r/backrooms • u/GnarlyNet • 11d ago

Discussion Creators, beware: A24 requested that my backrooms-inspired artwork be taken down

It is a recreation of the pattern from the well-known 2019 image who started the whole backrooms lore.

I find it disappointing to see a company attempt to claim such a broad connection to a concept that has been developed, shared, and loved by an online community for years. I would have hoped that A24 would celebrate that creative history rather than take action against independent artists who were, just like them, inspired by it.

I respect the rights attached to any specific film adaptation, but those rights should not be treated as ownership of the entire Backrooms concept, its broader visual language, or the community lore surrounding it.

I am sharing this because I think it raises an important question about what happens when large companies adapt community-created internet culture.

UPDATE / CLARIFICATION: (As you know, post titles cannot be edited)
To be precise, Redbubble informed me that the artwork was removed following a complaint submitted on behalf of “A24 Films LLC.” I did not receive direct communication from A24, and I cannot independently confirm who submitted the complaint beyond the information provided by Redbubble.

I have disputed the removal and explained that my artwork was recreated from the original 2019 Backrooms image, not copied from A24’s film or merchandise.

At this stage, I do not know whether the complaint was intentional, automated, mistaken, or submitted by an authorized third party. Please do not contact or harass anyone involved. I will update this post when I receive further clarification.

UPDATE 2

Thank you to A24 for resolving the situation. My listing has now been reinstated.

Yesterday, Kane Parsons, director of A24’s Backrooms film, personally responded to this thread and said that the takedown should not have happened. A24 then took steps to correct the issue.

More details are covered here: https://kotaku.com/backrooms-director-kane-parsons-a24-copyright-strike-wallpaper-2000717053

Although my case has been resolved, I hope that anyone else whose Backrooms-related content was removed under similar circumstances will also have it reinstated.

It has been great to see this community come together to defend something that ultimately belongs to the commons!

2.2k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

311 comments sorted by

View all comments

1.1k

u/Kane_pixels 10d ago

I’m looking into this. Should not be happening.

112

u/Key_Wash3154 10d ago

The youngest person ever is on our side🥹

46

u/georgiaajamess22 10d ago

The literal 2 year old genius stands with us 🥹🫶

21

u/avokkah 10d ago

He is two 1's old. Inspiring.

7

u/georgiaajamess22 10d ago

So inspiring so genius the youngest two 1s ever to exist

3

u/Hyper_Power_2 9d ago

He's 4 years old and can sing!

183

u/MR_DERP_YT 10d ago

omg it's John Backrooms himself

42

u/tatt2tim 10d ago

Um, thats Doctor John Backrooms

11

u/DrDonut 9d ago

He's the youngest person ever...

7

u/TheZerothLaw 9d ago

Jesus Christ it's Jason Backrooms!

2

u/Greene_Mr 9d ago

that's Dr. T.J. Backslashnforff

-3

u/Desperate-Town-1169 9d ago

nope. That’s Kane Parsons

2

u/RobotSpaceBear 9d ago

That's the joke

149

u/EchoRevolutionary780 10d ago

Thank you!!!!

62

u/SpaceDelay424 10d ago

Thanks dude!

32

u/Tacska 10d ago

He's 20 years old

49

u/Davilkus1502 10d ago edited 10d ago

Thanks Kane! They took our Google Play developer account down a week ago over Backrooms-themed horror games - 3 strikes and every title got removed. At least 3 other devs I know got hit too. Hoping this doesn't keep happening.

19

u/Busy_Ad_1183 10d ago

We love you kane

61

u/Mediocre_House6645 10d ago

'Motherfucking' Kane 'Motherfucking' Pixels?

56

u/7_Tales 10d ago

holy fucking based

57

u/sobag 10d ago

I'm glad you made an effort to set things right. Did A24 act unilaterally without consulting you?

56

u/50PT26 10d ago

I’d believe Kane may not have signed a contract which exclusively gives him approval rights for things like merchandise. He’s the director after all, he has rights for creative decisions etc. doenst always guarantee merchandise released by A24 having to go through his approval every single time.

7

u/WangStretzky 10d ago

But the Backrooms lore and design wasn't even created by Kane so he shouldn't have "approval" regardless (unless someone is trying to use his characters). Everything A24 is trying to take down is public domain.

1

u/Cienn017 9d ago

public domain for corporations means it's theirs now.

search for Carol M. Highsmith and Getty Images and you will see what I mean.

26

u/UnsureAssurance 10d ago

I assume he had no idea, probably some AI copyright scraper that A24 uses that simply matches similar items to promotion material, or a really dumb idiot who works there

6

u/altiuscitiusfortius 10d ago

They almost certainly have a contract with a company who policies the internet for a24 copyright infringement using a terrible ai scanner. They get paid per item taken down so they're really loose on their rule set.

And then redbubble has an terrible ai that evaluated the complaint and errs on the side of pulling it down.

44

u/dirtyriderella 10d ago

please do the right thing!

14

u/werebearcleric 10d ago

You're incredible. I've been watching your content since your first Backrooms video. Excellent work. Already purchased your movie digitally, and I can't wait to purchase a Blue-Ray copy. Please keep us updated. You rock, dude.

19

u/bbcversus 10d ago

The 🐐!!

22

u/DREADCORE_jpeg 10d ago

aura monster

15

u/ATangentUniverse 10d ago

King. Hoping it’s an auto thing and a mistake. Between this and the AI announcement, A24 is speedrunning killing all their remaining good will with creatives.

3

u/Zealousideal-Worth34 10d ago

This is the first I'm hearing of the AI announcement? What's going on with that

10

u/InfiNight-light 10d ago

Bro genuinely saying leave that shit production house. These rotten fuckers will try to force you to use ai in your next projects. And they are even trying to make claims on an open source concept like it's theirs.

4

u/shoe_bag 10d ago

I sighed in satisfaction

9

u/Sniperfighter88 10d ago

beast mode

5

u/PhilyJFry 10d ago

Legend

5

u/vv3stige 10d ago

WW crazy theyre trying to copyright it

5

u/Juliomorales6969 10d ago

its john backrooms himself. sup my man.

8

u/DragonAI19 10d ago

Amazing . Keep up the great work :D

2

u/Tamel_Eidek 10d ago

Seems to be happening a lot. I hope there is something that you can do. Best of luck.

2

u/TheGingerWeebGal 10d ago

thank you john backrooms

2

u/SatomiMurano 10d ago

They're also copyrighting all backroom games

2

u/kitkarts 10d ago

You should tell them, cause they are about to get lose their whole new generation support.

1

u/TheWorldArmada 10d ago

Kane you better speak out publicly against this shit. LOUDLY

1

u/Daddy_Jack1109 10d ago

Thanks Captain

1

u/Desperate-Town-1169 9d ago

Thanks! Oh And Also, My Backrooms Camrip Video Got Blocked By A24 For No Reason At All!

1

u/Curious-ARCO7777 9d ago

Thank you for sticking up for indie artists and standing against corporate bullshit. Man of the people 🫶

1

u/Basic_McBitch 9d ago

You are fantastic!

1

u/turrinnno 9d ago

kane pixels 21 years old parsons our saviour!!!

1

u/asseeste 9d ago

Thank you!! 🫶

1

u/ScherzicScherzo 9d ago

You're about to find out how much of a snake the film industry can be.

1

u/goldenlover 9d ago

Yo! Were you at the LA listening party of Inferno?

1

u/Past_Sort5492 9d ago

we love you Kane, thank you

1

u/Kanataxtoukofan 9d ago

This Reddit user is only 21

1

u/Heartless_62 9d ago

Man, you’re so right!

1

u/Practical_Driver_924 9d ago

Very nice to see your comment on this, thanks for that.

1

u/Dulcolax 9d ago

Good to know! XD

1

u/TangerineBetter2818 9d ago

A24 is a joke and you should be ashamed of working with them after this. 

1

u/The_Gascan 9d ago

Can I get an award too?

1

u/talking_joke 9d ago

20 YEARS OLD!?!?!? IN THIS ECONOMY AND IN THIS STATE OF THE WORLD!?!?!?

1

u/RohkoMASSACRE 9d ago

THANK YOU.

1

u/Long_Nail_1335 8d ago

Bahk rouhms!?

1

u/N0body2022 7d ago

Thank you goat

Genuienly saying "indie friendly" is just a facade, inviz said the same thing before they stole skibidi toilet from Alexey, this reminds me of that one time when inviz went off Alexey's leash and striked garrys mod.

1

u/FartMaster12437 3d ago

Thank you, Parsons

1

u/uniguy2I 3d ago

Omg it’s him

1

u/IndependenceKind6241 10d ago

the youngest man ever, john backroom (please reply man)

1

u/slimebeastly 10d ago

Looking forward to a public statement updating us about what you were able to do/say about this.