DDLC Developer doesn't like Gaia's reference items... At all

[heavens exiled]

Peepermeant

Basically, if they had asked first or given credit, they would not only have given Dan the power to say no you may not use anything that resembles my design that could also cause previously existing items to also be pulled into it. So stuff like the university top, certain frame effects or backgrounds, hair ribbons- EVERYTHING that bears a passing resemblance would have to get scrutinized.

These older items came years before DDLC existed so he has no claim to those items. He only has a potential claim to the one solid item that has uniqueness to his concepts, otherwise older stuff is pretty safe again, since they existed years prior to DDLC's conception. Even the ones that came after DDLC's existence, he has no real argument on those since he doesn't own the concepts of hair bows, skirts, etc.

But the rest of your response is otherwise pretty solid. c:

[marshmallowcreampie]

Gaia does kind of push it with some of their reference items, though this one does have some significant differences with his design. Still, I don't know why Gaia made a full item with the same colors rather than splitting up the pieces into different recolors. (like one has the gray uniform, another has the orange hair, another has the blue skirt, etc.) Having an item in full Monika coloring is a bit close, though I don't know if the similarities would be enough for him to make a legal claim.

Though with that said, if he takes issue with it, he should contact Gaia directly.

[marshmallowcreampie]

Wrenry

I just can't see it as nothing but a publicity stunt. If he is so concerned he should have directly contacted Gaia instead of making a tweet that'll get people riled up and causing drama.

And also, if Gaia hasn't been attacked by other companies over their items, Nintendo comes to mind, then Gaia knows what they can do to not get in trouble with their parody items.

In all fairness, a big company like Nintendo may not have even noticed Gaia, or there are so many people using their IP that Gaia would be low on the list for going after.

[Wrenry]

marshmallowcreampie

Wrenry

I just can't see it as nothing but a publicity stunt. If he is so concerned he should have directly contacted Gaia instead of making a tweet that'll get people riled up and causing drama.

And also, if Gaia hasn't been attacked by other companies over their items, Nintendo comes to mind, then Gaia knows what they can do to not get in trouble with their parody items.

In all fairness, a big company like Nintendo may not have even noticed Gaia, or there are so many people using their IP that Gaia would be low on the list for going after.

I remember PETA made games based on Mario and Pokemon characters and though Nintendo made a statement about them, the PETA games haven't been removed. But on the flip side Nintendo had the fan-made game Pokemon Uranium which used fakemon shut down.

So yeah it depends on whether a major company cares how the IP is used to whether they respond to it.

And for independent or small companies its important too, but contacting the other business first to voice concerns instead of sending out a tweet is also important.

[Angels Alibi]

Beary Trixie

gaia_moon gaia_sakura The funny thing is some of the art for that episode when it was still in concept form looks veeeery similar to what DDLC is
And it was posted 3 years ago gaia_sakura gaia_moon

[little bunnies]

I wonder if Gaia will address it. I'm not sure what to say. If it were my creation, I'd probably be angry but in contradiction to that I'd also be little flattered that someone "paid tribute"? It may have been an unintended side effect, but it got me to download the game. I do feel the developer has a right to feel upset as it's his property but on the bright side it's free publicity, I guess?

[Niko Narshe]

little bunnies

I wonder if Gaia will address it. I'm not sure what to say. If it were my creation, I'd probably be angry but in contradiction to that I'd also be little flattered that someone "paid tribute"? It may have been an unintended side effect, but it got me to download the game. I do feel the developer has a right to feel upset as it's his property but on the bright side it's free publicity, I guess?

If Gaia didn't even address why there was 16-hour downtime preventing users from accessing their account, I doubt they would address this controversy. lol

[little bunnies]

Actually Narshe

little bunnies

I wonder if Gaia will address it. I'm not sure what to say. If it were my creation, I'd probably be angry but in contradiction to that I'd also be little flattered that someone "paid tribute"? It may have been an unintended side effect, but it got me to download the game. I do feel the developer has a right to feel upset as it's his property but on the bright side it's free publicity, I guess?

If Gaia didn't even address why there was 16-hour downtime preventing users from accessing their account, I doubt they would address this controversy. lol

I completely missed that. That sucks. emotion_skull
99% I am not expecting a response. If they're within their legal right to sell this item (idk? any lawyers?), of course they won't acknowledge it.

[3.14]

I'm interested to see how this all works legally as well.

Because sites that sell fan art t-shirts (teefury, yetee, ect.) push the boundaries a lot farther than Gaia has. Not saying that either side is right or wrong...I am just curious what the law is that allows this.

[Dexigone]

Yen Quest

It's going to turn the way of Homestuck fiasco (hate from both sides), rather than quiet route of Hatoful - even though Hatoful game is free at first and now buy-able with cash on Steam/PS-platform (creator of Hatoful is A-OK with the item reference). Worse comes to worse, you get Queen Of Dorks version who got herself a nice drama encyclopedia page somewhere online (with the item description tweaked).

This will get juicy!!! biggrin Another saga! If he becomes an assclown, a nice thread on Kiwi Farms would suffice.

Though I wish Gaia would copy my comic stuff.

[Yen Quest]

Dexigone

This will get juicy!!! biggrin Another saga! If he becomes an assclown, a nice thread on Kiwi Farms would suffice.

Though I wish Gaia would copy my comic stuff.

Nah~ The only reason those examples get so heated was because people kept going on at it. For this guy, there's only his tweet and couple threads here (which are pretty tame in comparison), so I doubt something will come out it.

You better pay Gaia to copy yo stuff (ala tickets). /sarcasm. xd

[Dexigone]

Yen Quest

Dexigone

This will get juicy!!! biggrin Another saga! If he becomes an assclown, a nice thread on Kiwi Farms would suffice.

Though I wish Gaia would copy my comic stuff.

Nah~ The only reason those examples get so heated was because people kept going on at it. For this guy, there's only his tweet and couple threads here (which are pretty tame in comparison), so I doubt something will come out it.

You better pay Gaia to copy yo stuff (ala tickets). /sarcasm. xd

LMAO TRUU xd emotion_brofist

As if BRAIN's meme items weren't already something that can inspire 4chan raids over!

But honestly the moeblob style, ekekeke randomness, visual novel interface, and edginess is not that original. Gaia has always bordered on the edge of copyright infringement for a wicked long time and the "otaku-weeb-kin-snowflakes" always request these items. Look at all the Pokemon crap we have!

[huvf]

Dexigone

LMAO TRUU xd emotion_brofist

As if BRAIN's meme items weren't already something that can inspire 4chan raids over!

But honestly the moeblob style, ekekeke randomness, visual novel interface, and edginess is not that original. Gaia has always bordered on the edge of copyright infringement for a wicked long time and the "otaku-weeb-kin-snowflakes" always request these items. Look at all the Pokemon crap we have!

Excuse you!!!

Those are poke-KAIJU there is a very distinct and apparent difference!

jk whee

[Dexigone]

huvf

Dexigone

LMAO TRUU xd emotion_brofist

As if BRAIN's meme items weren't already something that can inspire 4chan raids over!

But honestly the moeblob style, ekekeke randomness, visual novel interface, and edginess is not that original. Gaia has always bordered on the edge of copyright infringement for a wicked long time and the "otaku-weeb-kin-snowflakes" always request these items. Look at all the Pokemon crap we have!

Excuse you!!!

Those are poke-KAIJU there is a very distinct and apparent difference!

jk whee

I just wish the artist sempais will notice me someday.