Having become the symbol for freedom of expression and support for the satirical newspaper, Charlie Hebdo, the slogan "Je suis Charlie" is posted on placards, posters, social networks and gatherings. Whilst some people have spray painted or stencilled it on their own clothes, printed it on sheets or reused it in cartoons, others have already put it on numerous other products.
Only some of the e-shops selling these items have committed to donating all their profits to the Charlie Hebdo editorial staff and the families of the victims of the 7 January shootings. The great majority has already sunk into a purely mercantile approach where this phrase can be found on telephone cases, mugs, bags, jumpers or wall stickers. The Parisian store, Melocoton, sells t-shirts for 25.90€ and indicates that "of course, at least 50% of the profits will be given to the Charlie Hebdo newspaper". For Spreadshirt and its dozen t-shirts, no trace of a donation at all.
On the site of the artistic community, Redbubble, the "Je suis Charlie (Stand up to terrorism)" collection of t-shirts and sweaters has appropriated the slogan, without giving a centime to either the image's author or the newspaper. A JesuisCharlie.net e-shop was even created for a few hours, before being contested by internet users and closed down. Asked by the Street Press magazine, Philippe B., the site's creator explained his "minimal profits" approach. "I had no intention of making money with this story, I just wondered how I could participate".
On their side, individuals are far from being the last to benefit from this business. On Ebay, auctions go from a simple t-shirt to an original drawing by Cabu sold 310€. The Charia Hebdo renamed Charlie Hebdo edition even reaches 1000€, whilst a 1985 Cabu drawing is offered for sale at 88,000 €.
Faced with this commercial use of the slogan he created, Joachim Roncin spoke on his Twitter account today, stating that he only supports its commercial use by the Reporters without Borders (RSF) NGO. According to the RSF store site, the profits from this sale will "be entirely used for RSF programmes for the defence of freedom of the press". The journalist and creator of "Je Suis Charlie" had already stated his desired conditions for use of this image.
The message and image are free for all uses, however, I regret all mercantile uses. #Jesuischarlie
— joachim (@joachimroncin) 8 January 2015
In parallel to this growing business around the shooting of the Charlie Hebdo editorial team, newspapers and companies such as Canal +, Google and Le Monde have given financial help to the newspaper. Already making losses and now without premises or equipment, the satirical newspaper will be accommodated in the premises of the Libération newspaper. No profits will be made by the intermediaries, distributors and press re-sellers on the million copies of Charlie Hebdo that will come out next Wednesday.
* Photo from the Reporters without Borders store website
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