A24 Targets Backrooms Fan Art Older Than Its Movie

The eerie, liminal world of The Backrooms, born from a 2019 4chan creepypasta, has captivated the internet for years. What began as a simple image and concept—a seemingly endless maze of empty rooms and unsettling ambiance—quickly evolved into a vast collaborative universe. Countless stories, videos, and even indie games have sprung from this fertile ground, each adding their own layers to the mythos. One such creator, Kane ‘Pixels’ Parsons, at just 16 years old, directed a viral found-footage short that brought The Backrooms to a wider audience, ultimately leading to a feature film deal with the prestige studio A24.

However, a disturbing trend has emerged: A24 is reportedly issuing copyright claims against Backrooms-themed artwork and even indie game assets that were created before the studio's film was even conceived. Artists and developers have taken to platforms like Reddit to share their experiences, claiming their work, often inspired by the original 2019 concepts and images, is being targeted. This suggests A24's legal actions are based on their own adaptation of the lore, rather than the foundational elements that existed years prior.

Community Uproar and Director's Response

The backlash from the online community has been swift and significant. Many fans and creators feel that A24 is unfairly targeting the very fan base and early contributors whose passion helped popularize The Backrooms to the point where a major film adaptation became viable. The core of the controversy lies in the perceived attempt to claim ownership over concepts that were organically developed and shared within the internet's collaborative spirit. This situation raises serious questions about intellectual property when dealing with emergent, community-driven phenomena.

“I have disputed the removal and explained that my artwork was recreated from the original 2019 Backrooms image, not copied.” — Artist (via TheGamer)

Adding to the intrigue, Kane Parsons, the young director behind the viral short that propelled The Backrooms towards Hollywood, has publicly stated he is aware of the situation and is looking into it. This suggests a potential internal conflict or at least a commitment from the film's creative lead to address the concerns of the community that embraced his work.

What Happens Now?

With Kane Parsons promising to investigate these copyright strikes, the immediate future will likely involve further communication between creators, A24, and potentially legal counsel. Fans will be watching closely to see if A24 revises its strategy or if these claims will continue to impact independent creators who have built upon the original Backrooms concept. Details on any resolution or changes in A24's approach have not yet been announced.