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Droote
10-05-2009, 05:13 PM
In the OVA Kagami is dressed up like Miku Hatsune, which is a character that Yamaha owns (Yamaha makes the Vocaloid programmes).
Do KyoAni have the rights to use Miku Hatsune like that, or could they be sued by Yamaha?
I don't know how the laws apply in Japan.
VK-Skelton
10-05-2009, 09:57 PM
I'm really not sure what the situation on paper is, but in reality this is done so much by so many shows (not just Vocaloid, pretty much anything visually referenced) that there's a precedent of not taking legal action. Most audio references are censored ('What's with that OOOO-D like driving'). They never explicitly point out that Kagami is dressed like Miku, and whenever they are referenced in other shows, it's censored as with all audio ones. So presumably they could make the defense that it's just a coincidence.
But I'm not really an expert on the matter.
Droote
10-05-2009, 10:11 PM
Coincidence? :P
I think it's pretty obvious, and so would probably a jury think as well.
The laws may be different in Japan, also KyoAni could have gotten permission to use it.
VK-Skelton
10-05-2009, 10:18 PM
A lot of copyright laws are standardised, so it's possible but doubtful.
And I think, for all the references made, that would be far too time consuming.
Droote
10-05-2009, 10:23 PM
Yeah, you're right, it would take much time. Also, as you stated earlier, a lot of visual referrences are used in TV shows all over the world, including characters dressing up as other characters.
Shiraishi-kun
10-06-2009, 12:12 AM
From my understanding of the matter, while Yamaha develops Vocaloid and Miku Hatsune, it's distributed by Kadokawa Shoten, who also distributed Lucky Star. In that case, it'd probably be considered under "fair use".
Droote
10-06-2009, 12:56 AM
Fair use? Isn't that only for referrencing (eg. 30 seconds usage of a song) and educational purposes?
There's no fair use when a commercial company wants to make money of something.
patchis-forest
10-06-2009, 02:15 AM
maybe yamaha paid lucky star or lucky star paid yamaha to put miku in.
Droote
10-06-2009, 02:19 AM
maybe yamaha paid lucky star or lucky star paid yamaha to put miku in.


the latter would be more likely
Thane of Cawdor
10-06-2009, 03:34 AM
Yeah when Konata was talking with her dad, there were so many bleeps and sound effects, i couldnt even keep up.
Tsukasa's_Lover
10-08-2009, 04:43 PM
yamaha gave permission to Kyo-Ani to use the Miku look. Kyo-Ani won't be sued.
Supernova141
10-08-2009, 11:44 PM
yamaha gave permission to Kyo-Ani to use the Miku look. Kyo-Ani won't be sued.


Even if they didn't, why the hell would they sue for what's basically free advertising? Both companies benefit when their character is used in the show.
Shiraishi-kun
10-09-2009, 12:32 AM
yamaha gave permission to Kyo-Ani to use the Miku look. Kyo-Ani won't be sued.


Even if they didn't, why the hell would they sue for what's basically free advertising? Both companies benefit when their character is used in the show.


They're sueing?
Konata_is_Mine
10-09-2009, 01:20 AM
Its no big deal, If people really cared about this stuff than most of Lucky*Star would be censored.
VK-Skelton
10-09-2009, 01:58 AM
It is censored...
Supernova141
10-09-2009, 02:59 AM
yamaha gave permission to Kyo-Ani to use the Miku look. Kyo-Ani won't be sued.


Even if they didn't, why the hell would they sue for what's basically free advertising? Both companies benefit when their character is used in the show.


They're sueing?


No, i'm just saying that even if this is Copyright Infringement, suing would be stupid.
Droote
10-09-2009, 02:04 PM
yamaha gave permission to Kyo-Ani to use the Miku look. Kyo-Ani won't be sued.


How do you know?