Rules for Exhibitors in the Alley

A single violation of this contract could result in the artist being removed from the Alley and the convention, at the discretion of the Alley staff. If an individual is removed, they forfeit all fees and will receive no refund for their table or membership.

1. General Policy: While in the Alley all convention, local, state, and federal rules, policies and laws apply. If an artist breaks any convention rules, he or she will be dealt with in an appropriate manner. If an artist breaks any laws, he or she may have to deal with law enforcement, and possible prosecution. Otakorp, Inc. does not condone an artist’s transgressions.
   
   
2. ID Policy: All artists must show a government-issued, photo ID to check in at the Alley. If an artist is not able to produce a valid ID at check in, their table(s) will be held until 10am on Saturday, at which point the table(s) will be considered unclaimed and open for sale on a first come, first served basis. Accepted forms of ID include: A state drivers’ license, state-issued identification card, a passport, or military ID. Other forms of Photo ID may be accepted at the discretion of the Department Head of The Alley. The name on the ID must match the name given during table registration.
   
   
3. Age Policy: In the state of Maryland, a person must be at least 18 years old in order to sign a contract. Therefore, any person who is not 18 must have an adult sign the contract on their behalf. The adult who co-signed the contract must be present to checkin for a table and accept responsibility for any failure of the under-aged artist to comply with all convention policies as well as applicable laws.
   
   
4. Badges: Otakorp, Inc. badges must be worn at all times. ONLY people with an Artist ribbon will be allowed behind tables within the Alley. A total of four ribbons will be allotted to each table.
   
   
5. Structures: Any structure brought to display artwork must be of sound construction. If any structure falls down, or appears unstable, the artist to whom it belongs will be asked to remove it by the Alley staff.
   
   
6. Noise: Overly loud music, videos, etc. will not be tolerated in the Alley. If the amount of sound coming from a table is found to be disruptive, as determined by the Otakorp, Inc. appointed Otakon Staff, the artist will be asked to lower the volume. Further noise violations may result in the artist being removed from The Alley and convention.
   
   
7. Giveaways: Any artist who wishes to have a giveaway, raffle, or prize distribution of any kind must inform The Alley staff via email before the convention. No requests for giveaways, raffles, etc. will be granted at the convention and any artist holding an unauthorized giveaway will be removed from the Alley and convention.
   
   
8. Photography: Photography and video recording are permitted within The Alley, provided that the person being recorded has given permission. Similarly, pictures or videos of art are allowed only with permission of the artist.
   
   
9. Signs: Signage placed within The Alley is to be used only as Otakon’s staff has intended.
   
   
10. Substance Use: No Smoking or use of alcohol or drugs while in the Artist Alley will be tolerated. Violations will result in removal from The Alley and convention.
    
    
11. Behavior: No running, screaming, yelling, horseplay or use of obscene language will be tolerated. It is also expected that, as with any other area of the convention, all artists will be curious and polite to each other, to the staff and to members.
    
    
12. The following items are prohibited from sale within The Alley:
    1. Any work with copyrighted logos, regardless of whether or not the work is original.
    2. Mass produced^* prints of art depicting licensed characters.
    3. Buttons, pins, hats, or t-shirts bearing official character likenesses^**. If an artist has, and can produce proof of, explicit permission from the copyright holder to use, then the items will be allowed. This will be determined at the discretion of the Department Head of The Alley, in consultation with all other necessary parties.
    4. Photoshopped, traced, or copied characters in recognizable poses but with different backgrounds.
    5. “Knockoff” or bootleg merchandise of any kind (including but not limited to: videos recorded on blank videotapes with printed labels; homemade DVDs, pirated copies of any titles that have been released commercially in the United States, Japan, or elsewhere, titles taped off the air in Japan, and any fan-subs).
    6. Any posters, idol cards, etc., which read “Kodak” “Fuji”, etc. on the back.
    7. Unlicensed reproductions of any products actually released by an American company.
    8. Food, snacks or beverages.
    9. Legally imported merchandise or legitimate US products. This includes, but is not limited to: wall scrolls, sharpies, art supplies, duck tape, glow sticks etc.
    
    
13. The following items may be sold:
    1. Any product featuring an artistrsquo;s original character.
    2. Commissioned and hand-drawn works made during the convention, provided that they do not violate any other rule
    3. Unique, individual, hand-made items
    4. Doujinshi, fanzines, and similar items^*
    5. Fan art which clearly shows that the work is produced by the artist, rather than by the license holder.
    
    
14. Number of Tables: A single artist or studio is allowed a maximum of two tables. The Alley is intended to showcase a large number of artists, therefore any violation of this policy which can be proven in the eyes of the Department Head of The Alley and other relevant parties will be grounds for immediate expulsion from the Alley and convention. It may also result in the artist being banned from participating in the Alley in the future.
    
    
15. Groups of Artists: All individuals working together on a single project, or groups of projects, are considered one artist. For example: a group of artists who collaborated to make their art count as a single artist in the eyes of the Alley staff. As such, they will be allowed to register for a maximum of two tables to sell their art. Any artist who is found to be in violation of this policy will be removed from the alley. No exceptions will be made unless permission is grated by the Department Head of the Alley prior to the convention. Please contact the Alley staff prior to the convention with any requests.
    
    
16. Adult Materials Policy: In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the number of minors and families attending Otakon. Therefore, Otakorp, Inc. asks that all exhibitors, including artists in The Alley, please keep this in mind when setting up. The acceptability of displays of adult material is at the sole discretion of the Department Head of The Alley. Any materials which are sexually explicit, extremely graphically violent, or otherwise unsuitable for children must be displayed in a manner that keeps minors from seeing them. If any of these materials are found left out in the open, or The Alley staff receives complaints, the artist will be reminded about the adult materials policy ONCE. If any artist sells inappropriate materials to minors, they will be removed from The Alley, Otakon and membership in Otakorp, Inc.. They may also be held accountable under Baltimore City law.
    
    
17. No-Shows: If an artist fails to check in for their table by noon on Saturday, they will be considered a No-Show. At that point, their table(s) will be offered for sale at the at-con rate on a first come, first served basis. Lost tables cannot be reclaimed, and no credit nor refund will be given for No-Show tables.
    
    
18. Changes: Otakorp, Inc., and the Department Head of The Alley hold the right to add, amend, or change these policies as they see fit, without prior notice.

The Alley staff will consistently monitor The Alley for policy violations, and all observed violations will be acted upon. Failure to comply with any part of this contract may result in action up to eviction from the Alley and convention.

^* Our policy is amended to clarify that, for fan art (including but not limited to: doujinshi, fan art prints and buttons), up to 10 copies of a single piece are allowed, unless that item is otherwise explicitly disallowed. This is also the standard by which the Alley staff will define “mass production”. The total number of pieces of fan art sold will not exceed 200.

^** Official Character Likeness is defined as the actual picture of a licensed character, vehicle, etc. produced by the copyright holder. Fan created drawings do not violate this rule.

Guidelines for Artwork

Everyone knows that copying someone else’s work is wrong, but there is no “magic rule” about how much must be changed to make it an artist’s own. The artist bears all responsibility and risk for the items brought for sale at Otakorp, Inc. Any questions regarding this policy will be resolved by the Department Head of The Alley, in consultation with Otakorp Inc.’s lawyer when needed. If a piece of art appears to be very similar to a licensed, copyrighted, etc. piece of art, the artist may be asked to remove it from display and sale at the discretion of the Department Head. The Department Head’s decision is final.