Manga plagiarism seems to be getting lazier and lazier – the latest example actually succeeds in leaving watermarks on plagiarised photographs on the cover of the book itself.
However, perhaps more noteworthy than the plagiarism itself is the diligence of the people responsible for uncovering it.
The manga in question is 隗ヨリヒトカイヨリ式 / Kaiyorihitokaiyorishiki, by Kazuaki – a relatively obscure BL title.
Some analysis of the manga’s cover finds it to be using copyrighted photography:
Here the watermark from the original image is actually left as part of the book’s cover… Removing the shadows was also apparently too much effort.
The cover in use as signage:
The publisher has already apologised and withdrawn the title – however, with the original publication date being 2007, the damage (such as it is) is done.
As ever, the shamelessness of the plagiarists is matched only by the amazing rigour of 2ch’s plagiarism police – 2ch’s crowning achievement:
I notice how all these big animation studios and male artists reference photos and no one seems to blame them for anything. But once Kazuaki (well, well, well, what do you know, a female) artist uses a reference, RAWR TIME TO GET OUT THE PITCHFORKS. >_> It’s all those jealous fujoshi out there who are pissed at Kazuaki for having her art appreciated while they just sit in their miserable lives. Amazing? Police-worthy? Detectives? How about a bunch of bitter faggots?
Use references for drawings isn´t plagiarism ¬___¬;;;
Do you think that Michelangelo or Leonardo Da Vinci were plagiarist? And they used rudimentary obscure cameras. Those 2chan guys has too much free time
What manga doesn’t trace s♥♥t?
Either it’s true, or 2ch is too retarded to know that there is also the possibility that they bought the licenses of the pictures, or the pictures are even free to use…
Bah.. copyright, .. no one cares anyway. Just copy&paste the good stuff and DEL the bad stuff.