Penny Arcade Holiday Strip Series #3

We continue today our co-hosting of Penny Arcade's Holiday strip series "The Last Christmas". If you haven't seen the gaping maw of comics 1 or 2, make sure to do that before you check out Gabe and Tycho's latest.

Christmas and Cthulhu

[BigDork1001 (683341)]

Christmas just isn't the same without Cthulhu around.

Merry Christmas all! [hello-cthulhu.com]

Good Job Cthulhu!

[ahsile (187881)]

Destroy the pagan holiday!

What is it?

[chickygrrl (260785)]

Exactly what is it he's holding in his claw? A small child? A turtle? One of Santa's elves?

Re:What is it?

[Gr33nNight (679837)]

Its a TMNT (teenage mutant ninja turtle).

Re:What is it?

[chickygrrl (260785)]

Tastes like chicken, right?

Re:What is it?

[themoodykid (261964)]

I wouldn't know. What does chicken taste like?

Copyright Violation?

[by Anonymous Coward]

Am I wrong, or did TSR get into trouble using the Cthulhu mythos waaay back in 1st Edition AD&D? Last I checked, Lovecraft's writings aren't public domain. And since this *isn't* a Cthulhu parody (it seems like a Christmas parody via the title), are Gabe & Tycho back into copyright trouble (ala Strawberry Shortcake vs. American McGee)? I'm just wondering here....

Re:Copyright Violation?

[Macgrrl (762836)]

User Fridnly would also be introuble if that's the case, as they frequently have visitations from Cthulhu and other Elder Gods...

Re:Copyright Violation?

[ahsile (187881)]

From Wikipedia, the argument is not conclusive:

...Canada and Australia have not, as of 2004, passed...twenty-year extensions. Consequently, their copyright expiry times are still life of the author plus 50 years. As a result, characters such as Mickey Mouse, and works ranging from Peter Pan to the stories of H. P. Lovecraft are public domain in both places. (The copyright status of Lovecraft's work is debatable, as no copyright renewals, which were necessary under the laws of that time, have been found. A

Re:Copyright Violation?

[BridgeBum (11413)]

Generally, copyright violations require someone to publish or distribute without permission. PA asked /. to host the images here.

Re:Copyright Violation?

[miskatonic alumnus (668722)]

According to Dragon [politedissent.com] magazine, Chaosium [chaosium.com] obtained the rights to the Cthulhu and Melnibonean mythos shortly after the first printing of the Deities and Demigods Cyclopedia, which explains their absence in later editions. I suspect they obtained gaming rights. Arkham House still publishes Lovecraft's fiction.

Fiber

[Mozillabird (843218)]

Hey at least Cthulhu is getting his fiber from that Christmas tree. I'd hate to be around when the fiber comes in handy though.