A24 Apologizes for Copyright Strike on Backrooms Art

Film studio A24 issued a statement this weekend apologizing for copyright strikes against online creators working within the universe of The Backrooms, a collaborative online horror phenomenon. The studio acknowledged that Kane Parsons' film, "Backrooms," is "one part of an infinitely bigger ecosystem." The statement followed a viral Reddit post detailing a takedown request issued against artwork sold on Redbubble, which featured yellow wallpaper designs from the original Backrooms images that inspired the meme. Kane Parsons, the creator of the "Backrooms" film, stated he was investigating the issue and "should not be happening." Alleged Discord messages from Parsons indicated he was "pressuring" A24 to cease such actions. This incident highlights the complexities of copyright and ownership as Hollywood studios increasingly seek to adapt internet memes and user-generated content into films. While some online "cryptids" have clear origins, like Trevor Henderson's Siren Head, which is being developed into a film by Warner Bros., many, like The Backrooms, originated from anonymous posts on platforms like 4chan and lack a single, verifiable owner. Individual creators, such as Parsons, who gained significant recognition for his work in the Backrooms universe while still a teenager, have developed their own interpretations of its liminal spaces mythos. However, a core appeal of these internet memes lies in their accessibility as a creative playground for anyone with the means to produce visual content.