Filesharing technologies have brought intellectual property into the limelight like never before.
Comics artists have engaged the issue at length. Curiously enough, those who have most acerbically lampooned defenders of musical property have often displayed copyright notices right in their comics, and all over their web pages, with special sub-pages devoted to licensing terms, collateral merchandise, and sidebar advertising.
"In all cases of Reprints we request that the cartoon copyright info remain intact, and that 'Used by Permission' is included along with the url http://www.userfriendly.org"
--"Illiad", creator of Userfriendly Comic Strip
Not all comics artists have jumped on the bandwagon. Scott Adams, in Dilbert, has created a strip in which Catbert the Evil Human Resources Director overhears Wally the Lazy Engineer speaking enthusiastically about free music supported by "Internet Tips", and promptly switches Wally's salary to the same model, to Wally's chagrin.
But other comics artists have been vocal about "free music", apparently oblivious to their hypocrisy. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!
--Matthew H. Fields