On the subject of movie plagiarism

[karohemd]

Isn't Finding Nemo just a bit like Sherman's Lagoon? They might not be the same characters but there are several types of fish/sealife that are the same, even more so than in Underworld vs. WoD.
I used to have a SL screensaver, and the puffer fish looked exactly like the one in the FN trailer.

Comments

[robinbloke.livejournal.com]

Couldn't say; The film is definately worth watching however.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

- It's all set under water
- Talking fish/crustaceans
- the puffer fish

If WW saw reason to sue, Jim Toomey has as well. It would just as silly, though.

Just puts WW lawsuit into perspective, doesn't it?

[robinbloke.livejournal.com]

I don't see what the whole WW problem is, there are several radical differences and comminalities with generic vampiric mythology, Anne Rice may as well sue them as well.

Then Disney can sue Pixar for doing a 'little mermaid' ripoff.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

This is exactly my point, Robin.
Hence my "bitchy" mood in the original post.

[robinbloke.livejournal.com]

Indeedy, I was agreeing and adding fuel to the bitching ;)

A different perspective

[eddyfate.livejournal.com]

Without getting into a lengthy legal debate, it is my understanding that it is common in US copyright cases to list all points of similarity, no matter how minor. I believe the plot points of similarity are the main issue, combined with a number of points that, according to my second hand sources, were in the script but did not make it into the movie itself (either scenes weren't edited in, comments were made in the directions of the script, details were listed in the bible, things like that).

Reading the original complaint (which is in my own LJ, probably a few weeks back), you can safely disregard about 80% of their points, and I expect WW wouldn't be surprised by that 80% being tossed out. But there's quite a few rather telling points that may or may not have made it into the actual movie itself. Apparently the judge for the case is taking it very seriously - the only reason the movie wasn't postponed was because WW could not cough up the $10 million dollar fee to have it delayed.

[shrugs] A lot of people are trying to "put the case into perspective", so I'm offering a different one.

Re: A different perspective

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Awww, I just wanted to make a light hearted comment and you have to come across all serious and business like. And I thought you weren't a typical American. ;oP

Thanks for your perspective, though.

Re: A different perspective

[eddyfate.livejournal.com]

Hey, I was cool with lighthearted, then your comments got all snarky. Had ta put ya in yer place. :-P

Re: A different perspective

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

*rests firmly in his place*
Is cool, Eddy. :o)

Re: A different perspective

[eddyfate.livejournal.com]

w00t!

And I'll take you up on that beer offer. Not much real beer around here, though. ;-)

Re: A different perspective

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

IIRC, there was some beer available at the bar in LA and Dallas that even riksowden approved of so I'm sure they'll have something suitable in St. Louis as well.

Re: A different perspective

[raggedyman.livejournal.com]

I think eddy has developed the same twitch as I have with this subject

Re: A different perspective

[eddyfate.livejournal.com]

Well, considering I hear about it an insane amount of times, I think that's understandable. I hear about it from Cammies, from other LJ gamers, from RPG forums, from industry people, from WW freelancers, and from the guy in the electronics store (no shit - we went into a store looking for cell phones, and some guy was trying to sell us $50,000 stereo setups, noticed my Malkavian shirt, and start to tell me about the lawsuit).

The worst part is, I'm not particularly partial to either side. I just read the materials on the case, got the information, and made an informed opinion, because I need to keep on top of this in case someone decides to do the same thing to my own IP (whether Sony did steal it or not, this is a landmark case for our tiny industry). I don't care if people think WW is satan for trying to sue Sony, but I wish some of them (present company and journal owner excepted) wouldn't get their opinions from http://www.penny-arcade.com.

Okay, I'll stop ranting. I picked this spot because I know that karohemd will take me with a grain of salt. :-) If you want to make a good analogy to the case, karohemd, look on the Net for the people who are trying to sue the company that produced the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen film, alleging that the graphic novel was a front to steal their film script idea from 1993. I wish I still had the URL on me - it's funny stuff.

Re: A different perspective

[raggedyman.livejournal.com]

yup, sounds like your having the same experience as I'm having on forums etc. Badly informed trolls being all upperty and annoying causing you to reach the point where you start the conversation with your milk man "the facts of the case are..." without realising it ;-)

Re: A different perspective

[eddyfate.livejournal.com]

Yeah. When you get all Joe Friday over a game company, you have to worry. :-)

Re: A different perspective

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

alleging that the graphic novel was a front to steal their film script idea from 1993

... *rereads* ...
This is like the conversation between two poptarts Kath overheard a while ago. They were talking about the LotR movie and one of them said something along the lines of "They even brought out a novel based on the film. I have to go and read that."

Re: A different perspective

[eddyfate.livejournal.com]

That's as bad as the one bishoporelton overhead with two women wondering when that "new writer" Hemingway was going to put out a new book.