Inktober Book Plagerism Accusations

[NessIllustration]

@jsnzart Sometimes things aren't good but it feels like a relief to talk about our hurt, disappointment, fears and frustrations It's different for everyone, but I know if I try to just pretend everything is puppies and rainbows, it will not help me deal with a frustrating or hard situation. I've been really heartbroken about this story and trying to defend Jake on social media, trying to provide another side to people who have made their minds and are being very mean, has proven disheartening and frustrating. Being able to discuss the situation here with like-minded and level-headed people has been a real blessing, so I really want to thank each and everyone of you!

[jimsz]

both parties will come to some sort of agreement and the issue will simply go away.

However, the damage has been done. Jake Parker was dumped on for trademarking and enforcing the trademark after spending years encouraging others to make use of it. Now that he was publishing a book cashing in on it in the eyes of many it will be difficult to recover from the bad publicity.

There are no winners.

[jsnzart]

I didn’t mean any disrespect to anyone here.

And, yes this situation sucks.

But, Jake has people like you supporting him. That’s awesome!

[Nyrryl Cadiz]

@jsnzart no worries. We totally understand what you mean

[Matt Baldwin]

Not that anyone here needs convincing of Jake's character, but I thought I'd just share this as it's a positive.

I responded to Jake's newsletter this week telling him that I back him 100%.

I just received an email from him now thanking me for my kind words. He told me he really appreciated me reaching out.

So despite all the hate and negativity that is being directed at Jake online, and the horrendous week that he must have had, he still took time out to thank me personally. That's Jake Parker.

[danielerossi]

@jsnzart So true. A mindfulness app I use mentioned how negativity breeds more negativity. Sadness breeds more sadness. Positivity breeds more positivity. I really like how @Matt-Baldwin replied to Jake’s newsletter. Despite all this, he still sent out his newsletter with only a short sentence saying how much of a bad week we had been going through but was still going to share cool things. That’s why Jake has so many fans. Nice breeds nice.

[jsnzart]

@danielerossi Indeed.

Mr.Jake must be keeping it together pretty well.
Probably drawing and relaxing his mind.

[SethWolfshorndl]

Just want to add my voice to the many others supporting Jake here. I watched all of Alphonso's video and some of the reaction videos. Like others, I can say I have seen basically this same content in many other art books/tutorials over the year. Alphonso's book seems to be a very detailed dive into the material, though, and well worth a purchase! The "layout" issues seem either accidental or close to Alphonso's own similarities to previous art books. And if Jake really had plagiarized the book, then why would he had spotlighted it on Instagram so close to the announcement of his book? The courses on this site and Jake's YouTube videos are testimony to his teaching cred and knowledge... something you can't fake. It's really disappointing this has happened. I'm hoping for some sort of good resolution, but I guess the damage has already been done.

[A Former User]

This post is deleted!

[Coley]

@rafaartstudio we live in very strange times where people invent their own facts. As someone with a university/health/science background, it perplexes me! I still can't believe Dunn has that video up with that title either.

[sigross]

I noticed when I watched Dunn's video that he had an arm in his book, obviously I thought that cross hatching style and characteristic arm pose was similar to one by Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens. And there online I found a video of Alphonso copying Rubens exact crosshatch and pose. shock, horror! I mean in his book, he did move the fingers slightly so not to make it too obvious.
But still, this plagiarism is never ending!
It's a shame Peter is no longer with us to defend his original work, crosshatch and arm poses.

[Lee White]

@sigross Love the sentiment here! But that Rubens drawing would fall under fair use due to it's age. The copyright would have run out long ago. Now, depending on where this image was published, that company may have new rights to it. Gets tricky there. @davidhohn what do you think?

[sigross]

@Lee-White I thought it was ironic in this video that Alphonso is up for copying what has gone before saying it's the best thing you can do.
As far as I'm aware the book Rubens planned on anatomical drawings was never completed. There's a selection of drawings that could be in the MET collection. I think they're in the public domain.

[pixel.dsp]

@rafaartstudio I share your sentiment of frustration, and just baffled by how delusional those comments are. 1) If they want to criticize Inktober, then do it on a post of a prompt, but not under a post that was meant to promote other artists who have nothing to do with this plagiarism controversy. It is so disrespectful and to me this should be common sense. 2) They feel entitled to boycott Inktober/JP on the Inktober page and when you disagree with them and call them out, they’ll say: “I wasn’t trying to make you take a side! We can just agree to disagree.” It’s as if they see themselves as the Sweet Butterfly of Truth (with passive aggressive approach) and/or the Hulk of Justice (with outright aggressive attack) with the righteous holy mission to defame JP.
Alphonso wrote in the About section on his YouTube channel that he wishes to leave the world a better place than where he found it. I have to say on this particular matter he left the social media of the art arena a worse place than it used to be.

[davidhohn]

@Lee-White You know I love questions like this because it means I get to research copyright law! And while it's true I prefer to do this kind of thing at 12:45 in the morning, I'm willing to do so during daylight hours as well.

So here's what I've got:
Because the Rubens arm study was created prior to 1921 the Rubens drawing is in the public domain and anyone can reproduce it.

A new photograph (or copy of any kind) of the public domain original would not be protected by copyright if the goal was to simply record/reproduce the original work.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgeman_Art_Library_v._Corel_Corp.

BUT

If a new photograph or hand-made reproduction made a significant change (and that is fairly subjective) to the public domain original then the new version could be protected by copyright.

[Dima Eichhorn]

@Lee-White Hi, I've just read about this. I did not know that this thing grown in that extend. And it is awful. I saw all the hateful comments towards Jake on social media. It is disgusting. I hope Jake is ok. My understanding is that this man just have ruined some of Jake's income and because of that I hope Jake has lawyer. If there is something that we as community can do to support him please let us know. I am sure, that many of us are what they are now, thanks to Jake and all teachers in svs and we are ready to support him back when needed.

[lpetiti]

I teach a couple of animation classes at the high school level. Each year I always off Inktober as a BIG extra credit opportunity (if they do all 31 days, they get excused from an assignment of their choice). Today, as I brought it up, some students asked about the controversy. We ended up having an interesting discussion about the topic, and about cancel culture in general. I really wanted to make sure that students understood the importance of researching stuff like this controversy on their own, then forming their own conclusions. I gave them my opinion about how I didn't think there was enough evidence to really support a copyright claim, and also told them the importance of handling things like this privately, rather than letting the Internet be judge, jury and executioner, like what's happening right now.

I think the essence of Inktober has always been to develop good drawing habits and inking skills. For me at least, it's not just about Jake Parker (although I love that he created the challenge). It's more about me getting more confidence in my own art. So I told the students if they still want to participate, to definitely do it. I care more about them developing good habits, even if it's through doing a different month long challenge, then I do with them blindly agreeing with everything I say simply because they think they need to.

Anyway, just wanted to share that experience.

[Julia]

@lpetiti I think it is a great teaching, your students are spoilt to have you

[lpetiti]

@Julia Aw, that's very flattering! I appreciate it.

[Nyrryl Cadiz]

@lpetiti this actually made me really happy to know that teachers like you are still out there in the world. keep up the good work. we need more artists who are not only good in their craft but are also good people.