A copy of the famous xkcd comic "Duty Calls" hangs just outside my office door, signed by creator Randall Munroe. I didn't have to pay for the comic; it was free to view anytime, and I could have printed the (smaller) Web version if I desperately needed it on my wall. But xkcd is funny, Randall comes across as a good guy whose work I'd like to support, the print came signed on thick paper stock and printed at a higher resolution, and it was about $15. The real question isn't why I paid; it's why wouldn't I pay?
Munroe's approach to "protecting" his content might be best defined as "lenient."
"You are welcome to reprint occasional comics pretty much anywhere (presentations, papers, blogs with ads, etc)," he writes. "If you're not outright merchandizing, you're probably fine. Just be sure to attribute the comic to xkcd.com."
page 1 Somehow, giving the comic away for free has turned into a lucrative business for the now full-time cartoonist.
...
Munroe's approach to "protecting" his content might be best defined as "lenient."
"You are welcome to reprint occasional comics pretty much anywhere (presentations, papers, blogs with ads, etc)," he writes. "If you're not outright merchandizing, you're probably fine. Just be sure to attribute the comic to xkcd.com."
page 1 Somehow, giving the comic away for free has turned into a lucrative business for the now full-time cartoonist.
...
