I finally got a phone call back from Zazzle Managment and discussed with them whats going on.
As to whether Autism Speaks directly contacted Zazzle about this product.
Zazzle: Well we have recieved letters in the past from um ah Autism Speaks in regards to prodcuts withtrademark violations so when our um content management staff came across this product they believed this shirt was in the um past correspondence with Autism Speaks but uh they did not specifically call on this product, this was a decision by an employee from content managment.
[...]
Me: So this was just a decision by your staff?
Zazzle: Uh yes, because we thought it was in past correspondace with some past products that were brough to out attention.
Me: Could you tell me specifically what is the copyright violation on the shirt
Zazzle: Well orriginally we thought it was because the Autism Speaks wordmark.
Me: But you do understand the fair use and parody clauses in the copyright laws right?
Zazzle: Yes - we understand - and thats why your recent shirts are still on the site right now.
I think all parties invovled learned an important lesson from this - hopefully.
I think Zazzle as a newer company made a mistake about there judgement on copyright laws - and they have pretty much so stated so themselves and it appears have educated people on it as the new shirt remains!
I also think that Autism Speaks has learned an important lesson from this as well - or at least I hope. I think they have learned that Autistic People are speaking their minds, and they wish to be heard. I hope they learned that Autistic People are willing to fight for their rights to advocate for themselves. I hope this event can be turned into a positive one in which Autism Speaks works side by side with Autistic People when lobbying lawmakers, and raising awareness. I recognize that Autism Speaks has good intentions, but they should also realize that there intentions do not match with the needs of Autistic People.
I have also learned a lesson - not to jump to conclusions. Because Autism Speaks has displayed this behavior before, i assumed they were involved and they were not. I apologize to Autism Speaks about that assumption.
I would however would like to turn this into a positive, I have a proposal for Autism Speaks. I would like to propose that you as an organization meet with some of the leading Autistic Self-Advocates about future organizational policies. I recognize as an organization you have good intentions, but I think some are misguided. I also believe that if you work side-by-side with Autistic People some major in-roads can be made with awareness, and the quality of life for Autistic People. I hope you as an organization designed to be the voice of Autism recognize this as well.
Jun 27, 2008 at 23:08:59
Good Good.
nice to see you (and indeed, they) didnt let the bastards win.
Keep it up
Jun 27, 2008 at 23:40:24
I’ve added a “mea culpa” post to my own blog, and corrected the original post accordingly, because I’m one of those sorts of bloggers who’s like that.
Jun 28, 2008 at 00:05:30
Good job!
Jun 28, 2008 at 11:31:34
What? Didn’t they previously tell you that AutSp had contacted them and told them to take the shirt down?
Jun 28, 2008 at 17:27:11
Yay for you!
Jun 28, 2008 at 19:30:51
There’s an aspie satisfaction for me in seeing things through to completion, and just seeing your seeing this through gives me that good feeling. Well done.
Jun 29, 2008 at 13:11:12
I’ve also written a retraction, although I’m having some trouble with reading comprehension so I don’t entirely know what’s going on.
Jun 29, 2008 at 23:08:26
>>I’ve also written a retraction, although I’m having some trouble with reading comprehension so I don’t entirely know what’s going on.<<
I don’t think it’s you, Amanda. That person from management sounded (read) utterly confused. From what he/she said, it seems unclear exactly HOW this happened.
Was it a separate occurrence and somebody from the content management staff decided it should be removed before AS bitched about that one too? Or did somebody mistakenly think it was one of several other products AS had complained about and it was removed along with the others???
I’m still baffled. ::shrugs shoulders::
Jun 30, 2008 at 12:59:39
I second what Emily said — that it’s not just Amanda who’s confused, as well as her speculations about what might have happened. It still sounds like AS complained about *something* somewhere down the line.
Jul 3, 2008 at 21:55:52
Until such time as Zazzle brings the shirt back or allows it to be brought back, the atmosphere of censure and fear against autistics, particularly those that disagree, that Autism Speaks has created is still responsible for this.
If it were a simple mistake, I can’t help but believe the shirt would be back.
Jul 11, 2008 at 13:31:08
How do you know Zazzle is telling the truth? Autism Speaks could have threatened them saying the takedown notice was confidental. After it hit the news, A-Speaks could have threatened Zazzle to shut up. They might have bribed them too - how much money would A-Speaks lose from bad press?