Gary Larson's Cartoons

Many websites display copies of Gary Larson's famous "Far Side" cartoons. Here is an example. Some of these purport to encourage visitors to buy copies of Larson's books; others do not. Larson objects to this nopermissive use of his creations and has pleaded with his fans to cease and desist. One such fan -- Reto Portmann -- agreed to remove Larson's cartoons from his website; he then posted Larson's letter in its place. The reactions of subsequent visitors to Portmann's site vary substantially.

(adapted from a case study by Elizabeth Rosenblatt)