Backrooms director Kane Parsons is investigating copyright-strike notices issued by A24 against fan-created artwork inspired by the series.
The situation highlights the tension between corporate intellectual property enforcement and the community-driven nature of internet folklore. Because the Backrooms began as a collaborative online phenomenon, aggressive takedowns risk alienating the creators who built the franchise's popularity.
A24 posted a statement on Instagram on July 17 [1] addressing the notices. The studio said that its automated copyright-filtering system flagged the fan art, despite the company not owning the rights to the specific content being targeted [2].
Parsons said he is looking into the matter and standing up for the artists affected by the strikes [3]. The director is working to protect creators and address what has been described as corporate overreach [2].
Reports on the studio's response vary. Some sources state A24 issued an apology for the automated takedowns and said it was sorry [4]. Other reports indicate the Instagram statement on July 17 [1] provided clarification without an explicit apology [5].
While the studio attributed the strikes to an automated system [4], other reports suggest the company is striking content it does not own, which may imply different levels of oversight in the process [6]. The incident has sparked a wider conversation about how digital platforms handle copyright claims for derivative works, and community-owned concepts.
“Kane Parsons is investigating and standing up for the artists.”
This conflict underscores the precarious nature of 'creepypasta' and open-source internet horror when transitioned into professional cinema. When a studio like A24 acquires the rights to a project based on community lore, the use of automated enforcement tools can accidentally criminalize the very fan activity that gives the property value, potentially creating a legal chill around community creativity.
