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Thanks for the report & the pictures, Sigvlad!
:)

Quote from user: SigvaldSo, shortly said, besides having experienced increasing problems with his vision, Don Rosa has lost the inspiration needed to do more stories.
Rather than a loss of "inspiration" in the poetic sense, I think it's rather (understandable) frustration with the system and ultimate weariness.

Quote from user: MorequackQuote from user: Sigvaldc) Finally, he has had enough of the way many publishers treats him. In the interview he in particular mentioned the publishers in Brazil and Greece, where (according to him) they keeps using his name in order in to increase the sales of their products. Also some non-Egmont publishers are translating all extra-material written by him for the Hall of Fame books, even though the texts, the illustrations from The Pertwillaby Papers and Don's childhood material is © Don Rosa *not* © Disney Co.
c) [...] I didn't know that publishers (Greece and Brazil) must get Don Rosa's permission in order to print his name in their comics. Actually I don't find that reasonable, unless I misunderstood Sigvald's statement. Do other artists need to provide approval for a pub. to print his name in an advertisement or article? I suppose it depends on the individual's contract with a publisher?
I think it's rather a cynical observation, namely, that not only do Disney artists not get paid royalties when his material is used in a comic, because he does not own the characters, but if they were, that share would be even bigger in the case of the big names.

Additionally, Don is lamenting the fact that what he does own is being re-used freely, without paying him a cent, as it is assimilated to Disney material, either because it is indeed related to it (notes), or because it is considered as added bonus to Disney material, and therefore as Disney material (a syllogism).

:(

I've heard Don Rosa trade-marked the name "Don Rosa".
That's a way (or that was a way) for him to complain about using his name on books cover. He can not complain about copyright violation as his Disney work is owned by Disney.

I think this was when his name is used as an argument for selling more copies, e.g. Don Rosa libraries, where his name is the main title of a series of books and is prominently shown on the covers.
I know Hachette's Picsou received legal complaints from Don Rosa's lawyers at one point.

Quote from user: Robb_KQuote from user: LadyQuacklyQuote from user: Roger NorthRomano Scarpa is dead. I don't know who does the Tio Patinhas in Brazil but I'm sure he might do a good job.
Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know that. Dang, I'll miss him. :(

I tried to get some information about Tio Patinhas, but the comics were made up of assorted cartoonists
(including Rosa and Barks), so I guess it's not by any one person. I imagine there's still some good artists out there, though. :)
There are several Brasilian artists, too. You can look them up on COA, at: www.inducks.org
Thank you much! :) They've got lots of good stuff on that site, too. :)

Quote from user: Morequack.... I'm sorry, I don't understand your point. Can you rephrase in more simple terms? Thanks.
(And whose observation are you referring to as cynical?)
And I'm sorry I was not any help.
François & Timo's messages since then have made things clearer and even added important information, so I guess I need not add anything-- except that I was thinking of Don Rosa; I understand his mix of frustration, bitterness and cynicism, which many aother authors/artists (Disney or not) must have shared over the years.

I don't think there is anything to fear as far as Gemstone shutting down. As discussed in previous threads, they have much more in store for the future. The price may rise, the distribution may wane, but they'll keep on going....Regardless, with Disney starting Kingdom Comics as so many other potential bidders out there, Uncle Scrooge and WDC&S will probably be around for a long, long time regardless of who's brand is on the cover. Just think, Uncle Scrooge has been under 6 different brands in the USA since debut! (all in coinciding issue #'s might I add...:)) I think Disney Comics fans will be okay in the long run.

Quote from user: SigvaldI was at KOMIKS too and watched that interview. Don Rosa came up with several reasons why he has stopped doing new stories:

a)
His vision has became worse and worse the last 5-10 years. Thus it has become more and more demanding for him to draw such tiny and detailed art as seen in his stories. I have met him several times since 2001, but this last time is the only time that his vision-trouble has been obvious.

b)
When he sold a part of his comics collection a few years ago, he ended up earning more money in 6 months than he earned during 6 years doing stories for Egmont. The last few years he has also learned that his stories are now being republished over and over again making more profit for the publishers.

c)
Finally, he has had enough of the way many publishers treats him. In the interview he in particular mentioned the publishers in Brazil and Greece, where (according to him) they keeps using his name in order in to increase the sales of their products. Also some non-Egmont publishers are translating all extra-material written by him for the Hall of Fame books, even though the texts, the illustrations from The Pertwillaby Papers and Don's childhood material is © Don Rosa *not* © Disney Co. These publishers are actually treating his bonus-material as if it was Disney's material like his stories.

For the most recent Rosa-book in the Hall of Fame series (book 6) Don Rosa specially asked Egmont to include a © Don Rosa in start of the book. This line however only appeared in the Norwegian edition. It is missing in both the Danish and the Swedish editions. During the KOMIKS both the Danes and the Swedes made it very clear though, that they would never have removed that line of text by them selves. So somehow the central editorial office for the HOF series, in Norway seems to have forgotten to distribute that information to the other publishers.

Don Rosa is also disappointed that so far, the extra art he has made for the multi-part versions of his long stories, have not been included in the HOF series. Egmont claims that the readers don't want it, but it seems that Rosa has got another impression about that matter, and as always he is the one who ends up being asked by many fans about why that art is missing in the HOF-series, etc. Anyway he thinks that that art should have been included in order to provide a complete presentation of his work ? as was originally said to be the intention of the Rosa-books in the HOF-series.

When asked he said he expects that the extra art will be included in Gemstone's "Don Rosa Library". He was actually much more worried about weather Gemstone would manage to stay in business in the future.

So, shortly said, besides having experienced increasing problems with his vision, Don Rosa has lost the inspiration needed to do more stories.
The eye "thing" alone would be reason enough for Rosa to throw in the towel, but I don't like the way they're treating him. What I know of copyright issues would fill up a thimble; but Disney "property"
or not, Rosa WAS the author of these stories and as such, deserved better than he apparently got.

I must confess, I was annoyed at Egmont anyway because of his attitude about Ludwig von Drake (but then, as a devout Von Drake fan I'm biased anyway. :) ). I also felt he was limiting Rosa's creativity far too much. But I'd hate to think Rosa's been taken for granted (and maybe taken to the
cleaners) on top of everything else. But that's just my opinion, and I could be wrong. *shrugs*

Quote from user: Roger NorthI'm sure there could be lots of different reasons for Don Rosa's retirement. I sent him an E-mail wishing him good luck on his retirement.
Is his e-mail publicly available?