I’m with Ezy too.
If any artwork is to be a parody of another it has to be satirical or adding something, otherwise it’s just plagiarism, cashing in on someone else’s hard work. That’s why we have IP laws.
I don’t think it’s enough to just be witty (as Jice said), there has to be more content to justify using the original work.
Are you trying to say that a print of a hot sauce label on a cycling bidon, is ‘just cashing in on someones’ IP. Pfffft. Plz.
Appropriation is not as cut and dry as that. All you need to do it to alter the context, that alone can be enough. I welcome people ripping OPP if there is wit involved in doing so. Thats Post Modernism baby.
If you are not trying to pass something off as an original then it is not plagiarism. Simple as that.
Absolutely. Someone/many other people built up that brand, just like Nike, the Chicago Bulls etc. and someone else is using their recognisable symbols to make money for themselves. He’s not making satirical content nor commenting on it, merely altering it slightly to appear witty and selling it.
I don’t mind ripping it off just for funsies, but I take issue with making money off it.
This thread makes me sad.
I like Andy. He’s good at what he does and is making a good crack at it for his family and himself. Who can begrudge a man for doing that? Some might not like his schtick but that’s ok … leave the hate out it. Better still … square it up with him direct rather than take shots on a public forum. It just doesn’t look good.
And he sure can ride a bike. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing this first hand and it will always remain a fond memory to me. He’s a big kid, beautiful smile and he just plain loves bikes.
All cyclists are family.
This (in bold) is exactly what FYXO does in my view. Whether or not he does it successfully is a matter of debate.
As for the cashing in - do you really think FYXO is becoming a millionaire on the back of San Pellegrino or Absolut? He’s minuscule compared to those giants. I don’t think he’s even trying to.
Also think about how creativity is fostered. Creators are always inspired by something. Sometimes this something is other creations, which is the case of FYXO, he builds on something that already exists, without doing a straight off copy. IMO, adopting unnecessarily extreme attitudes regarding IP protection is only detrimental to the general creative cycle. Creators will first think whether they’re stealing someone else’s idea rather than concentrating on creating something. This cannot be good for creativity in general, regardless of the quality of individual creations. Ideas feed on one another, sometimes in weird ways. That being said, FYXO may be walking a fine line.
Spirito, I’ve got some things I’d like to say to your comments, but I’ll keep them to myself 
It’s the principle, man.
I think we have different ideas of what ‘being inspired by others’ is - and what is a ‘straight copy’.
A good example of being inspired by something else and creatively putting your own spin on it, can be found on these album covers. The person behind it has been inspired by the art style used on covers you would see on old jazz records, but they have recreated them for some iconic metal albums.
Anyway, people know my stance on this.
This will be my last post on this subject - but I thought I should clarify. I am not ‘hating’ on Andy personally. Good on him for getting out there and making a living on his passion for cycling. I have been a long time reader of his blog and love to read about the multi day adventures he goes on. I have bought many parts from him in the past, I have been excited at the prospect of riding the Melb Roubaix and entered - only to have to cancel my plans due to work. I was very excited recently when I saw via instagram that he came to Canberra to ride, I would have loved to have showed him around my home MTB trails. It gave people a chance to see that Canberra isn’t all about Parliament House and porn - and if it gets a few more people thinking they should get here for some riding, I am stoked! A few weeks later I was riding out at Stromlo and recognised the trail dog that was in one of his posts - I chatted to the owner and his little kid for about 15 minutes about Andy and other things, if it wasn’t for following FYXO I wouldn’t have gotten to pat that dog and had a good conversation. I like some of the stuff he does, and you should know what I don’t like what he does. One thing that I do like is his recent kit that he got made through Endo Customs. Those are nice original kits! More of that pls.
Man… lucky I stopped selling those Track Sabbath shirts.
I think we definitely do. In any case, there are courts to decide on what a straight copy is. Generally, if it can be proven that a consumer will buy a product thinking that’s the genuine deal, then you’ve got a trademark breach.
As for the covers, apart from being cool, to me they’re no different in principle than what FYXO does. They take an existing thing and add something that harks back to a particular culture, here the Blue Note jazz covers & sci-fi movies. FYXO does the same, he takes some iconic brands and puts a cycling spin on it.
As I said above, extreme attitudes with regards to IP are unfortunate - everybody should be able to protect their products/ideas/songs/designs etc without impeding the creativity of others. When hugely powerful brands use their influence or openly threaten smaller brands to take down a product or change a name, I think it’s a huge problem. The consumer looses as he only has the big commercial brand products to turn to, and the evolution of ideas through sharing/inspiration slows down.
I disagree Seb.
The album covers have a whole new style and look while Fyxo’s stuff looks almost identical except for a few letter changes in some cases.
In into the Paranoid cover, rest are just ok
I love the Anthrax one - simplifying that image so much to just circles. Dig it.
fkn this…
i really can’t say anything else that hasn’t already been said.
he has a simple moniker that can replace iconic logos and symbols of true brands, which he uses on handfuls of cheap and cheerful items to help keep an income stream flowing. stepping on toes, sure. stealing from companies/peoples pockets, yeah nah.
also, y no hate for:
Cycling companies ripping off iconic art, whether it be album covers or 7-11 drinks is nothing new. It can get a bit old sometimes, but it’s not the first “sport” (using that loosely) that has done this, and it won’t be the last. Skateboarding was doing it years ago, and probably will continue to do so. It’s not like Fyxo is the only one doing it. I think because a lot of his product coming out are rips of things, it just seems more obvious (what Ezy said).
Examples:
Everything here: http://wtfkits.squarespace.com
Enjoi ripping the Misfits skull: http://cdn3.volusion.com/5may3.e69c7/v/vspfiles/photos/Enjoi-Socco-Misfits-Blk-Socks-2.jpg
Golden Saddle Cyclery Black Sabbath rip: Golden Saddle Cyclery
Tracko Joy Division Rip: http://www.lockedcog.com/uploads/2010/10/ridehills.png
AHTBM Danzig Socks: http://market.allhailtheblackmarket.com/market/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=104
AHTBM Joy Division: http://market.allhailtheblackmarket.com/market/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=110
Toy Machine Joy Division: http://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_me4sscX7NS1r073e0o1_500.jpg
Etc.
EDIT: MASH ripping off Columbus: http://fstatic1.rennrad-news.de/f/9q/z1/9qz1dgpqfqew/medium_Mash-Shirt.jpeg?0
Also, what about all those film company caps and bidons that MASH have released? And the NASA stuff? Is that stuff legit?
Its like that bloke who ripped off Specialized for his cafe/bike shop.
Ditto, the Paranoid cover is the only one i like. the rest look like student work.
As for Fyxo, who cares. doesnt really bother me, he does what he does. i dont look at his blog/shop anymore because it doesnt do anything for me. i tune out.
As for the plagarism charge. I dont buy it. Sure, his use of reference is unimaginative and kind of stale, but its not plagarism, its a wink to brands that he and his audience are into. he doesn’t claim it to be original work, i think that is pretty clear.
Also i wouldnt call him a ‘creative’ (as far as i know), he seems like a nice dude who has a blog, sells some branded stuff, takes medium talent photos of chicks on bikes. I think some people need to lower their expectations.
Point is, motherfucker can do what a motherfucker wants.
This thread would have to be the most stupid whinge I’ve ever read on this forum. I’m actually embarrassed to think Andy would catch wind of this childish rubbish.
Nike took umbrage and magically the “swoosh” was removed.