Recovered Property
“Simpsons did it!”
It has recently come to our attention that the Comic Press, a “newspaper” at the University of Oregon, has been running a twitter feed titled “ASUO Spew” for quite some time. We have sat idly by while the Comic Press has made use of our own recycled jokes, references and phrases over the last two years, but this is the final straw.
“SPEW” first appeared in the Oregon Commentator on November 21st, 1983 and it still runs in our current format today. Is it coincidence that another publication on our campus has began using a twitter feed with the same name for (approximately) the same purpose?
SPEW, as it appeared in the 3rd issue of the Oregon Commentator. November 21st, 1983 page 2.
Let’s put this into perspective. The Press‘s founder, Kai Davis, was a one-time Commentator contributor (Vol. 25, Issue 5) who decided to steal as much as he could from the Oregon Commentator in order to make his shitty mash-up of recycled Onion and Commentator jokes, coupled with the Dino Comics the Commentator ran five years ago (ex. Vol. 21, Issues 4 & 5 page 11).
Here’s a list of the things the Comic Press has stolen from the Commentator to date:
- “Poetry Corner” which has appeared in several editions of the Comic Press. The Oregon Commentator has been running a version of “Poetry Corner” since at least Fall, 1998 (ex. Vol. 15, Issue 2 “Lil’ Mookie’s Haiku Corner”)
- Dino Comics (Vol. 21, Issues 4 & 5 page 11)
- “Happy Hour Rundown” from the Comic Press, Vol. 2, Issue 12. The Oregon Commentator has been printing the “Pub Crawl” in it’s “Back to the Booze” issue for years.
- “Edu-Graphic” that ran semi-regularly in the Comic Press last year (ex. Vol. 2, Issue 9). “Graphs by Drew” has been in the Commentator since at least February 2007.
- “Mission” that appears on the second page of the Comic Press. The Commentator has been running it’s mission statement since the early 1990’s. This would not be of consequence except that most publications do not make a habit of publishing their mission statement in every issue.
- “UO Emergency Text Message Alert System a Rousing Success!” ran in the Comic Press on April 23rd, 2007 with “funny” versions of fake texts. “Text Message Alerts We’d Like to See” ran in the April 7th, 2009 edition of the Commentator just a few weeks earlier.
- “Athletic Center Map” (Vol. 2, Issue 10) ran in the Comic Press with “funny” sections being labeled on the UO Campus map. The Commentator has been running “fake campus maps” for years (ex. Back cover of”Back to the Booze” October 2006)
The Comic Press also had some sort of crush on our editor from last year, CJ Ciaramella. He appeared on the front cover of Vol. 2, Issue 11 of the Press as well as the back page “Word Jumble” of Vol. 2, Issue 12.
In addition to Davis’ secret man-crush on Ciaramella, they decided to include numerous references to beer and boozing. Obviously trying to steal a line from us, you folks on campus might be interested to know that the Commentator first introduced their favor for drink in 1993 with a “Star Trek” drinking game. Our mascot is a anthropomorphic mug of beer for Christ’s sake. The Press even tried to challenge us to a keg race last year (The “Hate Issue” of the Commentator, “Mail Call” Vol. 26, Issue 6). The Commentator, as the champions of alcoholic favor in campus media, told the Press they needed to first beat the Oregon Voice before they moved on to the “big leagues”.
Shortly after we forwarded our response on our blog, then-Publisher Guy Simmons and I spotted Comic Press Publisher Kai Davis putting change in his meter as were walking down past Mac Court. We were both wearing Sudsy Tees, making us instantly recognizable. With the courage of an eagle and the heart of a lion, Davis met our gaze as we came nearer and… promptly looked at the ground. Such balls.
The Comic Press is a worthless pile of garbage. But I’ve learned something today. When you’ve been around for going on 26 years like the Commentator has, it’s only natural to expect that someone, somewhere is going to end up copying you. We just wish we were inspiration for the Comic Press instead of a source of direct material.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. From the looks of all the flattery going on in the Comic Press, they’re trying to bed us, quick.
Sorry Comic Press, we don’t fuck losers.
jesus I’m glad I graduated.
I just sent word to Kraft Foods legal department about Sudsy
Did the federal government rip off the Commentator when they named “Hate” crimes after the Commentator special “Hate” issue ? I think you have a case……let’s roll.
The OC isn’t the only publication the Comic Press grabs from trying to be cool. I”d like to refer you to page 8 of Hack Attack 2008 (in the back of the Hate Issue). Vincent — I believed it is called — nailed the CP.
A lawsuit from Kraft would probably be best case scenario for the Commentator.
Bitch, you dealin’ with pros. You think in the 10 years we’ve been using Sudsy, we’ve never ever looked into the copyright issue? Pfff.
Dane – The appropriate reaction is derision, preferably wrapped in some scorn. You might also consider a knife fight, just sayin’.
Others – You need hobbies.
Also – Sudsy is clearly fair use.
Speaking of stealing material, I just sent word to Kraft Foods legal department about Sudsy’s theft of Kraft Food’s intellectual property. OH YEAH!
It’s not really about who owns what so much as questioning why CP even bothers going to press since their content is almost entirely derivative and unimaginative.
I don’t doubt the CP is suckling your content but Dane’s babyish and overly emotional reaction is out of step with the Commentator’s typical, calculated demeanor. While I can understand your frustration, your antagonism towards another UO student in this public arena is in poor taste and makes you look desperate and mean-spirited. Despite his apparent lack of originality, I’ll take a moment to commend Mr. Davis on his coolheaded responses here. He’s clearly gotten the best of you.
While I’ll stop short of defending the CP directly, it is preposterous to claim ownership of poetry corners, Dino Comics, Happy Hour guides, Mission statements, fun graphs and fake maps. Keep things in perspective Dane.
“Did civilizedsavage just pull a Frisch in the comments section?”
Expertly played.
“Tragically, they are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing. Maybe, one day, Dane, Drew, and Co. will run into someone, someone dangerous, who gives even less of a shit about the laws of our society, than Dane, Drew, and Co. give about the mores of our society.”
Yikes! Thankfully, we don’t live in a society where “big, angry people” are in charge, and where people get their skulls split over print media they disagree with. You know … ‘cuz of this whole business with “laws” and shit like that… Jus’ sayin’ …
P.S. Did civilizedsavage just pull a Frisch in the comments section? He’s E-thuggin’ REAL hard …
“Maybe, one day, Dane, Drew, and Co. will run into someone, someone dangerous, who gives even less of a shit about the laws of our society, than Dane, Drew, and Co. give about the mores of our society.”
This sounds like a line from someone who would love to be that guy who cares not for society’s rules, but is either too scrawny or too afraid of getting another one of the “ass-beatings” that the OC Staff apparently lacked growing up to personally administer the sentence he has handed down.
Man, big diss on me back there out of nowhere.
P.S. How do you “sell out” from the J-school?
Lets fite eech otha ovar gramaticle erors all dey loong.
The Insurgent is better than both of you combined anyway. At least we can agree on that.
Man, my dick is huge. Twice as big as anyone’s on this blog.
The comments section has gotten ridiculously disrespectful and unrelenting with the bullshit from various commenters.
Though I did want to note: Y’all is spelled as such. It is the contraction of “you all.” Thus, ya’ll is wrong. You don’t believe me, it’s in the dictionary.
And that’s all I have to say on that matter.
Your dad is burly vincent, i just hope i don’t run into anyone who doesn’t care about the laws of our society and split my skull over a blog post.
Michelle I’ll speak for “Dave”, we call our writers contributors, we don’t pay them for their work, so it’s not a job. Hell none of us receive stipends. if you want to be a contributor I do have the power to hook you up.
After my dad kicked your dad’s ass, Drew.
When did this comments section turn into an “our dad can beat up your dad” forum
Wow. This took a lot of research. Dave – Before you off telling Kai he should get a job, maybe you should reflect on your own definition of the word “job” in relation to what this “commentator” (or whatever snarky title the Commentator attributes to their writers) is achieving and aspiring to. Shit, hook me up with a “job.”
Are you inebriated Dave? You clearly have no idea when to use “than.” “Than” is a conjunction used in comparisons. That is how I used it in both instances.
Maybe you don’t know what is “impolite about showing facts,” but surely you know that “we don’t fuck losers” IS impolite and worthy of a skull-fucking in a less “civilized” society.
<3
I just thought it was a bit funny coming from someone who was excoriating someone else for “having almost no analytical skill,” is all.
Anyways, stop being so racist.
Fact: I don’t care.
Fact: Dave was defending the Oregon Commentator, saying that:
The oregon commentator does not claim that they are the Simpsons and no one would ever think that the comic press is family guy.
And so I defended my response with the quote “Simpsons did it”, which if you brought the analogy to the end, would mean that the Simpsons are the Oregon Commentator and the Comic Press would be the ones who “did it”.
I think you might be missing the fact that “Dave” != “Dane”.
Just sayin’, like.
Dave–First off, “ya’ll” is spelt as such. Secondly, the Oxford English Dictionary tells the entire history of words–therefore if you guys had created “Spew” then it would clearly be noted in the ODE (not the newspaper). And that episode of South Park was referring to how everyone rips off the Simpsons, including Family Guy. You do realize that by referring to the quote “Simpson’s did it,” you are making a connection between the Oregon Commentator and the Simpsons? You have almost no analytical skill.
I sense some jealousy, and perhaps a little separation anxiety. How you must miss Kai. Dogs act out like this too…completely natural behavior.
civilized savage- I do not know what is impolite about showing facts. learn the difference between than and then. Also isn’t a 31 year old barback at a college bar with a stupid mohawk who writes for an unpopular college “newspaper” more misguided than a “bunch of self absorbed wankers” and “mommas boys from prep schools?”
Buddy- If you think that writing for the ODE is selling out you are an idiot. That was a dumber statement than saying the comic press is funny.
David- if you are too stupid to spell y’all right im surprised you know how to work the internet. All college papers are filled with young unexperienced writers. the oxford english dictionary does not give out copyright information. Finally that Simpson’s did it joke is from Southpark not Family Guy. The oregon commentator does not claim that they are the Simpsons and no one would ever think that the comic press is family guy. The comic press also lacks comedy and opinion.
Kai Davis- get off social networking sites and get a job
Why is the OC even dealing with the smallest and least respected publication on campus? The Siren is more important to the campus than thecomicenema
Have you guys watched the Simpson’s recently? It’s terrible. People watch it out of some misguided appreciation for the ‘good old days’ when it’s humor was actually funny.
Now Family Guy? That’s a show that gets a lot of hate, but actually is funny day-to-day and week-to-week.
I’ll take Family Guy to the OC’s Simpsons any day of the week.
(Now, Robot Chicken? That show is legitimately funny)
Ya’ll some epic haters. The list of things you said the Comic Press stole from you did not all originate with you. First off, saying the Comic Press is unoriginal for publishing Dino Comics is about the same as saying the Register-Guard is a bunch of copy-cats because they have Garfield in their paper. Secondly, it is also impossible to claim all that is alcohol just because you have a beer-mug mascot. Both of these papers are college papers–what kind of a self-respecting college comedy/opinion paper would negate the presence of alcohol and alcohol culture? You think you guys were the originators for Star Trek Drinking Games for that matter? Get real. Furthermore, does the Commentator think that it has a copyright on the word “Spew”? I think you might need to look in the Oxford English Dictionary for that one. All either paper is is an outlet for young, unexperienced writers, to become published and to try to make something their own. Claiming you guys are the Simpsons to the Comic Press’ Family Guy is a crock of shit.
Agreed. The OC is full of misguided, self-absorbed wankers. Momma’s boys from prep schools who were denied the ass-beatings they so desperately needed. Tragically, they are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing. Maybe, one day, Dane, Drew, and Co. will run into someone, someone dangerous, who gives even less of a shit about the laws of our society, than Dane, Drew, and Co. give about the mores of our society.
Dudes, I loved this article.
I’d also like to take the time to congratulate you on levying an opinion on our award winning publication by thoughtfully expressing yourself on our award winning blog.
Have a great day!
Buddy
Here you go – http://www.oregoncommentator.com/mission-statement/
Read our mission statement before you make comments. We are not a humor magazine.
Thanks for “reading”.
One glaring difference: the Comic Press is funny. And likening its worth to the Commentator under CJ, who is now the ODE’s worst reporter and the journalism school’s biggest sellout (take a fucking ethics class), is pretty offensive to the Press.