The Pepper&Carrot project is entirely supported by the generosity of patrons from around the world. By contributing financially, each patron plays a vital role in enabling the creation of new content, and in return, they have the option to receive a special credit at the end of future episodes. Thanks to this system, Pepper&Carrot can stay independent and never have to resort to advertising or any marketing pollution.
Wszyjsko, co tworzã ô Pepper&Carrot, je dostympne sam za darmo i dlŏ wszyjskich. Mōm reszpekt dlŏ Wŏs wszyjskich: z geldym abo bez. Wszyjske bōnusy dlŏ patrōnōw idzie znojś sam. Pepper&Carrot nikej niy poprosi Wŏs ô płat abo zaabōniyrowanie, cobyście mogli ôbejzdrzeć nowõ treść.
Chcã dŏć ludziom prawo do dzielyniŏ, użytku, budowaniŏ, aji zarŏbianiŏ na robocie, kerõ stworzōłch. Wszyjske zajty, grafiki i treść były sprŏwiōne w ôdewrzōnym/liberalnym softwerze na GNU/Linuksie. Źrōdła dostympne sōm tukej, dostyknie ôbrać 'Źrōdła' z myni. Zachyncōm do użyciŏ kōmercyjnego, przekłŏdu, tworzyniŏ fanartōw, drukowaniŏ, wyużyciŏ w filmach, szpilach wideo i ladowaniŏ na inksze zajty. Dostyknie, byście pedzieli, fto je autorami (kōnsztlery, korektōry, tumacze, kerzi mieli swōj wkłŏd w dzieło), podali link do licyncyje i naporynczyli wkludzōne pōmiany. Możecie zrobić to w kożdy usōndny knif, jak dugo niy sugeruje ôn dŏwaniŏ bez licyncjodŏwcy sparciŏ dlŏ Ciebie abo Twojigo knifu wyużyciŏ dzieła. Coby przewiedzieć sie wiyncyj, przeczytej
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.
Pepper&Carrot je uciesznym kōmiksym, przipasowanym do kożdego czytŏcza. Niy ma w nim treści dlŏ majoryntnych ani gwołtōw. Pepper&Carrot je blank ôdewrzōny, ale je tyż dumnym przikłŏdym, jak szumne mogōm być darme rzeczy. Skupiōm sie na zwielgij jakości, pōniywŏż darme niy musi ôznŏczać złe abo amatorske. Blank ôpacznie.
Bez zmyńszynie wielości postrzednikōw miyndzy czytŏczami i kōnsztlerym, płacisz mynij, a jŏ dostŏwōm wiyncyj. Spōmŏgŏsz mie dyrekt. Żŏdyn wydŏwca/dystrybutōr niy może prziginōńć mie do pōmiany Pepper&Carrot, cobych napasowoł go do ôd niygo wizyje'rynku'. . . . Czymu jedyn sukces niy miołby pociōngnōńć za sobōm reszty industryje we kryzysie? Ôbejzdrzimy...
As I look back on the lines I wrote on the homepage ten years ago − "A free(libre) and open-source webcomic supported directly by its patrons to change the comic book industry!" − I'm struck by how much the industry has changed. Was Pepper&Carrot a catalyst for some of these shifts? The internet was a vastly different place back then. Webcomics relied on a single business model: selling merchandise and accepting one-time donations via PayPal. The concept of recurring patronage was still in its infancy.
I'm proud to say that Pepper&Carrot was one of the first webcomics to join the Patreon initiative, pioneered by YouTubers who sought to revolutionize the way artists were supported. Today, patronage platforms are the norm, and it's rare to find an artist without one.
However, not all of my innovations have taken off. My decision to use only free, libre, and open-source software licenses, and to create the entire comic using these tools, remains a rare approach. Many artists have opted for a more traditional model, where they create copyrighted materials and rely on patronage to support their work. While this model often provides "free access" to content, I believe it's a flawed system because it doesn't guarantee it.
In my model, readers don't just fund the creation of content – they also gain guaranteed, irrevocable access to it, along with the right to reuse and modify it, even commercially. This approach ensures that the work remains free and open, rather than being locked behind paywalls or proprietary licenses. In short, what is funded by the audience should belong to the audience.
As I look around at the current state of the industry, I'm more convinced than ever that my approach was the right one. Proprietary software is increasingly plagued by privacy issues, and features (eg. Blockchain/NFTs/AI) that nobody wants except investissors. Meanwhile, artists are struggling with copyright issues, being owned by publishers, platforms, and facing restrictions on where they can publish their work.
That's why my philosophy remains unchanged. I still believe that using Creative Commons licenses and free, libre, and open-source software is the key to true freedom and creativity. My tagline − "A free(libre) and open-source webcomic supported directly by its patrons to change the comic book industry!" − remains a guiding principle for me, even if it's still a minority view.
I know that I'm just a drop in the ocean, but I'm committed to continuing to push for a more open, more free, and more creative industry. I'm proud to be part of a movement that's slowly but surely making progress, and I'm grateful to my patrons for supporting me on this journey.
− David Revoy