Science Cartoons, strike 2

[science_spot]

I have been trying SOME way to have a positive post about science and cartoons.  You may remember my despise for the last science cartoons post I attempted, in which I talked about cartoons that were more about mockery than education. 

This time I took a different approach.  I searched the internet for some science cartoons.  It didn't take very long to find three pretty popular authors/artists of cartoons with science sections.  It took a while to find some that were funny, since most of them were more like political statements against research or biotech companies.  I did find a few funny ones I wanted to use for my blog.  Since I try extremely hard to maintain copyright compliance, I checked out the pages about personal use of the copyrighted cartoons. I guess I should have done that first and saved myself the time of looking through an assortment of lousy cartoons.

Two individual authors/artists had a whole page dedicated to the fees for personal use of the cartoons, even with statements about not asking for free use because it isn't going to happen. That's pretty crappy since I just want to share them with you as part of understanding and enjoying science, I don't make a dime off of it and always link to the websites, so it could even be viewed as a free advertisement.  So I emailed the third person, and got a response today, that each of the four cartoons I selected would cost me $35 in order to post them on my blog (despite the fact I would make no money, etc...).  Hmmmm.... something is definately wrong here.... posting some funy cartoons that have already been published should not be so difficult!

Since I had so much time awake with the baby last night, I thought about this a bit.  Seems the problem is that these authors are not scientists trying to teach, they are journalists trying to make some cash.  So my mission of helping others understand and enjoy science is of no concern to them unless it can make them some money. It also explains why there are political statements in all their "science" cartoons - because they are trying to sell a statement, not show what science is all about.

Of course, that is their right to do so.  And of course I heralded copyright compliance in a previous popular post, and while I maintain that is the law and we should all stick to it, this experience has left me frustrated.  I would have preferred one of these authors give me permission, since the cartoons are already posted on their website for all to see for free.... just not to use, I suppose.  And so this post has no cartoons.

So, unfortunately, that's strike 2 for a nice science cartoon post.  Stay tuned for my final try.  I wonder if it is possible to completely strike out with this endevour!

Tonya

AKA sunmoonstars

The Science Spot