Sony Logos Accuses Obsolete Sony of Monetizing Uncredited Fan Art

In the vibrant world of fan archiving and tech history, few accounts have captivated Sony enthusiasts like Obsolete Sony.

With a dedicated mission to honor the Japanese company’s influential legacy—from the iconic Walkman to the PlayStation—Obsolete Sony has amassed a significant following on social media.

However, recent controversy has cast a shadow over their operations, as fellow enthusiast account Sony Logos has accused Obsolete Sony of monetizing meticulously recreated fan art without proper attribution or consent. Sony Logos is run by an individual who has invested significant effort in archiving Sony-related iconography and painstakingly recreating classic logos in high-resolution, vector-based formats.

The fan account claims that Obsolete Sony has used these recreated logos on various merchandise, including apparel and the crowdfunded book "Sony: Year by Year," which notably raised over £61,000 during its Kickstarter campaign. Through a series of detailed social media posts, Sony Logos explained their displeasure: the recreated versions of logos such as "Trinitron" and "Mega Bass," which do not exist in commercially available vector formats, have shown up on Obsolete Sony products.

Sony Logos claims this makes it "highly likely" their works are being used without permission.

They cited distinctive details, such as a vectorized orange dot Sony logo with a specific inaccuracy—a version with eight dots instead of the correct seven—that further supports their assertion that their artwork was used. While acknowledging that all Sony logos are ultimately owned by Sony, the operator of Sony Logos stated, "It is extremely disappointing to see revenue being generated from the creative work of others without recognition or credit." Despite repeated attempts to address the situation, Obsolete Sony’s response has been dismissive, with a now-deleted post minimizing the value of the recreated logos and sarcastically referencing the alleged profits. The debate underscores broader challenges faced by fan archivists, especially when it comes to intellectual property and digital attribution.

While the legality around such recreations of official logos remains firmly in Sony’s hands, fan communities often operate with an unspoken respect for the labor and passion invested by their members.

When recognition or respect for this work is overlooked, controversies like this one inevitably surface. To clarify, Sandeep Rai was previously and erroneously linked to the running of the Obsolete Sony account.

Rai has since confirmed that his involvement was limited solely to the organization of the "Sony: Year by Year" Kickstarter campaign.

Obsolete Sony has not provided an official public comment on the allegations as of this writing. This situation serves as a reminder for creators and brands—both official and fan-driven—to acknowledge the importance of attribution and the passionate efforts of community members who help preserve tech history for generations to come.

Sony Obsolete Sony Sony Logos Sony: Year by Year PlayStation