Burns, Dan Clowes, Michael Kupperman, Jeff Lemire, Craig Thompson, Jim Woodring, and more! The Fund’s Charles Brownstein will also present Censorship Then & Now, the Fund’s history of censorship in comics on Sunday at 2:30. A party benefiting CBLDF happens on Friday night.

Dedicated to promoting small press and art comics, MIX is free to the public and showcases an incredible roster of art comics royalty including Zander Cannon, Kris Dresen, Mike Dawson, Sara Glidden, Sam Hiti, Dustin Harbin, Kevin Huisenga, Robert Kirby, Jon Lewis, Corinne Mucha, MariNaomi, Tom Neely, Anders Nilson, John Porcellino, Jim Rugg, Zak Sally, and Julia Wertz. CBLDF joins exhibitors including Ad House, Koyama, La Mano, MCAD, Sparkplug, Secret Acres, Top Shelf, and Uncivilized Books.

Charles Brownstein says, “I’m very excited to be going to MIX. Sarah Morean and her team have done a lot of hard work to make a showcase for great cartoonists, and to ensure that the CBLDF is able to raise money for our important work. The community in Minneapolis has always been extremely generous to the Fund, especially the folks at MIX, MCAD and MCBA, so it’ll be great to go out and thank them personally for all they do to help the Fund!”

Homepage, Legal, News Blog

CBLDF Congratulates General Counsel Robert Corn-Revere On Winning CBS Super Bowl Wardrobe Malfunction Case!

by cbldf • November 2, 2011

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund congratulates Robert Corn-Revere, who represents the organization as General Counsel, on his victory in CBS v. FCC in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

The federal agency fined CBS Corporation television stations $550,000 for airing the “wardrobe malfunction” that exposed singer Janet Jackson’s breast during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show. The Third Circuit had previously thrown out the fine, but the Supreme Court remanded the case for reconsideration following their ruling on the fleeting material policy in Fox v. FCC. The Third Circuit re-affirmed its decision in a 2-1 split. Robert Corn-Revere argued the case for CBS.

Features, Fundraising, Homepage, News Blog

Beguiling Raises Funds for Canadian Side of Customs Case

by Betsy Gomez • November 2, 2011

If you’re in Toronto, you can join The Beguiling and Steamwhistle Brewery for TORONTO DRAWS TINTIN, an exhibit featuring the work of dozens of Canadian creators. The opening party is tonight, from 7:00 – 11:00 pm at the Steamwhistle Gallery (255 Bremner Blvd) in Toronto. Several of the contributing artists will be in attendance, and the original pieces will be auctioned to benefit Canada’s Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund, one of CBLDF’s partners in the Canada Customs Case. For more info and a preview of the artwork, visit www.torontodrawstintin.com.

Features, Fundraising, Headline, Homepage, News Blog, Press Releases

Be a “Redshirt” with IDW’s Star Trek Comics Contest, Benefitting CBLDF

by Betsy Gomez • November 2, 2011

CBLDF stands ready to defend retailers against censorship. Are you ready to do the same? Test your mettle with IDW Publishing’s “Be a Redshirt” contest, benefitting CBLDF!

More details in the official press release from IDW:

Are you a comics fan who loves your local comics store? Are you willing to “die” to protect your retailer? Prove it, with the Star Trek “Be A Redshirt” contest! Starting today, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), IDW Publishing and CBS Consumer Products are giving Star Trek fans a chance to “Be a Redshirt” on the cover of an upcoming Star Trek comic.

Originating in the classic Star Trek episodes and expanding to pop culture at large, a “redshirt” is a character that dies soon after being introduced. With the “Be a Redshirt” contest, the winning fan will have the honor of “dying” while heroically saving their retailer. The grand prizewinner will be featured as a “redshirt” on an upcoming cover of IDW’s new STAR TREK ongoing series, placing themselves between their local retailer and a phaser blast. The “Be a Redshirt” contest is open to any comics reader who thinks their local retailer is the best in the business.

“As redshirts are famous for always catching the phaser in Star Trek episodes, and as comic fans can be so loyal in defending their local retailer, it’s the perfect contest,” said Dirk Wood, IDW’s Director of Retailer Marketing, “And partnering with the CBLDF is perfect, because no one knows more about defending retailers than they do.” Keep reading…

Read more →

Features, Fundraising, Homepage, News Blog

The CBLDF Thanks You For Being Counted!

by cbldf • November 1, 2011

Thanks to our generous community of supporters, CBLDF raised over $82,000 for our important work to protect comics and the First Amendment during our Be Counted fundraising campaign. We’re grateful to the many donors, professionals, organizations, and volunteers who made this possible. These contributions will help the CBLDF perform our important legal work.

CBLDF’s Executive Director wrote this personal message to thank all of the people who made a difference in this important campaign.