banner drama

It may not have escaped your notice that there's a new look at the top.  This isn't my choice; I was asked today by the University, in the same sense that TSA asks you to step over, latex gloves in hand, for a more thorough cavity search, to not use the images that used to be on the banner.  Copyright and all that.

I'm reasonably confident I could make a more-than-solid fair use case for doing so.  This isn't a commercial enterprise and I'm selling nothing.  The courts have specifically said collages are "transformative" and that makes them a fair use, and they've also specifically said they're not interested in tiny-sized copyright cases.  Eagles going after gnats don't impress them.  The school couldn't say which images, exactly, were copyrighted by them, although I can say for a fact they have no say about the Tony Bennett one, because this is that picture - obviously taken while he was at Washington State.**

That said,

1) IANAL
2) this blog has never put so much as a sou into my pocket, so its budget cannot pay for a Snickers bar let alone a lawyer
3) fighting with people whose lawyer budgets are infinity times your own is a poor survival tactic

Besides, I suppose someone has a copyright on the Tony picture.  And I'm not really into pissing off the institution I profess to admire and root for.  This round goes to the Man.

So, in lieu of fighting City Hall, I need a new banner.  I'd been thinking of getting one this summer anyway, considering I have a countdown clock on the career of one of the prominently featured characters.  And, getting to the real point here, volunteers.  I can make a passable banner, but graphic artist is next to lawyer among the skills I don't have when I'm being honest with myself.  I offer nothing except your name credited how you like, same as with the last one, and I'll figure out some guidelines later.  (So don't, like, immediately whip something up and send it tomorrow morning.)

**Ironically, when the designer of that banner and I were going back and forth on drafts (which consisted of her doing the work while I opinionated) one of the early drafts included an image of London in Richmond gear.  Had that one stayed, would I have been able to say, go to hell, I'm using that picture?  Likely answer: yes, until they forwarded the note along to Richmond and then I would have had two schools on my case.