What’s Going on with the Backrooms?

 

I have an artist account on Redbubble where I upload random images that I’ve created myself. Yesterday an email was sent to me by Redbubble stating they took down two images that are related to the Backrooms. 

WTF! Those images are not in anyway related to the Backrooms movie. 

Technically, those images are from one of my books that are loosely related to the Backrooms, published in 2023, before the movie came out. 

So what's really going on? Can A24 copyright the word: Backrooms?

No, the word "backrooms" itself is not copyrighted. You cannot copyright individual words, titles, or general concepts and the core concept and aesthetic of the Backrooms (endless, empty, yellow-wallpapered rooms) are largely considered public domain and cannot be copyrighted.

The original premise of "clipping out of reality" into a labyrinth of empty office spaces originated from an anonymous post on 4chan. Because it was an anonymous, uncredited post, the foundational concept itself is in the public domain.

The Wikis: Community-built Backrooms lore (such as specific "Levels," "Entities," and stories) hosted on major platforms like the Backrooms Wiki is typically released under a Creative Commons (CC BY-SA) license. This means you can use or build upon the lore, as long as you credit the original creators and share your work under the same license.

Specific Original Works: While anyone can make a Backrooms story, specific creative expressions are legally protected. For example, the visual style, specific characters, and lore created by Kane Parsons for his The Backrooms movie and found-footage series are protected.

(Yes, that’s true but other people create various literature, videos, and images related to the Backrooms lore. Is that now off limits?)

The base concept of the Backrooms and everything said in the 4chan post falls into public domain as it was anonymous, and no one can claim it with proofs.

 So, there you have it, once again, I am writing this so everyone who had something taken down recently on a social media platform-for using the word, Backrooms, can see that using the Backrooms in your literature or anywhere else should NOT be illegal.

I'm not sure if I will confront Redbubble about what happened. Both images are mine, but they weren't exactly high-quality. Either way, it's concerning because thousands of other authors have written books using some elements pulled from the backrooms lore. Artwork, media creators, should be pissed off too. 

The Backrooms Creator?

Backrooms: A Concerning Situation

My Website

What About AI?

I know I promised that I would post more excerpts of books that have been published and books I am working on but I must address this matter: 

Do you use AI to write your books? 

Let me say that I DO NOT. I am old school, and I really don’t know how to use AI to write. I feel that AI doesn’t capture what the author envisions for his/her books so therefore using AI to write is like using Alexa as your audio voice for your audiobooks. 

With that said, I do use images created by AI for short videos and for my blogs ONLY. I am so old school that I still use photoshop online editing tools for pictures I make that I use in my books. I’ve been doing it for over 15 years, now. Using online editing tools for my images is my personal prerogative and I see nothing wrong with it. 

What I think about AI?

I feel that people are up in arms over AI art much like when 3D rendering and photoshopping were ostracized by certain groups. But just like in the past with 3D rendering and photoshop, the dust will settle, it will pass and be accepted.

 I am grateful that back in the 2000’s I discovered certain online tools to create my images, I still use those tools to this day. If people don’t like that I use photoshop and online editing tools, well they don’t have to and they don’t have to follow me. Just saying.  Anyways, peace and no hate. Support other authors, stop being mean-spirited Haters. If you don't like what an artist created or what an author wrote, don't follow them, its' that simple.

NOTE: I am happy to say that Lost in the Backrooms continues to be downloaded and read. Thank you.

If interested in my books please visit link below. I mostly write preteen to young adult books under the pseudonym Cecile Garcia however, I do have another pseudonym which I will use to publish adult rated books (18 & over).

My Amazon

Website