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Lowdtown Clearance Sale 50%-70% Off

First of all, let’s be clear: I’ve been a big fan of Lowdtown Friends & Freaks since they first opened up shop. So I was quite sad when I found out that founder Ray Masaki was recently contacted and asked to have all items featuring his Mouthcan logo removed from his online shop.

The problem was that artist Greg Mike owns the copyright to a “similar” logo. Needless to say, Ray was forced to takedown merchandise in which he had invested thousands of dollars in. I’m not sure why Greg Mike didn’t let Ray sell off the rest of his stock featuring the Mouthcan logo (I mean seriously, is Lowdtown that big of a threat to your designer soda cans and logo tees?). In any case, it is what it is. Just remember, when karma hits you back, it hits back pretty hard.

Fortunately for you as a consumer, Ray has marked down ALL items at the Lowdtown shop. The tees are priced at $6 and the crewnecks are priced at an amazing $12. He promised that Lowdtown Friends & Freaks will be back and better than ever with a rebranding sometime in Summer 2010. Look out for it.

If you want to read Ray’s story then click here.

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Here are the logos in question:

Greg Mike’s Logo:

Greg Mike

VS.

Lowdtown Friends & Freaks:

Lowdtown

Lowdtown Logo

Which do YOU like better?! Do you think Greg Mike was right in asking Ray Masaki to remove ALL of his merchandise featuring the Lowdtown Mouth Can Logo?

Posted on March 4, 2010 by Coty, under T-Shirts. 3,509 views

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7 Comments to “Lowdtown Clearance Sale 50%-70% Off”

#1 Posted by ryanwestman (March 5 '10 at 06:48 am )

I would say both of them are just silly – Copyright laws are inherently broken in this country – and let’s be real – the idea of a mouth on a soda can (considering the fact that we put our mouths to them every day) isn’t exactly a huge cognitive or artistic leap.

In fact – my first reaction to Greg Mike’s work was – looks like KISS (the rock band’s) open mouth logo. Does this mean that KISS’s lawyers should sue Greg Mike out of existence?

No – because it doesn’t matter. That infringement case – while certainly as valid as the one Greg Mike has against Ray – is really pointless. When you stick the entire world on a single network – no ideas are really that unique unless someone is living on a different planet with completely different cultural influences. Think of the last time you tried to register a domain name – chances are – if it’s any good and the least bit common – some speculator has already snatched it up.

Either this is a publicity stunt by one/both parties to capture blog attention – or it’s a really pathetic case of two independent and creative folks trying to act like corporate/machismo American morons. If I were Ray – I would have challenged him – when you create any work – you automatically have copyright – all that filing does is give you a little extra leverage in a lawsuit (the main benefit of suing beyond actual damages).

Perhaps Greg Mike isn’t making so much money from his art anymore, so he’s reverting to predatory lawsuits in this tough economy.

#2 Posted by Coty (March 5 '10 at 10:20 am )

Great points, Ryan.

What saddens me the most is that this is the case of one indie guy threatening lawsuit against another indie guy. I mean at the end of the day, does Rays work really pose a threat to your custom soda cans? I mean, if Pepsi and Coca-Cola can get along, I am pretty sure the two of you could.

#3 Posted by jetgirl (March 8 '10 at 08:14 am )

Welp, now we all know what kinda guy Greg Mike is…. /fail.

1st: both logos are totally different
2nd: painted cans are found-object art ….. not a logo of a can with a mouth that may or may not be painted on.
3rd: its lunchtime so this just makes me extra angry

#4 Posted by Darren - Regal Clothing (March 17 '10 at 12:30 am )

In al honesty i think this is a farce…. If it were we I’d continue to sell your product with the current logo.

This makes me angry too.. The images are different.. The products are different.. You both own respective copyright on the designs… He’d need a pretty tight trademark in place to affect you at all.

This is a cheap shot, not one even worth dodging. Keep selling Ray, there is NOTHING he can do.

Good luck!

Darren

#5 Posted by Coty (March 17 '10 at 12:41 am )

Darren and jetgirl, I agree with the two of you 100%. This was pretty lame on Greg Mike’s part. It’s one indie artist threatening another indie artist about copyright matters….really?! Maybe one day karma will bring Marvel and KISS’s lawyers over to his site and threaten to sue him because of his soda can art.

#6 Posted by Darren - Regal Clothing (March 17 '10 at 12:51 am )

Pretty pathetic TBH :( Sad times.

D

#7 Posted by Larry (March 17 '10 at 07:51 am )

I’m with Greg Mike on this one. He’s been doing ART since the 90′s and has designed tons of clothing lines, ect..

It doesn’t take rocket science to figure out that Ray bit his whole concept after he saw GREG MIKE created over 100 cans. Ray took the concept of the logo and can concept named it the same thing!! Alot of time people dont realize they see things and think the idea is new and theirs.

Now it Seems like Ray is using this as a marketing plot to sell product at a discounted rate. Smart move on his part, but not gonna change the fact that he stole an idea and thought people wouldn’t realize.

As for the marvel thing alot of artists who have done that. Look at KAWS or RON ENGLISH:

http://supersportisthefuture.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/kaws-lowdown-001.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/3049684753_2f9a7810cb_o.jpg

I dont know what the legal rights are on this..

Anywhoo! time to get back to work, thought I’d add my 2 cents!