I do not own the characters (or the actors who play them) represented on these pages. Nor do I own the R.E.M. song that is referenced in the title of the website. I invoke "fair use" to use the song "Everybody Hurts" in the musical slideshows in the video section of this website. As an artist and a fan, I believe the use of the song and the images is a matter of cultural commentary. Given the prevalence of fanvids on YouTube and other fansites, appropriation art is becoming a staple of our cultural landscape. It is used by artists and non-professionals alike to express the ways individuals draw connections and make meanings out of the media we are surrounded by.
I am fairly certain that almost anyone watching said slideshows will immediately recognize the song as belonging to R.E.M. I am also fairly certain that no one will confuse my act of fandom with something officially sanctioned by the band or any of the production companies that own the rights to the characters I represent. Nor do I believe that the use of said song and characters will infringe in any way on the ability of R.E.M. or the production companies to make a living off their intellectual property.
The images from television stills and the song are cultural material to which the public has access.