Okay, here’s the thing about people coming at Disney (rightfully or not)…it can feel a little bit like no one really cares, because Disney is Disney and they’re always going to be way more loved than the rest of us can ever dream of being.
I’m just saying.
That said, though, stealing creative and/or intellectual property without proper permission or credit is just sleazy, and if you’ve got Disney money, it isn’t going to hurt to throw the little artists a bone, you know?
Image Credit: TikTok
The little artist in question here is Andrew Martin, who is on TikTok as @monstercaesarstudios. He claims that, the last time he was hanging out at the House of Mouse in Florida, he saw one of his designs for sale in its Enchanted Tiki Room section.
Image Credit: TikTok
According to Andrew, he uploaded one of his designs on Thingiverse, a 3D-printing design platform where people upload their model schematics for others to see and even make themselves if they have a 3D printer.
It was back in 2018 when he uploaded the design, but Andrew doesn’t think there’s any mistaking that the designs are eerily similar if not exactly the same.
Image Credit: TikTok
“It did look a lot like mine because it is mine. Disney is taking credit for my work and selling it in their parks without my permission, consent, or even giving artist credit.”
He shows his design side by side with the one being sold at Disney’s theme parks, and in the video, they do indeed appear to be identical.
People in the comments said they hope Disney sees the video and decides to make it right, while others pointed out that Disney has been accused of this before with Star Wars fan-inspired artwork.
Image Credit: TikTok
For his part, Andrew thinks the design was probably stolen by a freelancer who saw the model and figured copying it was an easy way to design merchandise for Disney.
“So the most likely thing is the thief was some lazy waste of skin, talentless hack, that got himself or herself an easy payday by stealing my work and passing it off as thier own.”
Disney could argue that, since Andrew’s design was inspired by Disney that he doesn’t have a legal leg to stand on, but the artist would argue that his piece was different enough to make it original.
We’ll have to wait and see if this one ever has its day in court if we want to find out!
