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FASA is as shameful about never crediting creators as HG. Kawamori stated in an interview that they overextended the "package illustration" rights that they bou

FASA is as shameful about never crediting creators as HG. Kawamori stated in an interview that they overextended the "package illustration" rights that they bought to Studio Nue mecha: https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2015/12/10/shoji-kawamori-the-creator-hollywood-copies-but-never-credits/?sh=d9f9ede3a0f9 https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2015/12/10/shoji-ka...

busterarm 6y ago
I'm not saying FASA is in the right here, but it's HG that sued FASA and continues to do so (harebrained, piranha...) post settlement. In fact, HG claims rights to designs that aren't from anything they licensed, including original FASA designs. HG seems to operate like they own "Mecha" outside of Japan.
- rl3 6y ago
  If I ever get fabulously wealthy, I'm totally commissioning the construction of a 1:1 scale Mad Cat to be placed across the street from Harmony Gold offices. https://cfw.sarna.net/wiki/images/thumb/7/7e/TRO_3050r.JPG/280px-0b2xikjerczhyqed886nyj5w5u1qvr0.jpg https://cfw.sarna.net/wiki/images/thumb/7/7e/TRO_3050r.JPG/2...
- mwkaufma 6y ago
  So FASA is a victim here because some of their designs were original derivatives, and not straight-up stolen from Macross, Crusher Joe, and Dougram?
  - busterarm 6y ago
    Did you even read what I said above? Current holders of FASA's IP are getting sued by HG for designs completely unrelated to those, not just the fixed, non-violating versions of the Unseen mechs but completely unrelated original designs. FASA had a license that they misinterpreted to the point of abuse and they settled that lawsuit ages ago. Harmony Gold tries to sue tons of companies trying to claim infringement on Macross IP for things that are unrelated. For example, Hasbro is the US licensee of the Transformers IP and HG has tried suing them for violating their Macross rights with _Transformers characters_. Harmony Gold and its founder act like criminals. That's not hyperbole either, look up their multi-million dollar tax fraud cases.
    - mwkaufma 6y ago
      Skipping the self-answering rhetorical question. It's weird to claim that a studio which flagrantly plagiarizes "also has some redeeming original work." It's not like there's this clear line in the creative process that can partition theft, derivative-but-still-infringing, and "merely inspired" homages. Once you commit the original sin of failing to cite your sources, it's all suspect. I don't think HG should take them to court, but I _do_ wish Big West could. Nobody's stopping Harebrained Schemes or Piranha Games from making that credit. Call me when they do. What's wild is that FASA _used to_ (Studio Nue _produced the Japanese BattleTech handbook_: http://www.gearsonline.net/series/battletech/ http://www.gearsonline.net/series/battletech/), and then changed their tune when it became clear that it was a legal liability to, you know, admit to being plagiarists. BTW Hasbro _did_ market the Macross Strike Valkyrie as a Transformer, "Jetfire."
      - busterarm 6y ago
        The lawsuit against Hasbro was dismissed with prejudice. So clearly the court did not agree on any infringement. To discount the whole of other original work that has been done in the decades indicates more fanaticism than just a strong bias on your part and honestly I find despicable. I won't discuss this with you further.
    - mwkaufma 6y ago
      Meanwhile, if you want to play a game that supports the original creators, you can play Armored Core or the more recent Daemon X Machina, which "bought the band back together", including Shoji Kawamori doing lead mechanical design :)

busterarm 6y ago

I'm not saying FASA is in the right here, but it's HG that sued FASA and continues to do so (harebrained, piranha...) post settlement. In fact, HG claims rights to designs that aren't from anything they licensed, including original FASA designs. HG seems to operate like they own "Mecha" outside of Japan.

rl3 6y ago
If I ever get fabulously wealthy, I'm totally commissioning the construction of a 1:1 scale Mad Cat to be placed across the street from Harmony Gold offices. https://cfw.sarna.net/wiki/images/thumb/7/7e/TRO_3050r.JPG/280px-0b2xikjerczhyqed886nyj5w5u1qvr0.jpg https://cfw.sarna.net/wiki/images/thumb/7/7e/TRO_3050r.JPG/2...
mwkaufma 6y ago
So FASA is a victim here because some of their designs were original derivatives, and not straight-up stolen from Macross, Crusher Joe, and Dougram?
- busterarm 6y ago
  Did you even read what I said above? Current holders of FASA's IP are getting sued by HG for designs completely unrelated to those, not just the fixed, non-violating versions of the Unseen mechs but completely unrelated original designs. FASA had a license that they misinterpreted to the point of abuse and they settled that lawsuit ages ago. Harmony Gold tries to sue tons of companies trying to claim infringement on Macross IP for things that are unrelated. For example, Hasbro is the US licensee of the Transformers IP and HG has tried suing them for violating their Macross rights with _Transformers characters_. Harmony Gold and its founder act like criminals. That's not hyperbole either, look up their multi-million dollar tax fraud cases.
  - mwkaufma 6y ago
    Skipping the self-answering rhetorical question. It's weird to claim that a studio which flagrantly plagiarizes "also has some redeeming original work." It's not like there's this clear line in the creative process that can partition theft, derivative-but-still-infringing, and "merely inspired" homages. Once you commit the original sin of failing to cite your sources, it's all suspect. I don't think HG should take them to court, but I _do_ wish Big West could. Nobody's stopping Harebrained Schemes or Piranha Games from making that credit. Call me when they do. What's wild is that FASA _used to_ (Studio Nue _produced the Japanese BattleTech handbook_: http://www.gearsonline.net/series/battletech/ http://www.gearsonline.net/series/battletech/), and then changed their tune when it became clear that it was a legal liability to, you know, admit to being plagiarists. BTW Hasbro _did_ market the Macross Strike Valkyrie as a Transformer, "Jetfire."
    - busterarm 6y ago
      The lawsuit against Hasbro was dismissed with prejudice. So clearly the court did not agree on any infringement. To discount the whole of other original work that has been done in the decades indicates more fanaticism than just a strong bias on your part and honestly I find despicable. I won't discuss this with you further.
  - mwkaufma 6y ago
    Meanwhile, if you want to play a game that supports the original creators, you can play Armored Core or the more recent Daemon X Machina, which "bought the band back together", including Shoji Kawamori doing lead mechanical design :)