The Rowe List for the Creator's Bill of Rights

2005-11-29T21:20:00.000-08:00

I admire Dave Sim’s achievements not just for his decades-long run on CEREBUS but also for his contributions to the Creator’s Bill of Rights (CBR).

Reading his recent postings made me want to contribute something, so here is a non-comprehensive list of some of the things a comic book creation can be turned into -- or associated with -- in the pursuit of commerce.

The list is far from complete, but a creator reading it carefully can start to get an idea of some of the things he or she could be giving up (or giving away) depending on the contract:

1. Mass media (including but not limited to movies, televisions shows, cartoons, digital animation, comic books, newspaper comic strips, paintings, books, novels, billboard signage, magazines, digests, prints, etchings, engravings, sheet music, audio albums, amusement parks and park rides, creator and/or character personal appearances, creator and/or character service/product endorsements, etc.);

2. Toys and games (including but not limited to action figures, videogames, board games, mechanical figures, statues and busts, gumball machine toys, bicycle ornaments, coloring books, activity books, sticker books, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, hand puppets, finger puppets, marionettes, playing cards, fan club merchandise, model kits, role-playing-game figures, nesting dolls, trading cards, rag dolls, holograms, radio-controlled planes and cars, toy vehicles, pogo sticks, water pistols, cap guns, sporting goods, surfboards, snowboards, tents, etc.);

3. Apparel and other types of personal adornment (including but not limited to charm bracelets, necklaces, earrings, jewelry, gems, shirts, pants, pajamas, patches, blouses, skirts, dresses, appliques, needlepoint designs, knitwear, clothing patterns, beach towels, hats, caps, masks, gloves, sneakers, sandals, boots, shoes, scarves, belt buckles, buttons and pins, lapel pins, tie tacks, ties, capes, wristwatches, tattoos, buttons, disguise kits, rings, holiday costumes, goggles, glasses, binoculars, combs, brushes, sweaters, T-shirts, underwear, etc.);

4. Office, home, and automobile décor (including but not limited to bookends, stationery, paperweights, picture frames, pencil sharpeners, pens and pencils, pencil cases, erasers, desk caddies, adhesive, chairs, tables, beds, air fresheners, ash trays, holiday decorations and ornaments, coin banks, clocks, curtains, gift-wrapping paper, scrapbooks, decals, stickers, wallpaper, wall hangings, electric light switch wall plates, lamps, license plate frames, drink caddies, carpet, throw rugs, trash cans, snow globes, snack trays, windshield screens, pinups, posters, night lights, notebooks, school folders, radios, pinatas, paint, tools, playing cards, dice, gambling chips, decorative magnets, pillows, pillow cases, blankets, bed sheets, sleeping bags, etc.);

5. Food, food-related, and health-related items (including but not limited to candy, cereals, soup, lollipops, drink mixes, jellies, jams, peanut butter, bread, corn chips, milk, juice, ice cream, cake decorations, napkins, napkin rings, dinner plates, cookie jars, salt and pepper shakers, butter dishes, drinking glasses, mugs, cups, cup tops, eating utensils, food labels, lunchboxes, beverage bottles, candy dispensers, gum, vitamins, aspirin, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc.).

I invite Dave and others to revise or amend this list in the pursuit of an improved CBR.

Copyright ©2005 by Robert Rowe. Used with permission.

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The Rowe List for the Creator's Bill of Rights