Question for the Heavy Art Collectors

One of the commissions I've really wanted to have done in my heart of hearts is to get one of my female OCs done up as a cosplay commission. Basically, have a female cosplayer make a costume and model the costume for a few shots. They keep their work when they are done and I get a few pics of an OC. I'm poorer, they're richer. We're all happy.

Does anyone else want or think about doing this? I've encountered a cosplayer who was looking to sell posters and prints but was concerned about using trademarked characters and thought that if there was a market for this, it might be a work around for her. I can't speak for anyone else but I don't really have any commercial aspirations for any character I've come up with and if some girl could make a buck selling pictures of herself as one of mine (without me somehow losing all rights), I can't see much caring about that. I've already encountered some commissions being offered as prints - I'm not sure this is that different.

Anyway, has anyone else considered a cosplayer commission? I'm about to broach the subject with the cosplayer in question and wondered if there is a market or if I'm the only one.

Never really thought of that myself, but likely because I consider my characters to all have a little part of me in them. I would be overly critical of someone essentially costuming to be 'me' even if they asked and would likely just end up making them pissed off at me. That said I believe the actual cosplay wouldn't run afoul of anything with some photos, but actual studio-like photo shoots/prints might.

It would matter if the cosplayer actually looked something like my hero. Other than that I thick it would just boil down to a matter of cost.

Only thing I'd worry about is if at some point in time the girl actually copyrighting the costume and/or character herself. Then claiming you stole it. It's probably a non-issue but that's about the only one I see as being a problem. Of course that's easily overcome with documentation of your character prior to her use BUT if you're like me, you don't think of that stuff...

So long as you don't use the City of Heroes/ Villains trademark in any way, you should be fine, same with the lady selling the pictures of herself as your toon.

She may also want to avoid using the exact name of your character on her pictures and, if she does title them, go with something generic. I recommend this as I know costume and prop makers who can get away with offering a Captain America costume for sale by offering it as "Patriotic Hero".

Costume makers who don't generic the names of their products risk being hit with Cease and Desists by Marvel or DC. I've been a cosplayer for many years and I've seen a lot, including people getting shut down by Marvel.

Personally though, I'd love to see the finished product that you and your cosplayer create. I've been slowly working on a costume for myself of my own character for use at SDCC but it keeps getting put on the back burner hehehe.

Some of my work for the curious and bored:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...arletWitch.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...SuperWoman.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...aronCarter.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...arSapphire.jpg

Attache, you may want to ask a Red Name first. That way you won't get perma-banned by violating the EULAs.

1) I'm not a lawyer so everything below this is just me talking out of my butt / giving my rather uninformed opinion.

2) I think a whole heck of a lot would depend on if this was a money making venture or not. If nobody is trying to turn a profit then probably no harm no foul.

3) a lot would also likely depend on just how closely the cosplay outfit resembles specific and unique costume pieces. If it's all just inspired by but not really much resembling unique costume pieces then I think you'd be safe. However if you were trying to exactly mimic the Arachnos Soldier outfit then I'd see a lot more possibility if CoH and associates caring...


As for whether I'd considered this or not, no I did not. Thought never occured to me. I think the stars would have to align just right for me to do so - the perfect looking cosplayer (in regards to how I envision my character) and the right cost, etc etc...

It's definitely an interesting idea though and I would be very curious in the results. Both how the pictures turned out and if you liked the results as much as you thought you would...

So if Zeniby were willing to dress as Fenian you would say no?

One --> Artz Giveaway <-- To Rule Them ALL!

I will settle this. ORANGE FTW! - Ex Libris

Wasn't there in recent years a cosplay coh contest, with prizes? That doesn't sound like a company to me that cares about you dressing up like your character. As far as making money on such a thing, it's a one time exchange, not a mass produced army of your toons claiming originality.

I say, date the nearest cosplayer near you, make her/him/them dress up as YOUR ideas, and snap a lot of pictures.

I will take a few 8 x 10s...

NCSoft owns the rights to your character as they appear in game. NCSoft does not own the rights to your original character, as they appear outside of game.

This means that they own Massacre Melanie, the Fire Blast/Dark Miasma corruptor that resides in the Rogue Isles and has adventures burning Paragon to the ground. They do not own Massacre Melanie the corrupt magical faerie who that seethes with arson fill hatred and happens to wear a red leather jacket with combat boots.

Certain costume sets are designed around NPCs or enemy groups they use, such as Kheldians and VEATs, Vanguard, etc. But they don't own the rights to your overall design. If you make use of the very specific NPC parts, then you can get around copyright by simply changing the piece to something more generic.

So don't be afraid that NCSoft owns your soul. They don't. You still own your characters, just not their ties to the game.