Nobility Doll - Edward Moon

Well, I think we have already decided that it doesn't really look like
him. Also while the intention might be there, the name isn't. Kinda.
What about D.I.M Minimees? Where the copying is obvious. Honestly
I think the actors have more of a right to sue over their likenesses
than someone who merely created a character that an actor portrays
and thus the character "looks" like said actor. *shrugs* whatever.
But I was disappointed he doesn't "shimmer" too With the right
face up he could look really close...he just needs a furrowed brow

edit: go on ebay and you'll see hundreds of sellers selling Twilight
merchandise that isn't legit. Same goes with nearly every franchise.

 

Noo, why. I may not like Twilight at all but who just ups and steals a design like that? - _- I don't care if it's the worst story in the world, that's no reason to completely copy the character. AND they're making a "wolf boy" on top of that. GEE, I wonder what HE'LL look like? Bleh.

 

No, I don't care about that either. For me, its like this. If someone takes your creation and then claims it as their own? That's absolutely wrong. But if someone creates something from your idea that you were never going to do? I just... man, it's hard to see why peple would get upset by it. There was never going to be a Twilight bjd. And now there is one. Who created it doesn't bother me.

And the same goes for the idea of creating manga designed dolls. If the creator was a bjd artist, and they stole their ideas? that's messed up. But art influencing art? Yeah, I don't have a problem with that at all.

There are only so many ways you can scuplt a face without resorting to cubism. Frankly I don't care if people have a doll available to them that resembles their favourite characters. I think it's a good thing.

 

Agreed. My first thought was, 'huh, if they actually made that look like the actor, I bet they'd sell a zillion of them'. Heck, there's an Akando someone customized beautifully that has a stronger resemblance than this does.

And we all know he's blonde just like tha--... oh wait. This thing doesn't sparkle -- which they could have done with the faceup/blushing, or the resin itself. I don't see any fangs, either, come to think of it.

I am getting flashbacks to when White Wolf tried to sue Sony over the Underworld films as I watch this thread unfold.

 

Isnt MNM's also copying your favorite chars?

I hate Twilight Fan girlism more then Twilight itself. The doll does nothing to me.

 

It's not about the appearance, it's about the fact that the NAME blatantly references as well as the upcoming "wolf man" makes it more of a copyright issue. Individuals creating fan-pieces, even mini-me heads (which sometimes don't even become the "actor" or "character" seems to me a very different thing. Those are more artistic expressions. This is a company riding on the popularity of someone else's work.

 

if you totally remove the sculpt from the whole Twilight thing, he could just as easily be made to look a lot of different ways. He is a BJD after all. Different face-up, completely different wig, and no one would even think of Twilight when they saw him. He has well modeled cheekbones, a more manly brow than a lot of BJD boys, he could be really fun to face-up and customize... and not sparkling is a good thing!

 

Please, do get word out then to everyone named Edward that they are in violation of Twilight's copyrights? It also wouldn't be a copyright issue, if it was an issue at all. It would be a trademark issue.

Edit: Oh, and for the record: "If Summit wants to respect the interests of others while still turning a profit, it should take a cue from the woman who created Twilight -- the books' author, Stephenie Meyer. Her official Web site includes links to hundreds of unofficial sites, which host fan-written fiction, art and photos from the films, along with commentary. Meyer does not forgo copyright protection -- she doesn't let her fans download her books for free and was justifiably upset when a draft of a Twilight sequel, "Midnight Sun," was leaked before it was completed. But by supporting fan fiction and art, Meyer recognizes that she's not the only person who has a say in what the Twilight series represents." -- Christina Mulligan, Washington Post

 

Fine, trademark. My point still stands.

And no, just because someone is named Edward, that doesn't mean anything. The intent is here, in the doll. It's very obvious to most people. Don't be obtuse.

 

The issues I've mentioned, along with the issues mentioned by others, are far less than what you'd get in any court case.

"Inspired by" is hard to take action against. Summit seems to be doing quite well with it -- apparently beyond the scope of what was intended, in fact, if you read the linked article -- but 'knockoffs' exist everywhere. "Inspired by"s are all over the place. Provided certain things are avoided, it is perfectly legal.

"Inspired by" is obvious, yes. It's also not necessarily actionable. You're the one talking about how people should be calling their lawyers immediately; lawyers deal with what's actionable and what isn't.

 

I'm the same way...I think it's really great that they are capturing the Twilight characters, but I'm just afraid for them as a business. Yes, their 'Edward' has pointed ears and such, but the outfit is so spot on to the New Moon outfit that it might be asking for problems since it's obvious where they got the idea from. Not that I think Summit would be frequenting bjd sites, but ya never know

I really like the outfit and would definitely get it for my guys, but it's so much bigger then my tallest SD17, and too long/thin for my huge mega-massive dude, lol.

 

Well, aside from all of the obvious (UBER-obvious?) issues with "gee, I wonder if this was supposed to be a Twilight-inspired doll?"

-- that WIG is HORRIFIC! Good god, kill it before it multiplies!!
It really does nothing at all for him.

I'm actually looking at the face and seeing it with a long darkish, slightly curly wig... and a slightly pointier chin (easy to do) and thinking THERE's my Vampire Hunter D. Maybe. I like his body, too.

Not now, though... too many other resins incoming (like I needed ANY more.. )

 

I agree, Baakay! Hideous Orange Wig from Hell most definitely!

 

I thought I liked the face..but then I looked again and eh..it's okay..his chin is too long or something. >_> I like the lips and the ears tho. Not enough to wanna buy it. Maybe for the body. I like the bod.

 

I never said call lawyers immidiately. I said that I wished there was a way to show Meyer this because seeing the reaction would be amusing. If she found it, I personally would expect some sort of legal battle over it. It might happen, it might not. I'm not taking it that seriously.

All I think is that the company should've chosen a different name. I know, personally (assuming that i was a well known author), that if anyone would, without my permission, create a sculpt of one of my characters and sell it under a slightly different name, I'd be slightly peeved. It's a lot like taking credit for some one else's idea. If they made the same sculpt, under a totally different concept, and someone turned it into my character, I would be completely alright with that. It's the intent of the company versus the creation of the artist. Same thing goes if an artist would create a sculpt, an OOAK piece, with no intention to mass-market it, I would be totally alright with it.

I don't mean to get into an argument like this with you but while I think we both have valid points, I'm sticking to my opinion as a designer and artist. I take things like this very personally, even if I don't like the fandom or something like that.


edit: On a side note, I think he's a gorgeous sculpt on his own. I'm just disappointed in the way ND chose to portray him. That's all.

 

I'm with you...I'm sitting here as well going, "Hmmm, long black wig, mod the eyes a little wider, sand the chin pointier, and that would work for (one of my OCs) Lord Hroefn...." LOL
Not that I need to be considering getting that man as a doll right now...since he has already rejected the last two sculpts I tried for him. 9__9 This head (with a touch of modding) is actually closer to him than the last one I was considering though (Sabik Elf)...so...hmmm....xD

 

The doll looks more elvish than vamp-ish to me, despite the obvious attempts to cash in on the Twilight fad. (I shall be so glad when it fades into obscurity.) I'd be interested to see the doll styled differently or just completely bare, without their preconceptions plastered all over it.

 

Lol, I do want to see that.

 

Her? Probably not. Summit? In a nanosecond.

I'm also an artist. My stuff gets pirated and stolen outright daily. I've had reports of dubious 'inspired by' things in a field so dinky it's just laughable that anyone even bothers that are closer than this.

Accusations like this are incredibly serious. Serious enough to destroy someone's reputation, whether they're true or not. Serious enough to bankrupt a company the size of most of these doll companies even if they're innocent of any actual offenses. I sincerely wish people would keep these things in mind before making them; they seem to be on the rise lately.

There's no question it's an 'inspired by' and that they want to appeal to fans of the books/movies/scary pop culture fad. That probably isn't enough to get them convicted, though. It is enough to drive them out of business defending themselves legally against such a claim, though, against a large corporation -- and the corporations know this. It's actually how plenty of them 'win' cases they have no business bringing in the first place in some instances. It's just something to really think about before the saber-rattling begins -- and I say that as someone who has had plenty of their stuff stolen and lost a good bit of income from people unquestionably violating my copyrights.

 

My english is not good enough to debate in such complex ways, but for me, making a fan-art is completely different than "releasing a product to SELL". Nobility stole a design and a whole concept *to make money*. DIM Minimees are totally illegal when they create a celebrity sculpt or a sculpt from a copyrighted character (but it's different when you ask them to create a doll from your *own* design, or from a person's face if you have this person agreement. That's why I don't reject the Minimee idea completely, only the ones that steal other's images without asking.).
They know what theyre doing, they are not "innocent". -_-

Mwahaha! XD