Update #2 []:
Since our initial statement from Obsolete Sony went live, the owner of the account has posted another statement on social media:
I want to address this properly.
I took some Sony logos that another creator had redrawn and used them for my merch and for the bookmark I included with my previous book. Even though I modified and reworked them, they were still someone else’s work, and that was careless on my part. When I was first confronted about it, I reacted poorly by focusing on the legal side instead of simply recognizing that it was someone’s work and I should have respected that from the start. I’m closing my merch until I’m completely sure of the origin of every logo. I also want to apologize to my partners who had nothing to do with this and have always supported me. I’m sorry to the people affected and to everyone who’s supported what I do. I take full responsibility for it.
I also want to apologize directly to the creator whose work I used. I tried reaching out privately but couldn’t, so I’ll say it here: I’m genuinely sorry for using your redraws without permission and for how I initially handled it. I understand now that I should’ve respected your effort from the start.
Sony Logos has responded to the apology:
This is how you do it. I really appreciate your honesty in addressing the matter! Your project of sharing incredible archival material is a wonderful thing – design is, and always has been, best experienced when there is respect amongst the creative community. No hard feelings.
Update #1 []:
Obsolete Sony has supplied us with a statement:
"All of the vintage logos I work with are long-abandoned or expired Sony trademarks. Nobody including me or anyone else owns them. They have no intrinsic value on their own. What gives them meaning is how they’re presented: through archival work, context, and storytelling."
It's worth noting that no apology is made for using Sony Logo's work without permission or credit.
Sony Logos has also confirmed that Obsolete Sony is yet to reach out on the matter.
Original Story: We've been following Obsolete Sony on social media for a while now, and with good reason; the account aims to celebrate the Japanese company's utterly remarkable impact on the world of consumer tech, from the Walkman to PlayStation and beyond.
It's a shame, then, that the account has been accused of using the work of others without proper credit or permission to generate revenue.
The accusation comes from fellow fan account Sony Logos, which is run by an individual who has spent a considerable amount of time archiving Sony iconography – even going so far as to create high-quality vector-based reproductions of some of the company's most famous logos.
Sony Logos noticed that Obsolete Sony appears to have been using some of its work on products, such as shirts and books, including Sony: Year by Year, which was crowdfunded last year for over £61,000.
"I haven’t yet been able to revive the Sony Logos project since putting it on pause some time back, due to unforeseen circumstances. So, to get my regular Sony fix, I enjoy seeing posts from @obsoletesony," says the Sony Logos social media account in a recent thread of posts.
"However, I’ve just noticed they’re selling books, and merch …and I have a horrible feeling that they’ve ripped off some of the logos I painstakingly recreated." The Trinitron and Mega Bass logos – used on some of Obsolete Sony's shirts – do not exist in vector form, "so these t-shirt graphics are almost certainly using the redrawn logos I made," insists Sony Logos.
Another smoking gun is the orange dot Sony logo used on another shirt. "That’s an incorrect version I mistakenly made that is 8 dots wide when it’s supposed to be 7," explains Sony Logos.
While the account isn't trying to claim ownership of the logos ("they all belong to Sony, of course"), its owner expresses disappointment that "these things [are] being sold with no attribution or acknowledgement of Sony Logos... it’s bitterly disappointing to know they’re making a profit from other people’s work."
Sadly, when confronted about this, Obsolete Sony reacted negatively. The posts are now deleted, but they were screencapped by another user.
"I respect what you do but let's be real it's nothing groundbreaking," was one of the first replies from Obsolete Sony, before doubling down with "because obviously you invented redrawing logos" and signing off with "yup, you caught me. I've made millions off these logos. Gonna retire now."
We've reached out to Obsolete Sony for comment and will update this story if and when we hear back.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Sandeep Rai runs Obsolete Sony.
However, Rai has gotten in touch to point out that he was only responsible for running the Sony: Year by Year Kickstarter campaign.
Time Extension sincerely apologises for any confusion caused.