This is the first time I've ever heard of a company disallowing this -- doing sketches or commisions of iconic characters has always been allowed, for all the reasons you quoted above. But the inker I spoke to said one Simpsons penciler even got a C&D.

Sometimes I wonder whether Fox set out to annoy the fans on purpose. They got quite a reputation by now. But yeah, I'm pretty sure the non-commercial simpsons fan art is still safe.

I imagine experienced congoers like David Boreanaz are hardened to such things by now, but I just writhe for them.

I can't tell if he was shocked or amused, but there was definitely a short moment of jaw-droppage.

!!! I hadn't heard this actually happened, though given what I saw on Saturday it did cross my mind. Wow, that's out of control. And I feel bad for the poor dad and his sons.

Remember my friend Josef? I met him again (he was on my flight from Atlanta, except where I had to wait for 11 hours, he waited for five minutes) and he told me about it. He'd talked to one of the con organizers who told him about the fire marshall coming.

The dad and his sons at least got in the following day. They made sure to stand in line early.