So... is this plagiarizing or not? Redbubble story

Terrmedia · October 18, 2016, 05:11:57 AM

I was scrolin' though redbubble (this site where you can print cool designs on shirts and stuff)
and i like to look out for klonoa stuff obviously

I also did a few designs for this site, but suddenly i noticed this guy
he pretty much made the same design only slightly different
and I'm honestly not sure what i'm supposed to do with it

I'm well aware that this strictly isn't against the rules, since i based my design off of the moo's, who aren't mine to begin with. but this just feels like plagiarism...

(Left mine- Right the new one)

Terrmedia · October 18, 2016, 05:13:47 AM

I'm also pretty unsure whether i should comment on it... i don't want to look like a jerk and call him a copycat upfront

Fennekin · October 18, 2016, 05:42:26 AM

Um...yeah. All he did was take your existing design and expand the image. That's 100% plagiarism.
If it's not really against site rules, though, there's little you can do. You can't really say anything to him because it's not like he actually broke any rules...you know?

Neither of you even own Moos...if they wanted, Namco could possibly take both down of you down under the pretense of copyright.
What he's doing is not right, but unless rules change, there's little to be done about it.

Mobotropolis · October 18, 2016, 07:11:50 AM

Technically ... you are both breaking the rules.

Though you're not supposed to be selling the Moo shirt the other person isn't allowed to copy your design regardless, so you would be in your right to report them. The worse that can happen is that someone who's done their homework would take both shirts down I suppose.

GuyWithThePie · October 19, 2016, 04:16:38 AM

Quote from: Fennekin on October 18, 2016, 05:42:26 AM
Um...yeah. All he did was take your existing design and expand the image. That's 100% plagiarism.

Not exactly. Compare the mouths and eyes. Notice how Terrmedia's version has a thicker mouth line and the pupils have a dark blue outline? The one on the right has a thinner mouth and the pupils don't have an outline. While the two designs are extremely similar and I wouldn't doubt that the other guy just traced or attempted to clone Terrmedia's design, it isn't just a direct copy and paste. There's a few small differences.

Fennekin · October 19, 2016, 07:39:07 AM

Quote from: GuyWithThePie on October 19, 2016, 04:16:38 AM
Not exactly. Compare the mouths and eyes. Notice how Terrmedia's version has a thicker mouth line and the pupils have a dark blue outline? The one on the right has a thinner mouth and the pupils don't have an outline. While the two designs are extremely similar and I wouldn't doubt that the other guy just traced or attempted to clone Terrmedia's design, it isn't just a direct copy and paste. There's a few small differences.

Ooh, good eye...I didn't see that before.

Terrmedia · October 24, 2016, 01:45:25 PM

okay so this just got interesting...

suddenly all klonoa works disappeared from redbubble
only mine and that guys are left
and if i want to report the dude for plagiarism i'd have to file an actual order, and i'm not that angry tbh
however i do feel like at least commenting on it.
still, its a shame! a few cool designs are gone now and that sucks even more

anyway, should i just point the guy out? give him a chance to delete it?

thanks for all the responses by the way

Fennekin · October 24, 2016, 06:20:09 PM

All of them except for you two? That seems a little weird.

Regardless...maybe give him a little nudge to let him know you noticed it. If he still doesn't remove it, then that's probably the time you report for plagiarism. There's a still a chance both could get taken down, though, so do be careful.