Pokémon TCG Pocket Accused of Plagiarism Over Ho-Oh Card Art

Recent revelations have sent shockwaves through the Pokémon community, as the creators behind Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket are facing accusations of copyright infringement. The controversy centers on an allegedly copied Ho-Oh card design in the new 'Wisdom of Sea and Sky' expansion. This unfolding situation highlights the complex relationship between fan-created content and official intellectual property, raising important questions about artistic attribution and legal rights.

The focal point of this dispute is a new Immersive Card featuring the legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh, which appears in the recently datamined 'Wisdom of Sea and Sky' expansion pack for Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket. A Chinese artist, known as lanjiujiu, publicly presented compelling evidence on social media, juxtaposing their Ho-Oh fan art from 2021 with the official card's artwork, attributed to Sie Nanahara. The visual parallels between the two pieces are striking, leading many fans to conclude that lanjiujiu's original work was, at the very least, heavily referenced or directly traced without proper acknowledgment. The fan community has largely rallied behind lanjiujiu, expressing dismay and calling for recognition of their creative contribution.

It's important to note that lanjiujiu's Ho-Oh artwork was initially commissioned by PC House Studio, a company known for selling unofficial merchandise. While many support the fan artist, some observers point to a clause in The Pokémon Company's legal information, which asserts broad rights over fan-created derivative works. This clause states that any distribution of fan art grants Pokémon a "royalty-free, non-exclusive, irrevocable, transferable, sub-licensable, worldwide license" to use, transmit, copy, modify, and display such art for any purpose. This legal stance suggests that The Pokémon Company may claim the right to incorporate fan art into its official products, especially if it gains significant traction or visual appeal.

This is not an isolated incident within the gaming world. Similar accusations of art appropriation have surfaced in other popular titles. Earlier this year, the game Marvel Snap faced scrutiny when an artist alleged that their 2018 fan art was utilized without permission. Another recent case involved comparisons between The Ancient One's artwork in Marvel Snap and a design from Japan's 2012 tokusatsu drama, Kamen Rider Wizard. These repeated occurrences underscore a growing concern within the artistic community regarding intellectual property and fair compensation when fan-made content is adopted by large corporations.

Despite calls from fans for lanjiujiu to pursue legal action, there has been no indication from the artist that they intend to do so. Given The Pokémon Company's robust legal framework concerning fan art, and previous instances where its legal power has been asserted, the path to redress for individual artists may be challenging. The situation highlights the precarious position of fan artists whose passion for a franchise can inadvertently lead to their work being absorbed into the very intellectual property they admire.