UPDATE: H & M IS STILL AWESOME
Last week, I told you about Atlanta based artist Tori LaConsay, and her discovery that giant retailer H&M was using her artwork on housewares without permission or credit. When confronted, H&M denied the allegations, then agreed to being “inspired,” and eventually posted a half-hearted non-apology on their Facebook page.
The story went viral, and H&M was overwhelmed with emails and negative comments from readers and customers. The pressure was so great, H&M publicly announced they were working with Tori to find a resolution, and invited her to a discussion. As a condition, Tori was prohibited from sharing details in social media.
Given the unrepentant attitude displayed by H&M, Tori has decided to speak openly about this situation, and has provided the following update.
On December 14, 2008, I painted outdoor art on a sign on the main thoroughfare in my Atlanta neighborhood. The sign was painted with permission, and the work itself was copyrighted.
The sign stayed up for over a year. It was featured on many blogs and Flickr photostreams.
Recently, H&M began to sell housewares in the UK featuring an almost carbon-copy of this sign. They did not obtain permission, nor did they credit me.
With the public support of friends, neighbors and Regretsy.com, new allies and consumers contacted H&M to request that the company “do the right thing” by addressing the issue honestly and fairly.
H&M issued statements via Facebook, Twitter and email, first declaring that there was no infringement and thus no issue. As public support increased, H&M eventually admitted that they were “inspired” by the work.
Within a day, the story had spread to outlets including Adweek, BBC, Village Voice, New York Observer, Consumerist.com and hundreds of others. Only when the story gained media momentum and a wealth of public support did an H&M media relations representative reach out to me.
I would like to state that my objective has never been financial gain. My goal was to be credited, and to see H&M apologize for the theft. I believed that this would make it harder for them to steal again, and would set an important precedent for other creative people.
It seemed like this was going to resolve quickly, as H&M were initially willing to offer an apology. But as discussions continued, H&M began to revise their position. They suggested that an apology would only be made as a sort of “favor” to me. Things did not improve from there.
They then implied that because the items were not being sold in the U.S., they had no responsibility to own up to the theft, manufacture, and sale of designs that they didn’t license.
Instead, they proposed a licensing agreement that would only take effect after they had sold all the products they had already made without permission. They even gave me a “suggested” media statement, wherein I would publicly claim the agreement was amicable, and that I was “very happy” about it. Obviously, I was not.
I take all of this as a clear signal from H&M they are comfortable with taking work from foreign designers, and selling it outside of that designer’s country of origin because litigation can be too expensive and time-consuming.
- Tori LaConsay
Because Tori is such a money-grubbing opportunist, she is currently helping an animal rescue raise money for Fred, who is in need of surgery.
Regretsy readers donating $15 or more who leave the words, “You Look Nice Today,” along with their name and address will receive a signed poster with a lot of love.
Animal Rescue Assistance Chip-In for Fred
UPDATE 8:40 PM PST: Fred’s surgery is funded! Thanks, assholes!
Now take a look at this:
Click here to buy your own doormat by Tori LaConsay!
Proceeds benefit East Atlanta Kids Club, East Atlanta Community Association and Atlanta Beagle Rescue.
- H&M on Facebook
- H&M on Twitter
- H&M Customer Service
February 3, 2012 at 4:31 pm
February 3, 2012 at 4:36 pm
Should be since the 1950s though. Remember Pat Boone did a bunch of white washed versions of black artists’ songs.
Oh yeah, and H&M are a a bunch of dicks.
February 3, 2012 at 4:38 pm
Fair enough… But some of my favourite movies are cheesy 80′s movies. Like Big Trouble in Little China and Labrynth. ORIGINALS TO THE MAX.
February 3, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Elvis, too.
February 3, 2012 at 5:18 pm
Not the same. Pat’s covers, however crappy, were licensed.
February 4, 2012 at 4:39 am
You might want to take a look at from whom they were licensed, my musical preference happens to be 1900 – 1950 blues/jazz, and I don’t even need to look it up to tell you no black artist got paid for the Boone covers.
February 3, 2012 at 4:42 pm
WTF? I went to donate and there it was … PAYPAL, the AntiChrist. Is there another way?
February 3, 2012 at 4:43 pm
there’s no winning is there? I instantly thought the same thing.
February 3, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Gosh. I didn’t even think about that. In their quest to do good, the rescue group who set up the page for Fred were not aware of the pure evils of PayPal. I’m so sorry!
February 3, 2012 at 4:49 pm
Sometimes we must do evil things for the greater good.
February 3, 2012 at 4:52 pm
I instantly thought of Hot Fuzz.
February 3, 2012 at 7:24 pm
I ALWAYS think of that scene when I hear the words “the greater good.”
February 3, 2012 at 7:52 pm
Hot Fuzz references please me deeply. I always try to work ‘Judge Judy and executioner’ into as many conversations as possible.
February 4, 2012 at 1:59 pm
That phrase makes me think of the last Harry Potter book, with Dumbledore and Grindelwald.
February 3, 2012 at 5:23 pm
You might want to warn them, since Fred is clearly a sick DOG and not a sick CAT. (Which is kind of a relief, since he makes an adorable dog, but a very ugly cat.)
But since the fund is set up already, your best option might be to warn them that in all correspondence with and/or visible to PayPal, they should refer to Fred as a cat, and if anyone questions his species, huffily reply that they did say he was sick and it’s not nice to make fun of deformities.
February 3, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Just post an address; I’m happy to send more than $15 but never, ever through that violin smashing fuckery known as PayPal.
February 4, 2012 at 12:23 pm
That’s ok I donated anyway. I’ll live with them getting their piece of my ass.
February 3, 2012 at 5:21 pm
I uh, I cancelled my paypal account that I’ve had since 2002 this year.. cus of uh.. yanno.
February 3, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Try more like “since Ecclesiastes”. (Ecc 1:9)
February 3, 2012 at 4:52 pm
Ok, how do I chip in without using PayPal???? Can I get an address please and I will send a check. I wanna help out ‘ol Fred, but don’t want to contribute to another suckass company in the process. kaythanks.
February 3, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Let me look into it. I’m sorry that PayPal is the processing company. Give me a day or so and I can get back atcha.
February 3, 2012 at 5:13 pm
Thank you for doing this, and I’m sorry that this is happening to you. We appreciate you, even if corporate Britain doesn’t.
February 3, 2012 at 9:03 pm
I realize these things are retailing in the UK, but isn’t H&M another Swedish retail giant? I need to save my shaming for the right people.
February 4, 2012 at 4:42 am
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
February 3, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Go through Dwolla! https://www.dwolla.com/login.aspx?a=verify
Unlike Paypal, Dwolla charges just .25c for any transaction, regardless of size. This is sure to become a huge internet sensation.
February 3, 2012 at 5:22 pm
Love the Fred! I actually donated and, although dogs are my favorite beings in the whole universe I’d still like a poster but I messed up the payment and didn’t leave my “Fred looks nice today” comment. Any idea how to remedy this situation, people?
February 3, 2012 at 6:21 pm
Just shoot an email to me: torilaconsay@gmail.com.
February 3, 2012 at 9:32 pm
H & M steals Tori’s idea, they make a bunch of money. If Tori goes into H & M and take what is rightfully hers, she gets busted for shoplifting. It’s a weird cycle.
February 3, 2012 at 4:34 pm
Oh H&M, why didn’t your parents teach you to play nicely with others and not to steal?
February 3, 2012 at 6:38 pm
Here is a link to H&M Contact us page:
https://www.hm.com/gb/contact/thankyou
subject I chose (4 times) was CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
just a few clicks to leave an impact!!
February 3, 2012 at 7:53 pm
Just sent them a message. Thanks!
February 4, 2012 at 1:57 am
Just left a message too. A long, wordy, Britishly verbose message.
February 3, 2012 at 10:10 pm
Thanks for the link! I sent a message, too
(with basically the same wording as the one I left on their FB page, although different from the one I left on Bekham’s page warning him about what he was getting himself involved in.)
February 4, 2012 at 3:38 am
Sent message, got stock stand reply of, “we have a team of independent artists” etc.
February 4, 2012 at 11:47 am
I got a canned message with their local store hours. Brilliant.
February 4, 2012 at 5:47 am
Thanks for the link–My message to them:
“I am an eighth grade English teacher and I work every day with teens (your target market). One of the things I drive home constantly is that plagiarism is wrong; stealing another’s ideas and passing them off as your own is unethical. My fourteen year olds get it, and the consequences for plagiarism are stiff.
“Another cornerstone of our school’s character development program is personal responsibility: Assume full responsibility for your mistakes. Own up to your mistakes, apologize, and make things right with the one you’ve offended, without excuses or caveats.
“The H&M ‘You Look Nice Today’ screw-up has just become the lesson plan that kicks off my next research unit. Bravo, H&M.”
February 4, 2012 at 2:02 pm
I wish you had been my eighth grade English teacher. You rock!
February 4, 2012 at 9:28 am
Great idea! I wrote something too, a little bit legal. A bit long, so I put it in the forums here: http://forums.regretsy.com/topic.php?id=18931&replies=1#post-414281
February 3, 2012 at 4:36 pm
Also, can’t wait till I can afford to help in awesome situations like this, instead of trying to save for a move at the end of this month
Fred does look nice today. Hopefully she can keep him that way.
February 4, 2012 at 11:50 am
Spread the word. It costs nothing and is an enormous help.
February 3, 2012 at 4:36 pm
If I had $15 to spare, that little guy could have it, but alas. I’m having trouble putting food in my own dog’s bowl these days. Good luck Fred! I’m sorry you have such a FJL taking care of you.
Tori, what you should do is start a clothing line using really cheap materials and designs that look like the bargain bin at Top Shop. See how H&M likes it when the tables get turned.
February 3, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Side note, my name is Tori, too, so every time you guys talk to Other Tori, I keep thinking it’s directed at me. I got off work early for a blizzard so I’ve been drinking for 3 hours. I’m sorry.
February 3, 2012 at 6:22 pm
Hey Tori.
-Tori
February 3, 2012 at 6:30 pm
It’s a name for cool people right? Right??
February 3, 2012 at 6:42 pm
In your case, I’ll say yes. Verdict’s still out on me, I’m afraid.
February 3, 2012 at 7:11 pm
Regretsy members are cool by default.
February 3, 2012 at 7:55 pm
Fez – check.
Bow tie – check.
Named Tori – check.
Yep, yer cool.
February 3, 2012 at 9:29 pm
You forgot about the stetson!
February 3, 2012 at 5:33 pm
Why not print your own shirts, eh? I’d buy one from YOU. What are they gonna do, sue you for using your own designs that they stole from YOU? Fekkers.
.
You could use the profits for Fred too
February 3, 2012 at 6:15 pm
Fekkers? No no no.
They’re FUCKERS.
February 3, 2012 at 6:23 pm
Well – some of my best lady friends just set up this shop! Check it!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/92165094/you-look-nice-today-floor-mat-or-door?ref=v1_other_1
Order away! Proceeds go to the East Atlanta Kids Club, East Atlanta Community Association and Atlanta Beagle Rescue. Party on!
February 3, 2012 at 7:33 pm
Oh please PLEASE make some Tshirts. With something on the back about corporate responsibility or something. It could become a slogan for the OWS movement. Like, “Hey Occupiers, You Look Nice Today.”
February 4, 2012 at 10:35 am
Yup, tshirts! Easier to ship those to us here in Canada
. Kid sizes = my whole family wearing them. Isn’t there an online place that lets you pick your own design and prints them as ordered? Cafe Press? Something like that…
February 3, 2012 at 7:54 pm
As a former Atlanta-area beagle owner, thank you.
February 4, 2012 at 5:26 am
I wouldn’t put it past them to sue her for using her own design, honestly.
February 4, 2012 at 9:37 am
That’s honestly what I thought this update was going to be about, when HK announced it yesterday. I owe everyone a bottle of glitter now.
February 4, 2012 at 10:00 am
I want a Fred looks nice today shirt! Make it happen FJLs
February 3, 2012 at 4:37 pm
Good for her for not giving it to their half-assed attempt to smooth things over and save face. Seriously, are they expecting to pull a Dick Cheney here, where the person getting shot in the face is the one to publicly apologize?
February 3, 2012 at 4:37 pm
Donated! I’m a sucker for cute puppies and disadvantaged artists!
February 3, 2012 at 4:38 pm
This would have been a good opportunity for H&M to show that they are more than just a chain of off-putting stores dispensing cheap, shoddy designer knockoffs that smell like chemicals and fall apart as soon as you wash them.
They could have been the chain of off-putting stores dispensing cheap, shoddy designer knockoffs WITH A HEART. We all would have high-fived them and filled the internet with love.
Kind of glad we don’t have to do that now.
February 3, 2012 at 4:41 pm
even the design has a heart. WHY COULDN’T THEY?
February 3, 2012 at 4:43 pm
All their blood is in their big, unbelievable balls.
February 3, 2012 at 4:50 pm
maybe they should just add a B to the end of H&M. Huge and Massive Balls. They could change their mission statement from “H&M’s purpose is to offer their customers fashion and quality at the best price.”
to “Huge Massive Balls purpose is to steal ideas and manipulate people without any disregard for their rights while selling poorly made products for higher than necessary prices.”
February 3, 2012 at 8:03 pm
^^^This!! Doss cunts!
February 3, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Wanna bet that H&M will end up paying for Fred’s surgery? To save face, like Paypal did with the Secret Santa project?
February 3, 2012 at 5:04 pm
We actually presented that as an option. No response!
February 3, 2012 at 5:06 pm
That sucks. Bad dog, H&M. Bad dog.
February 3, 2012 at 5:55 pm
That was not meant to be a callous response, by the way. I meant it. I know H&M has had a reputation for stealing designs for years, but even so I’m rather shocked at their attitude towards you, Tori. And rejecting to pay for Fred’s surgery as a gesture of goodwill, well, that just plain sucks. As a poster below said, it makes them look rather douchey.
February 3, 2012 at 6:02 pm
REFUSING to pay, not ‘rejecting’.
Damn it. Sometimes this English-as-a-second-language thing sucks.
February 3, 2012 at 6:24 pm
I didn’t take it poorly.
Yer alright in my book.
February 4, 2012 at 1:27 am
H&M needs to get their head out of their ass. I mean really, one little doggy surgery could change all their bad publicity around and they’d STILL be making profit off stolen designs rather than having the horde after their blood!
February 3, 2012 at 5:17 pm
That would probably do the trick! If H&M were following this thread, which, honestly, they should be, that would be a noble gesture.
February 4, 2012 at 7:25 am
Corporations hate apologizing. The lawyers tell them not to because then they’re saying they’re responsible, which the lawyers fear will open them to litigation. Same thing happens with hospitals. But, in the vast majority of cases apologies don’t lead to litigation. The lead to nice feelings. Lawyers hate nice feelings.
February 3, 2012 at 4:39 pm
So H&M stands for harass and manipulate?
or
Heist and Mangle?
or
Horrible and Monstrous?
February 3, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Highjack and Malign
February 3, 2012 at 4:47 pm
Hornswoggle and misrepresent
February 3, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Handjobs and Masturbation
February 3, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Hogwash and Misconduct
February 3, 2012 at 5:11 pm
Hypocrisy and Mendacity
February 3, 2012 at 5:18 pm
High & Mighty?
Half-baked & Mendacious?
Hollow & Malignant?
Hi & Maybe We’ll Take Credit For This.
February 3, 2012 at 7:58 pm
High & Mighty
February 4, 2012 at 4:46 am
Hateful & Malignant
February 4, 2012 at 9:52 am
My husband jokes that it’s for Homos & Muffdivers but I’m pretty sure most gays have more fashion and quality sense than to shop there.
February 3, 2012 at 4:47 pm
It’s gonna stand for Hot Mess after all the fat jealous losers on here are done with their dumb asses.
February 4, 2012 at 7:02 am
Found a snap of H&M:
February 3, 2012 at 4:40 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
February 3, 2012 at 4:45 pm
It doesn’t exist much IN the US, either.
February 3, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Or in them, really, if you think about it.
February 3, 2012 at 10:23 pm
I’m fairly certain she was being sarcastic, and referencing how H&M claimed that since the items were not sold in the US, there was no issue. Thus, they were saying stealing only applies to the US.
February 4, 2012 at 5:28 am
I thumbed you up. I think it was sarcasm. Kind of like an international “What happens overseas stays overseas”
February 3, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Have you ever shopped in H&M, a load of cheaply made crap, well, that is my opinion!
Soon, retailers will have to start listening to the public for a change.
B’astards!!
February 3, 2012 at 4:41 pm
H&M = Hipocracy & ,,,?
Finish this sentence…
February 3, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Malefactions
February 3, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
February 3, 2012 at 4:49 pm
Mastodons
February 3, 2012 at 4:58 pm
malice.
February 3, 2012 at 7:35 pm
Mendacity
February 3, 2012 at 7:59 pm
My Fat ASS!
February 3, 2012 at 4:42 pm
H&M- Horrible & Moral-less
February 3, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
February 3, 2012 at 4:47 pm
As a bonafide FJL, I am offended you would raise them to my level. They are lower than whale shit.
February 3, 2012 at 4:48 pm
Wait, that’s almost an insult to whale shit.
February 3, 2012 at 5:02 pm
LOL OK they are fat losers, who are so low, they are jealous of the status of whale shit.
February 3, 2012 at 7:49 pm
That’s better.
February 3, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Hey, H&M?
You look douchey today. </3
February 3, 2012 at 4:45 pm
So gonna steal that as a tweet. *highfive*
February 3, 2012 at 7:16 pm
Oh goodness, we should all do it.
February 3, 2012 at 7:57 pm
done.
February 3, 2012 at 8:15 pm
Done.
February 3, 2012 at 8:58 pm
i’m down.
February 3, 2012 at 10:04 pm
So very done.
February 3, 2012 at 10:27 pm
I would if I had twitter. As it stands, I just posted this as my FB status:
“Boycott H&M! http://www.regretsy.com/2012/02/03/update-h-m-is-still-awesome/
And while this was a year ago, I think it is another good reason: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/hundreds-of-workers-collapse-at-cambodian-hampm-clothing-factory-2345537.html
Yes, H&M, I completely believe that mass hysteria was the cause of 300 people fainting in one of your sweatshops. %&#@”
February 3, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Such a good reason to never shop at H&M. (I mean, besides their shitty products.)
February 3, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Fuck. Now there’s one less store where I can buy jeans that fit me. Thanks, 30-34s!
February 3, 2012 at 4:44 pm
I am broke, but I tweeted the chip in on five of my channels. That’s over a thousand followers. Good luck, Fred! You have all my love, pup!
PS: H&M is a dick. I may put that on a t-shirt.
February 3, 2012 at 4:47 pm
That’s great, Lemon! Sharing is caring too, they say. Thank you!
February 3, 2012 at 4:59 pm
I also dugg, reddited, and stumbleupon’d the links.
Fred’s got a face that will charm the change out of pockets. I wish him well.
February 3, 2012 at 5:05 pm
That’s the truth. The last time he and his mama came to visit me, he poked his goofy head into every photo we took. He’s a hammy feller.
February 3, 2012 at 5:19 pm
reddit link for to upvote?
February 3, 2012 at 8:02 pm
http://www.reddit.com/r/aww/comments/pa1hg/freds_surgery/c3np0wz
February 3, 2012 at 7:52 pm
(you know you want the karma. The delicious, delicious karma))
February 3, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Only if it comes in donut form. Otherwise, whatever. Karma happens.
February 3, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Oh, H&M. You could’ve made it right so easily.
On a happier note, the dog is cute as all get out.
February 3, 2012 at 4:46 pm
He sure is. I freakin’ love that Fred.
February 3, 2012 at 4:45 pm
I’ve never shopped at H&M (because there wasn’t one close to me for the longest time), but now I don’t think I ever will. Funny how companies will steal ideas/products from others but want theirs protected by overreaching laws currently being considered. (I don’t know if H&M supports these laws, but wouldn’t be surprised).
Fred is adorable! And he does look nice today.
February 3, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
February 3, 2012 at 7:20 pm
Learn how to use an apostrophe, mofo.
February 3, 2012 at 7:35 pm
I hate this kind of bullshit. America didn’t enter WWII to rescue Britain or France or anyone other than itself. America wouldn’t have fought in the war if Japan hadn’t bombed Pearl Harbor. So why the hell should half of Europe be “forever grateful” to America for “rescuing” them? Get off your jingoistic high horse and learn history instead of propaganda.
February 3, 2012 at 10:38 pm
While that may be true, we don’t know what would’ve happened had the Japanese not bombed Pearl Harbor. If Western Europe had been about to fall to the Nazis, I think America likely would’ve gone in sooner or later. And I believe many Europeans are grateful. From what I’ve heard, the graveyards for American soldiers located in France have more French visitors than American ones. While I get SLIGHTLY annoyed and sense a bit of irony when, after we helped them (partially to help ourselves), Europe tends to frown upon us as being too militaristic and entering into combat in other places without sufficient provocation (which I suppose is true, to an extent), I don’t think it is at all relevant to this post. Besides, it’s a Swedish company, not a British one.
February 3, 2012 at 10:41 pm
The post I find irrelevant is Baloney-One’s post, not Steampunk Octopus’ post, for the record. I am not going to annoy HK again (or anyone else, as this case may have been) like on the onesie post by not making it clear which post I was referring to…
February 3, 2012 at 8:19 pm
February 4, 2012 at 8:23 am
As a Canadian who learned history through the eyes of the commonwealth and the ears of my American Neighbours, I love to watch how discussions such as this unfold.
I also find AlJazeera’s impartial view of world news, incredibly fascinating. It’s not ‘anti-American’ like so many people assume.
Oh yeah… Fred is incredibly handsome today.
February 3, 2012 at 4:46 pm
I think it’s brilliant that she’s giving people a way to get the now-famous design honestly and helping a needy animal at the same time. And Fred looks about as nice today as anyone can. Good for both of them.
February 3, 2012 at 4:46 pm
aw well fred was my dads name so of course I had to help! especially to get the bad taste of H+M being a douche about this out of my mouth…I had set aside $ for petja palooza, but it sold out before I had enough to buy a ticket so…here’s to fred’s successful surgery! I love that even when us FJL’s dont necessarily win, majorly great things are still accomplished in the process…
February 3, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
February 3, 2012 at 4:57 pm
Nope, I won’t. But I’d message you here applauding your eerily accurate screenname, I guess?
February 3, 2012 at 6:19 pm
Nice. You fit RIGHT in here, my dear.
February 3, 2012 at 7:27 pm
Ohhh…we love you!
February 3, 2012 at 8:51 pm
ONE OF US.
February 4, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Gooble Gobble!
February 4, 2012 at 4:51 am
Come to NY with us?
February 3, 2012 at 5:00 pm
I don’t think you quite understand how art works.
February 3, 2012 at 5:42 pm
Ohhh I see you sell bajingo goods. My partners have always complained about the lack of toothpaste flavoring on my cooch!
February 3, 2012 at 7:05 pm
We here are Fat Jealous Losers. You want the Clueless Irritating Douchebag department, two floors up, on your right, you can’t miss it. Actually, you probably can.
February 3, 2012 at 7:37 pm
Etsy is in my attic?
February 3, 2012 at 8:29 pm
I totally read this like “Etsy? In MY attic?”
*(It’s more likely than you think)
February 3, 2012 at 8:53 pm
Where do I go for Arguments?
February 3, 2012 at 9:21 pm
See any toddler. Their favorite word is “no.”
February 3, 2012 at 10:56 pm
Nice Monty Python reference.
February 3, 2012 at 8:26 pm
February 3, 2012 at 10:58 pm
I think n0thinclever misunderstood, and thought that it was only the phrase that she was claiming. The real issue is that the two images are nearly identical, and H&M admitted that they were, at the very least, “inspired” by her work.
February 3, 2012 at 4:48 pm
HOLY SHIT I HAVE MONEY FOR ONCE. *gives money to the cute puppy* I am so glad I was finally able to help for something. And such a cute something. I love big doofy dogs.
February 3, 2012 at 4:51 pm
He’s the doofiest.
February 3, 2012 at 4:57 pm
That he is!
February 3, 2012 at 5:01 pm
HOLY SHIT ON A HOT TIN ROOF I DO TOO!!!!! And even if I have to use paypal I will do it just this once, for Fred.
Tori, I’m so sorry H&M are such ass bags! Thank you for being an awesome human, looking nice inside and out, and being there for Fred : )
February 3, 2012 at 5:07 pm
Can I please say, “HOLY SHIT ON A HOT TIN ROOF” all the time?
February 3, 2012 at 5:59 pm
I contributed. I hope you and April make H&M back it on up and pay for 10,000 critter surgeries.
February 3, 2012 at 6:10 pm
Thank you! I’m at home bawling my eyes out and snotting all over the place at how awesome you guys are.
February 3, 2012 at 8:28 pm
I’m going to say “snotting” all the time now, too.
February 3, 2012 at 7:22 pm
I’m in, I’m in, I’m in. You got my $15, and well worth it. My little dachshund is just recovering from back surgery. You’re doing the right thing.
FJL’S UNITE AS ALWAYS
February 3, 2012 at 4:48 pm
Fred was the name of my grandfather’s female German Shepard. Sweetest dog ever. Hope this Fred has an amazing life. Oh, good now I’m crying. What a FJL I am.
February 3, 2012 at 4:48 pm
What? You mean they’re still acting like gigantic assbutts?
Color me surprised!
February 3, 2012 at 7:47 pm
Assbutt will forever be one of my favorite insults ever. Ooooohhhhhh, Cas.
February 4, 2012 at 4:43 am
Eeeee!
You have NO idea how ridiculously happy you just made me! No joke. I may have actually squee’d like a total effing ‘tard. …that’s really kind of horribly pathetic and shows how much of a sad little fangirl I am…but I don’t care!
(Random, but relevant: because ‘Assbutt’ is the best insult ever, I use it. A lot. My mother, who is becoming more and more an SPN fangirl because of me, tries so hard to remember the term ‘Assbutt’. But she often flubs it all up. Buttface, Asshead, etc. It’s so freaking funny, and oddly endearing.
And then she gets mad when I laugh and refuse to correct her because it’s too hilarious.)
February 4, 2012 at 10:54 am
It’s adorable that your mother screws up assbutt and uses insults that are known to the infra-naturals (did…did that actually work? If we are supernatrals, then it would be infra-naturals for the non-initiated, right?)
I need to catch up on this season. I’m very bad at watching tv and prefer to just wait until it’s out on dvd and I can marathon it. I’m super worried about what they’re doing to him because I love doofy, naive Cas.
Ahem.
ANYWAY. REGRETSY. Uh. H&M are assbutts. Yes. Back on topic.
February 4, 2012 at 5:02 pm
What season are you on?
(I love Cas in general. When he’s being Smitey McSmiterton, when he’s confused, when he’s looking like a terrified puppy in the face of a hooker…even 2014!Cas. I love it all. *nodnod*
*DERAILS THE CONVERSATION AGAIN BY CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT SUPERNATURAL*
February 4, 2012 at 7:04 pm
uhhhh….I think I started the current season. but I’m only a few episodes in. I honestly don’t remember anything about it, so I’ll just have to start from the beginning again (OH DARN)
I think my love for Cas has a lot to do with my love for Misha. I adore that snarky bastard. He should win every twitter award ever.
February 4, 2012 at 8:43 pm
Oh my god, Misha is so amazing. I wish so much that I could meet him. He’s coming to Dallas with Jensen and Jared in September, which is right in my area, but the convention is SUPER expensive. So even if I got in, I really couldn’t meet any of them for autographs or photo-ops. Which makes me so very, very sad, because he literally saved my life with his role as Cas. But that’s a terribly boring story anyway.
We’re in Season 7 right now on TV, which started last Sept. It’s tearing my heart into pieces, patching it back together again, and then just shattering it. I can’t wait for episode 17. *coughs* (I have to keep myself from going insane by reading the Season 7 Fix-it fic on LiveJournal: Redemption Road. It’s SO amazing.)
But yes.
Okay, I’m shutting up now. I could talk about Supernatural (or just Cas. Or Misha.) all damn day. I’m waaaay too into this show, haha!
February 3, 2012 at 4:48 pm
H&M could have sucked it up and turned this into good PR by doing the right thing by her, but I guess they can’t not be assholes. No H&M, you don’t look nice today.
February 3, 2012 at 4:55 pm
Now I’m off to spam H&M’s Facebook page, since that seems to be the only thing they listen to.
February 3, 2012 at 5:00 pm
Me too! Bunch of assbandits.
February 3, 2012 at 8:35 pm
Good idea.
BTW, they are @hm in Twitter.
February 3, 2012 at 6:21 pm
Bad PR seems to be a theme for 2012. Maybe it’s in the water. Of the Atlantic. Wait…Paypal is on the West Coast, aren’t they? Man, has that shit spread.
February 3, 2012 at 8:00 pm
Seriously, and we’re barely into the second month of 2012. I shudder to think what’s coming in the rest of the year (bearing in mind there’s a Presidential election on the schedule).
February 3, 2012 at 4:50 pm
They’re jealous of all the attention the Susan G Komen foundation has been getting. Clearly H&M is vying hard for Cunt of the Year 2012.
February 3, 2012 at 5:01 pm
It’s sad that it’s only February and we already have 2 outstanding nominees.
February 3, 2012 at 5:13 pm
This promises to be a banner year alright:-p
February 3, 2012 at 7:25 pm
What about Paypal? Don’t they count?
February 3, 2012 at 7:28 pm
Pfffft! PayPal was SO 2011′s Cunt of the Year.
February 3, 2012 at 7:39 pm
Runner up was that douchebag customer service/marketing asshat.
February 3, 2012 at 8:58 pm
But they can be Cunt of the Year two years running. Are you making up rules for this?
The violin thing is hard to beat for cuntiness.
February 3, 2012 at 9:24 pm
I think they’ll have to do something else of a cunty nature during this year to qualify. I’m sure they’ll be a front runner for 2012…we just haven’t heard about I yet.
February 3, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Awww I love fred
February 3, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Heinous Malice. Yup. They are wrong. They profited from their larceny and they owe her. Of course they know that the law is on her side. Of course they are evil. Of course I am going to face palm the closest H&M clerk for good measure.
February 3, 2012 at 5:09 pm
As a retail worker, please don’t. It’s not the peons fault. We’re the lowest of the low, and no one ever asks us or cares about what we think about the company’s policies. Unless, of course, they’re being a complete twat and deserve the face palming, but not because of what the designers do.
February 3, 2012 at 6:18 pm
For you DysfunctioningUnit, I will refrain from this thing. Well, also for my own sense of you being absolutely right and me just being really really angry at H&M.
February 3, 2012 at 7:46 pm
It’s totally frustrating when the company you work for does something you disagree with and you find appalling at a very basic level, and even when they say they want input…they really don’t. Especially when you really, /really/ need the job (not that they would care that you, a meager lowly plebeian quit for moral reasons.) /pent-up-rage-rant
February 3, 2012 at 8:36 pm
Agreed. We’ve all been in the “don’t shoot the messenger” position one time or another.
Aim correctly for the top, where the theft took place.
February 3, 2012 at 4:57 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
February 3, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Yes, probably a lot of people have shopped at H&M before, but that doesn’t mean they’ll continue to. As the Komen Foundation learned, bad PR can permanently hurt your brand. If enough people raise their voice, in situations like this you can make a change.
February 3, 2012 at 5:05 pm
I have not once bought anything from H&M. I had a dress from them picked out a couple weeks ago, heard about this, and didn’t buy it. I don’t think AE is the one you’re thinking of though, maybe Urban Outfitters? Never shopped there either, or at Forever 21 (who also does this sort of thing). Then again, I might just be opposed to shoddy workmanship in all things, including my clothes. But I bet we’re not all sell-outs.
February 3, 2012 at 5:06 pm
I can’t stomach big box stores, I use them when there is no other option but they always leave me feeling uneasy and dirty somehow, like “money on the nightstand” kind of used. We have some good thrift stores near us that are pretty cheap and the clothes are nice, and they sell housewares, so most of my stuff comes from there and I usually don’t look homeless, so it’s a win win. I know what you’re saying though, we can call “bullshit!” all we want but if we’re doing it while eating a big mac and stomping our Nikes it’s kind of pointless. H&M got a fun little email from me though, and my friends have a fun little article to read. Hopefully this won’t be forgotten in a few days and something will actually come of it!
February 4, 2012 at 5:52 am
“big mac and stomping our Nikes it’s kind of pointless”
Occupy Brisbane is a good example of this. A friend who was there was so angry at the protesters for wearing their Nike boots and Ipods. They really did not understand the whole point of the protest.
February 3, 2012 at 5:37 pm
I’ve never bought from H&M, so I can’t really stop buying from H&M. However, I used to shop at Anthropologie and Urban Ourfitters. When I discovered the right-wing doucheyness of that company (which owns both stores), I have never again purchased something from either store. I have also stopped eating at Chick-fil-a (probably better for me, anyways). My point is, as consumers, the #1 way we send a message to corporations is with our wallets. And I, for one, make good on my boycotts.
February 3, 2012 at 6:35 pm
Ooh yeah Chick-fil-a is another one I stopped patronizing. My fiance isn’t the biggest fan of it because, you know, waffle fries, but I just can’t bear giving money to places that are so opposite my values. Salvation Army, same thing. None of these places have monopolies on what they provide, so I think we can find what we want somewhere else. Except waffle fries. Damn.
February 3, 2012 at 7:24 pm
What, what about the salvation army?
February 3, 2012 at 7:45 pm
They’re anti-gay. There are many stories from people who the Salvation Army has outright refused to help, feed, put up for the night, because they were gay.
February 3, 2012 at 10:03 pm
The Salvation Army tried to lure me to their services with promises of pie. =p
February 3, 2012 at 6:06 pm
Just because a person has shopped there in the past doesn’t mean they will scream bloody murder but then continue to do so. I bought stuff from H&M when I was in Europe years ago and always tried to go there when I was near one in the States. Now I won’t, because they are massive douches. Simple as that.
February 3, 2012 at 7:19 pm
I never shopped there, and now I never will.
I feel like such a reverse hipster…I am so proud of myself.
They are massive douches for sures.
February 3, 2012 at 6:07 pm
Hey, thanks for presupposing we’re all hypocrites! That’s real swell of ya.
I don’t have local access to an H&M store, but since Stacey & Clinton were always sending people there I decided to check it out last time I was in NYC. A bunch of flimsy, badly cut and poorly sewn garbage made from inferior fabrics, at outlandish prices, as far as I could tell.
February 3, 2012 at 6:29 pm
I have never bought from AE. I have received gifts from H&M, but never bought anything from them myself. And I breast fed my child and didn’t circumcise him.
February 3, 2012 at 7:23 pm
I don’t have items from either store. I don’t like stores like these because they all sell the same crap that we are told is fashionable and what we should wear. Since I don’t like being told what I should wear, I don’t shop at stores like these…and I so very rarely go to the mall.
February 3, 2012 at 7:23 pm
Nope. No H&M consumer love here.
Don’t underestimate folks.
February 3, 2012 at 7:42 pm
I don’t buy from either store. Their clothes don’t fit me right. (And not just because of size. Their clothes are made for an entirely different shape of human.)
February 3, 2012 at 8:12 pm
I used to shop at H&M since they were right above the store I worked in and were actually within my budget. But now I live in scrubs and sweatpants so I have no need to shop there. But if I DID wear anything but scrubs and sweats, it wouldn’t be from H&M.
(And I think you’re thinking of Urban. I don’t really shop there because they don’t exactly carry anything thats fits my FJL ass, and no matter how much I love their shoes I can’t afford them.)
February 3, 2012 at 8:39 pm
I have honestly never bought even one item from H&M, urban outfitters, Anthropologie, or American Eagle.
I also make every attempt to buy from smaller locally owned shops, thrift stores, and second hand clothing shops. I can easily say 80% of our christmas gifts were bought handmade from people I know or made ourselves.
Speak for yourself on this one.
*off to go give an adorable puppy some money*
February 3, 2012 at 8:40 pm
I don’t. I really don’t buy from either of them. In fact, I have slowed down shopping in the past few years as I began to care where my small amount of cash was going. It matters to me. As more than half of the people who posted here are handcrafters and shop-owners who understand the value of their designs and work, I am willing to bet they no longer shop at these places either.
February 3, 2012 at 9:20 pm
Yeah, I’ve basically stopped shopping in many major retail stores aimed at my demographic. I used to be a shop-a-holic in H&M, UO, AE etc. But then I grew a conscience. And I have money to give to puppies like Fred!
February 3, 2012 at 9:36 pm
You’d easily lose that bet, Knit. So don’t go laying your money down on anything other than the surgery of a precious pup.
February 3, 2012 at 11:39 pm
I absolutely have shopped there. I love their plain t-shirts. And today in the mall I went right past them. Even though Beckham’s crotch was beckoning me from the windows.
“Have bought from there” doesn’t mean “will continue to buy from there.”
February 4, 2012 at 9:51 am
I can guarantee that I don’t own anything from American Eagle. And I haven’t shopped at H&M for years and years.
February 4, 2012 at 9:51 am
Guys, really. Stop defending yourselves to this twatwaffle.
February 4, 2012 at 11:58 am
February 3, 2012 at 4:59 pm
Fred is cute as hell. I hate Pay pal, but could not resist. Fred, you are worth it. I hope you get all the money you need.
H&M sucks for a variety of reasons. Cheaply produced stuff for not so cheap of a price.
What happened to integrity and honor? Ethics and morals? Does no corporation have these qualities anymore?
Sorry, after reading all of the Komen BS this week I am just exhausted. I see people stepping up to help. I would love to see a shinning star of a corporation. After all- the gop would like us to believe that corporations are people too! /snark
February 3, 2012 at 7:41 pm
“Why is it everyone now / is a pain on the ass? / Whatever happened to class?”
February 3, 2012 at 5:00 pm
So are we launching another all out war on H&M?
February 3, 2012 at 5:05 pm
I’m in!
February 3, 2012 at 5:15 pm
It’s starting already on Facebook
February 3, 2012 at 5:36 pm
Link please?
February 3, 2012 at 8:43 pm
https://www.facebook.com/hm?sk=wall&filter=1
February 3, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Oh goody! Nothing better to do on a Friday night than jam up a douchebag’s FB page, while all the PR people are home updating their resumes. Heading over to SGK too.
February 3, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Half an hour and Fred’s surgery isn’t full paid for yet?! >shakes head<
I'm just gonna chalk that up to it being 8pm on a Friday, meaning most of the FJLs are already too drunk to enter their credit card numbers.
February 3, 2012 at 5:10 pm
friday nights are #lofnotc nights.
February 3, 2012 at 5:16 pm
Awww, I totally miss #lofnotc with Amanda Palmer. Stupid having to be up at bloody 6:30 on saturday mornings.
February 3, 2012 at 8:44 pm
She’s down under right now, isn’t she? so it’s not even Friday there anymore.
February 3, 2012 at 8:57 pm
Yeah, in New Zealand. (Which is annoying because Neil wont post a picture of his new haircut until she sees it). But It’s been a loooooonnnnnnnnggg time since I’ve managed an #lofnotc ;___;
February 3, 2012 at 5:41 pm
No, it’s Paypal. FJLs have Fred’s back; Tori just has to give us a bypass.
February 3, 2012 at 5:05 pm
Who else read about this atrocity caused by H&M in Cambodia?
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/hundreds-of-workers-collapse-at-cambodian-hampm-clothing-factory-2345537.html
http://www.sott.net/articles/show/234052-Cambodia-Forced-Overtime-Claim-in-H-M-Mass-Fainting
Do they honestly expect us to believe that it was mass hysteria, not the conditions of a sweatshop and/or malnutrition due to poor wages, that caused a hundred people to faint?
February 3, 2012 at 5:05 pm
I understand (as a tax lawyer with training in domestic and international IP tax) that without more, copyright does not cross borders. However, the UK is a party to the Berne Convention and pretty much other major international copyright treaty or convention that matters. Further, as far as I understand it, the UK is taken to immediately implement and cause to effectively be the law any international document ratified by its Parliament.
Sorry, H&M, your cross-border argument is unseemingly weak. I’m not an expert in these particular matters, but if it’s true that it was your sole legal theory, you better find some better lawyers.
(Would be interested to hear more from an attorney with more directly-relevant training or experience.)
February 3, 2012 at 5:09 pm
I imagined you typing that while rolling your neck and snapping your fingers. sassy and fierce!
February 3, 2012 at 5:16 pm
Haha, thanks, well, I’m wearing a Totoro footie-pajama suit my boyfriend made me — not sure if this will ruin your mental image or enhance it.
February 3, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Totoro is awesome, so I’m going to figure you are too. lol
February 3, 2012 at 6:28 pm
OMG, you and your brain and your jammies are adorable!!
February 3, 2012 at 7:25 pm
totally agree. SO CUTE.
February 3, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Totoro jammies are made entirely of awesome and win; especially when someone makes them just for you!
February 3, 2012 at 8:45 pm
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Totoro! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
February 3, 2012 at 8:55 pm
I’m totally jealous and want a set of totoro footie pj’s for myself.
February 3, 2012 at 8:59 pm
Your boyfriend made you Totoro jammies?!
KEEPER ALL THE WAY.
February 4, 2012 at 12:08 am
Never let him go.
February 3, 2012 at 5:12 pm
I don’t know what you’d mean by ‘more’. I’d be glad to weigh in given my position, but I’d need context.
February 3, 2012 at 5:22 pm
Oh great! I suppose some unresolved questions I have are:
1. Does the UK, in fact, take as law any treaty/convention it signs?
2. Were there any riders or special clauses on the relevant treaties, or special interpretations they’ve given themselves?
3. Any other means by which Tori’s copyright would definitely have effect in the UK?
4. Does this fit within an UK version of “fair use” or is indeed copyright violation under UK law?
5. It’s unlikely that anything H&M wrote to Tori in a letter is proof of guilt or their entire legal basis (and we have only an interpretation of the letter), but surely it would be helpful to Tori in court?
etc. etc.
February 3, 2012 at 5:25 pm
Oh whoops oh my god. It’s you! Tori! Hahaha, oh man.
I thought you were a UK barrister for some reason. Gonna hide in my Totoro suit…
February 3, 2012 at 6:11 pm
Hahaha. It’s OK. My brain melted when I read those questions. I deal in paint and puppies, but I thought you may have had questions specific to me that I could help you with.
Cute pj’s.
February 3, 2012 at 7:53 pm
You are adorable!
February 3, 2012 at 5:43 pm
H&M is actually a Swedish company.
However, I think Sweden also ratified the Berne Convention. Then again, the offending goods are being sold in the UK. International jurisdiction is hard!
Signed,
Attorney with no IP or international law training
February 3, 2012 at 6:29 pm
You need a sampler that says, “International jurisdiction is hard!”
February 3, 2012 at 7:51 pm
The new Talking Barbie!
February 3, 2012 at 8:46 pm
Perkele.
February 3, 2012 at 8:57 pm
Multinational corporations spend a shit-ton of money making sure international jurisdiction is hard. Even more than they spend on making their dicks are hard. That’s a lot of money, people!
February 3, 2012 at 5:08 pm
Fred looks wonderful people! Lets help him out! (I hate seeing dogs that need help)
February 3, 2012 at 5:09 pm
H&M’s specialty is selling designer knockoffs (essentially, stealing) that they’ve had made in foreign sweatshops. That’s what they’re all about. I would’ve been amazed if they’d actually “done the right thing”. It’s contrary to their business model.
February 3, 2012 at 5:11 pm
Almost halfway there for Fred! Come on, you Fat Jealous Losers!
February 3, 2012 at 5:14 pm
D’awwww, Fwed! I couldn’t resist.
February 3, 2012 at 5:21 pm
I don’t see any donation spot on the Fred page? Is it my browser?
February 3, 2012 at 5:25 pm
look on the right side, there should be a panel with how much has been funded and an orange button that says ChipIn! (It’s ok, it took me a minute, too)
February 3, 2012 at 5:41 pm
I had the same problem! Unless your screen is giant, you’ll have to scroll to the right.
February 3, 2012 at 6:55 pm
It finally just popped into view when I refreshed the page!?!
Don’t know why, but now I can stop hyperventilating and get to my martini.
Thanks Tori for organizing this for Fred!
My puppy Maizie says Fred looks nice today! The slut.
February 3, 2012 at 5:27 pm
As the owner of a wonderful dog who required about $5000 worth of surgeries during her first year of life, I am more than happy to give to Fred. Sorry that H&M were such douchebags to you!
February 3, 2012 at 5:29 pm
My son just donated and now everyone on the internet can find us! But he helps a dog and gets a poster out of it LOL. He used his allowance money for the chip-in.
February 3, 2012 at 5:32 pm
Your son is awesome!
February 3, 2012 at 6:28 pm
….And my waterworks continue. What a sweet lil’ dude!
February 3, 2012 at 6:53 pm
I know,I all ‘pass the tissues Fred’.
February 3, 2012 at 5:40 pm
Worthy cause! Our foster kitties send their best wishes for the continuation of Fred’s health.
February 3, 2012 at 5:42 pm
I wish I had the money to help Fred! No poster needed.
February 3, 2012 at 5:46 pm
They really should consult the Fine Folks at Paypal to see just how well being a Dick works.
February 3, 2012 at 5:47 pm
hopefully PayPal won’t fuck up our donations! I chipped in some because Tori and Fred have awestein smiles.
February 3, 2012 at 5:50 pm
Shit. I forgot to put my name in the message for the poster, and since it’s the address of my college, they’ll have no idea who it goes to…
February 3, 2012 at 6:28 pm
Just email me: torilaconsay@gmail.com. No worries.
February 3, 2012 at 5:50 pm
I am shocked, SHOCKED that H&M are acting like a bunch of decaying twatwaffles! I think in this case H&M stands for Hateful & Malicious.
I’ll see about getting my finances in order and seeing how much I can contribute to the doggy.
February 3, 2012 at 5:51 pm
I totally read that as “getting my fiancees in order.”
February 3, 2012 at 5:53 pm
Ha! There have been a few volunteers…
February 3, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Actually, I wonder if I could have my niece’s name put on a poster. She could use a boost (her not-even-a-year-old marriage is imploding and probably is already over)….
February 3, 2012 at 6:29 pm
If you donate for Fred, send me an email with the deets and I’ll handle it.
torilaconsay@gmail.com
February 3, 2012 at 7:15 pm
They are nasty twatwaffles…
I now how twatwaffles in my vocabulary, I thank you for this.
February 3, 2012 at 5:51 pm
I vote Sam Cornwell make a rant video about H&M!
February 3, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Seconded!
February 3, 2012 at 5:53 pm
OOoh, that’s right, I talked about getting him to do a Paypal rant! We need to get him to do an H&M rant too!
February 3, 2012 at 9:02 pm
OMFG YES.
And while we’re at it, let’s have Dror paint “Screw H&M” on his belly and shake his moneymaker.
Actually Dror could paint random symbols on his belly and that’d still be good enough for me.
February 3, 2012 at 5:56 pm
I wouldn’t be surprised if this didn’t just turn into a serious three ring circus over their ham-fisted attempt at shutting her up and paying her off (slightly!) rather than owning up to theft and being big about it. It would have been damn easy to say “We had no idea our marketing agent used this design as inspiration for our new line of blah blah blah, and we want to do the right thing, of course!” Now….. now they have to live down what amounts to black mail.
February 3, 2012 at 5:56 pm
When Fred is better can we have him pee on corporate H&M headquarters?
February 3, 2012 at 6:12 pm
He might be good for a drool or two.
February 3, 2012 at 7:38 pm
hahaha, that works, too!
Seriously, though. You are awesome. You’re handling this with so much more grace than those bastards deserve. AND your helping a cute doggy in the process!
February 3, 2012 at 5:57 pm
I have actually been posting variations on “You look like a dirty thief today” and “You look like a dirty corporate thief today” on H&M’s Facebook page nearly ever day since this mess started. I think they’ve been hoping it would all die down so they can go their merry way.
Someone asked for an update on the situation on their page, and I posted something like “it would take something akin to an April Winchell tidal wave to get them to say anything” … to which H&M had the balls to say it had been worked out to the mutual satisfaction of them and the artist. Why am I not surprised they lied? What fucktards.
February 3, 2012 at 6:23 pm
After making my daily post over on H&M’s FB page, I went looking for last night’s reply from them. Why am I not surprised that it’s gone?
February 3, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Hello, I am Fred’s mom. We both want to say thank you. We are grateful for your generosity, and for the joy of having a best friend like the amazing Tori Laconsay!
February 3, 2012 at 6:57 pm
You are welcome. And, you look nice today!
February 3, 2012 at 6:08 pm
There is a H&M literally right down the street from me. Do you guys think I’d get arrested if I stuck something up on the storefront explaining what massive thieving assholes they’ve been? Because I would so do it.
February 3, 2012 at 6:12 pm
Nah, Red. Ain’t worth it. But I applaud your fervor!
February 3, 2012 at 9:03 pm
As was said above, aim for the top instead.
February 3, 2012 at 6:40 pm
As a costume designer I get paid to spend thousands of dollars of other people’s money on clothing in retail stores H&M. I also have a large network of costumers just like me. My business may be a drop in the bucket to H&M, but what about all of my client’s money, my colleague’s money and their client’s money? Artists do, in fact have buying power, H&M. And you just pissed a lot of us off.
February 3, 2012 at 9:04 pm
OH FUCK I accidentally thumb-downed. Someone compensate please.
February 3, 2012 at 9:30 pm
Done.
February 3, 2012 at 10:07 pm
You’re a good cephalopod, you are.
February 3, 2012 at 6:43 pm
Sometimes I wish I could gather up the people of stupid companies and put them in little machines that kick them in the genitals whenever they do something ridiculous.
February 3, 2012 at 6:54 pm
Put up that there is a puppy doggy in need and I will help! It looks like a lot of people helped!!!
Tori, I am so glad that you brought this to our attention and that Fred can benefit. I wish H&M would help since they fucking ripped you off. That made me so mad when I read about it. Arrrrrrrrrr………..
Keep up the good work and make sure to keep us updated about Fred. I love Fred…
February 3, 2012 at 7:06 pm
If you stateside folks want a door mat, my friends Wendy and Lori made these. They will benefit the East Atlanta Kids Club, the East Atlanta Community Association and Atlanta Beagle Rescue. If they’re sold out, just send a note!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/torilaconsay
February 4, 2012 at 2:46 am
Stateside only? Any chance to get them in/to Europe?
February 4, 2012 at 6:15 am
Yes, but you’d have to buy from H&M, and tht would more or less defeat the purpose here…
February 3, 2012 at 7:07 pm
Dear H&M,
Hugs and kisses XOXO
February 3, 2012 at 7:17 pm
You should sell t-shirts in your Etsy shop as well.
February 3, 2012 at 7:30 pm
I’ll look into it with my buddy Derek at Red State Printing. He’s a good friend (and he’s helping me get the posters printed – rad dude!). Maybe he’ll be into making some t-shirts, too!
February 3, 2012 at 7:37 pm
H&M is Swedish. The Swedes are highly tolerant of both unconventional family structures AND intellectual property theft. Piracy has recently been recognized as a religion in Sweden. So that’s what you’re up against. The Pirate God is telling them to steal your designs!!!
February 3, 2012 at 8:01 pm
Different kind of piracy, though. They stand for piracy for non-profit and the free sharing of…well, everything. This is piracy for profit, which is pretty much the opposite of their idealism.
February 3, 2012 at 8:02 pm
*ideology. Sorry, too close to bed time for me
February 3, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Hey, remember this from a few years ago? Scum then, scum now.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/06/hm-wal-mart-destroy-unsol_n_413234.html
February 3, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Do you have a problem with “unconventional family structures”?
(Oh, and all hail the FSM!)
February 3, 2012 at 8:06 pm
Dammit, this was supposed to be a reply to Staccato’s comment. YAY, my first ‘reply’ fail.
February 3, 2012 at 8:35 pm
All hail his noodley appendage. RAH-MEN.
February 3, 2012 at 8:15 pm
I am sitting here with a pulled glute muscle (yes, I busted my ass in Zumba tonight) which turned out to be perfect timing, because SOMEBODY’S DOGGIE NEEDS HELP!
Love and kisses, Fred! I hope that soon your knee works better than my ass did tonight!
February 3, 2012 at 8:15 pm
Sheesh, you FJLs … that took HOURS to fund Fred’s Chip-in!
February 3, 2012 at 8:17 pm
Came out of lurking status to proudly state that my contribution tipped the scale over!!! Fred reached his goal, FJLs!!!!
February 3, 2012 at 8:19 pm
Done.
I never have and will never shop at H&M.
Fred is a cutie-pie stinky butt. Hope he gets better soon!!
February 3, 2012 at 8:36 pm
I gave all my monies to the doggie. I hope it helps!
February 3, 2012 at 8:37 pm
I’m thinking that we need a line of H&M logo merchandise. Preferably things that have a negative message about the company.
February 3, 2012 at 9:03 pm
H&M butt plugs?
H&M diapers… suppositories…
do you see my theme here lol
February 3, 2012 at 9:14 pm
Butt plugs would indicate someone’s getting some sort of pleasure from them….
Maybe toilet paper, chamberpots, vomit buckets, body bags….
February 4, 2012 at 6:18 am
How about “H&M Sucks Cock (Poorly)!
February 3, 2012 at 8:41 pm
Hi. You look nice today. I donated $15 to the animal rescue assistance and I got a confirmation e-mail for the payment, but the page froze up before I could comment that you look nice today (or rather, Tori looks nice today.)
February 4, 2012 at 7:34 am
If you send me an email, I’ll be sure you get your poster. No frozen screens are gonna hold us down! torilaconsay@gmail.com
February 3, 2012 at 8:43 pm
I fucking love being a fat, jealous, bitchy loser! I fucking love REGRETSY! LOVE ALL THE ASSHOLES! XD
February 3, 2012 at 9:24 pm
We love you too!! xoxo
February 4, 2012 at 7:35 am
Oh ME TOOOOOO!
February 3, 2012 at 9:23 pm
IT IS COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY IRRELEVANT WHICH COUNTRY THE ORIGINAL ART ORIGINATED FROM AND WHICH COUNTRY THE STOLEN ART IS BEING SOLD IN.
THEY ARE ARGUING THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE BANKING THAT TORI IS STUPID. SPEAKING OF BANKING, I THINK AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE TORI SHOULD BE FINANCIALLY COMPENSATED FOR ALL SALES OF HER STOLEN PRODUCT, EVEN IF MONEY IS NOT HER MOTIVATION. DEMANDING COMPENSATION SENDS A MESSAGE TO OTHER WOULD BE THIEVES THAT STEALING ARTWORK WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. SHE HAS A WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE NOW, AND I THINK SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND DEMAND PAYMENT.
ps sorry i feel very very capslock about this issue
February 3, 2012 at 10:39 pm
You should post that on their Facebook and send that to them in an email.
February 4, 2012 at 1:14 am
its just that Tori says its not about the money, but actually it really is. That is simply because having to pay Tori money is the only way companies like this are ever going to learn. They should not get away with it. Otherwise it sends a message that it is ok to rip off artists etc.
February 3, 2012 at 9:51 pm
Thanks to all of you Regretsy members…Fred is a absolute doll! Carrie (owner/previous foster mom) knew his knees were bad but loved him so much. they didn”t know there was a “cure”, or at least a partial fix, till recently. he is in a lot of pain.I have been working with her on joint supplements, but sweet boy needs surgery. Thanks so much to ALL of you!!She is the BEST doggie Momma!0
February 3, 2012 at 10:13 pm
Just reading about this for the first time. Despicable! They are opening a new store here in Houston. I left a message on their Facebook page to ask if they had an update to this situation before I decided to visit their store, added a link here. In the 30 seconds I went back to copy my message it was already gone. Chickensh*ts.
February 4, 2012 at 10:18 am
Yep, they seem to be either refreshing the page every few seconds and deleting everything we post, or else sending all user posts to moderation first. I’ve watched three or four of my own posts disappear in about the same time frame (30 seconds, or about as long as it takes to post and refresh on my moderate-speed connection).
My wall post saying “What’s wrong? Afraid of an honest dialogue?” disappeared the fastest. Chickenshits, indeed.
February 3, 2012 at 10:31 pm
Hooooooly! You guys funded Fred’s surgery! I had to step away for a bit, I’m back, and YOU DID IT! I may have just lost control of my bowels. You guys rule!
February 3, 2012 at 11:10 pm
I’m glad it’s funded, but you and Fred’s mommy have a long row to hoe getting him through the recovery from the surgery. I looked it up, and it is a long time to get through! Hang in there and tell him that there are a lot of FJLs sending him good thoughts.
February 4, 2012 at 1:14 am
How many fat losers out there are from the UK?
Maybe we need to start kicking up a fuss over here if they think its only shoppers in the ‘US’ who care. Lets show them that just because the artist isnt from our country, it doesnt mean we want to buy items that should be rightfully credited to them!
February 4, 2012 at 2:27 am
DACS is the organisation that will help in the UK for matters like this – Tori should see what sister organisation in the USA she can contact (or contact DACS to find out) for help via DACS. http://www.dacs.org.uk For what it’s worth, there is no registration system in the UK for copyright, so her work is copyrighted under our system too – copyright is considered automatic and legal cases resort to evidence of date and origin of the work, which Tori clearly has. She might also want to contact http://acid.eu.com/ who work with designers and product. Hopefully one of these organisations can help her proceed! GOOD LUCK TORI!!!!
February 4, 2012 at 3:24 am
In Finland, the situation would be simple.
Report to the police.
The police investigate the case.
The prosecutor would prosecute.
The guilty should be punished.
Not having to hold any correspondence.
February 4, 2012 at 6:18 am
Why do I imagine you slapping your hand with a whip in anticipation? You keep talking like that Petja, I’m going to need a Goddess cloth pad the size of that doormat!
February 4, 2012 at 7:22 am
The artist is a small and H & M is a large.
Finland is a small country neighbor Russia.
We have learned how to work with the major.
When you were little, my aunt taught me how to shoot a Russian warning shot.
It shot to medium body.
Next is wary.
February 4, 2012 at 8:42 am
So turned on…continue Petja…tell me more…
February 4, 2012 at 6:08 am
FJLers,
I just tweeted: You Look Shitty Today to H&M. Wouldn’t it be losery and fat and assholey if The Army did the same?
February 4, 2012 at 7:01 am
…and I just RT you!!
February 4, 2012 at 8:22 am
Does H&M stand for high and mighty? Because that seems to describe their attitude, as well as the potential relationship between their back side and someone’s foot.
February 4, 2012 at 10:20 am
You all should go blow up David Beckham’s page with this as well. I know you can’t directly post on his page, but you can leave comments on all his H&M posts. Maybe this could get to his people as well? https://www.facebook.com/Beckham
February 4, 2012 at 2:37 pm
I already took the liberty.
February 4, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Regretsy: the internet bully making me cry for all the wrong reasons. You are a bunch of wonderful humans.