Since the film adaptation, hundreds of thousands of Guy Fawkes masks from the books and film have been sold every year since the film's release in 2005.[41] Time Warner owns the rights to the image and is paid a fee with the sale of each official mask.[42][43]
Anonymous, an online group associated with computer hacking, popularized the mask as a symbol for rebellion by wearing it at protests against governments. It prominently featured in the 2008 Project Chanology protests against the Church of Scientology.[44][45] Moore described being pleased by the Fawkes mask's appearance at the protests.[46]
According to Time in 2011, the protesters' adoption of the mask led to it becoming the top-selling mask on Amazon, selling hundreds of thousands a year.[47]
The film allegedly inspired some of the Egyptian youth before and during the 2011 Egyptian revolution.[48][49][50][51]
On 23 May 2009, protesters dressed up as V and set off a fake barrel of gunpowder outside Parliament while protesting over the issue of British MPs' expenses.[52]
During the Occupy Wall Street and other Occupy protests, the mask appeared internationally[53] as a symbol of popular revolution. Artist David Lloyd stated: "The Guy Fawkes mask has now become a common brand and a convenient placard to use in protest against tyranny—and I'm happy with people using it, it seems quite unique, an icon of popular culture being used this way."[54]
On 17 November 2012, police officials in Dubai warned against wearing Guy Fawkes masks painted with the colours of the UAE flag during any celebration associated with the UAE National Day (2 December), declaring such use an illegal act after masks went on sale in online shops for 50 DHS.[55]
Guy Fawkes masks also made an appearance in the 2014 Hong Kong protests[56] and also in 2019.[57]
