VIZ Media plagiarized me.

[Crimson Seiko]

I knew their recent Mega Man Star Force press release (released on June 19th) sounded familiar, and it seemed odd that they were using the Japanese names in the release (right down to "Rockman" instead of "Mega Man")... especially since an earlier press release used their new English names.

Press release here: http://www.viz.com/news/newsroom/2007/06_uniqueliexpo.php

Then I realized... They ripped it directly from the summary I submitted to Anime News Network months ago.

Here: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6894

I'm not regularly on ANN, so I'm not positive how to view what I've contributed (if there is a way)... But I took a screenshot of the page showing me logged in and showing that I have an EDIT link next to the summary, meaning I submitted it and am able to alter it, unlike the summary before it.

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/2923/vizannon9.jpg

Unless there's a way to view when my summary was submitted, I understand that there's no real way to prove that I didn't submit this summary AFTER the press release... But I'm sure there's a way to check.

Again, I don't regular ANN, so I'm bringing this up in the forums because I'm hoping someone can suggest something I can do about this. I expect most of the things I publicly write on websites like ANN and Wikipedia to be stolen on other websites, but when someone like VIZ starts using them for profit, then it bothers me, and I want to think I could do something about it.
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[Dingo]

Does Viz have any rights to ANN? I wouldn't think so, due to user-generated news and such.

IF Viz is truly in the wrong, I would attempt to contact one of their Moderators, GM's, or what have you, and try and get some answer using the proof you have.
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[ComicX6]

This strikes me as deeply unprofessional, most likely illegal, and, most of all, incredibly lazy. Describing the premise of this series really isn't a very arduous task. They didn't even bother to change the names.

I recommend you get in contact with both ANN and Viz asap if you haven't already, and find out the story behind this. It just galls me to see any company do something this low.
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[Haly K]

Whoa, if this really turns out ot be plagiarism, then that's just low of VIZ to do. ( Strangely, I was just reading on plagiarism for a summer asignment. )

I mean, it shouldn't be hard to write a summary. They could've of at least been smart enough to change the Japanese names into their confirmed English/Dub names. That's kind of proof that they plagiarize, if they didn't bother to change the names.

Still, like ComicX6 and Dingo said, tell VIZ and ANN about this!
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[Rock Miyabi]

Well, at least they altered the first sentence slightly! ^^;

I really don't know if this is possible, but shouldn't the Anime News Network have some way of checking to see exactly when you posted that summary? If you contacted them to see if they could track that data down, it would help as some extra proof that Viz is in the wrong.

Also, would there be ANY wording that you think might be capitalized/hyphenated/punctuated differently than what a Capcom press release or the game would? Like for instance, you might have added the hypen to "War-Rock," but Capcom left it without one or mushed together like Warrock. If how you worded it is unique, that can act as proof that this was actually plagarized. (If they would have kept your intro grammar mistake of "An space alien" you for sure could have nailed them on it.) But anyways, double check any of those words like "Wave Road" or "radio-wave" to see if you can use them to your benefit.

As a print journalism major and English minor, I can point to the final sentence they used in the press release as well. (Don't mean to be intentionally criticizing your grammar, but it's intended to help.) That sentence has a few too many "ands," which I think a properly schooled PR person would edit a bit better. I would say: "The two work together, merging into Rockman, a radio-wave human capable of traversing the Wave Road, battling radio-wave viruses and the FMs that threaten the Earth." Even then, it could be broken up into two sentences. A press release should contain shorter sentences. And if they couldn't take the time to notice that sentence needed some work, shove my edit down their throat! :D

This is sad, and shows that the company really doesn't even know the product they are working on. Or at least the PR person who wrote that press release up doesn't. It will be even worse when (I don't think I need an 'if and...' after reading this) the English dub gets it's eventual name changes. Take your proof and write to Viz about it. You definitely have a case and should fight to get things made right.
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[Crimson Seiko]

[Rock Miyabi]

Hmmm...OK. Even with you stating that, it's hard to tell, because the edit button looks like it's for the whole summary. You'd think they'd separate it with a space at least, to help differentiate between multiple posts. Sheesh.

Well, anyways, good luck.
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[Miyabi on DA] [Ryuusei Pans all in one thread!](Last Updated on 4/6, TRIBE COMPLETE!)

[Crimson Seiko]

[Vast Rendan]

That is sad of Viz. Oh how the mighty has fallen.

Make sure you dont' edit your post though, because it will look like you changed your post to match Viz's. I did notice that they switched 'and' into 'but', but that is all that seems different. If you get the right information, you could really nail them.

Good luck in your data hunt!
Vast Rendan
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[Crimson Seiko]

I got a response from a staff member at ANN assuring me that he's contacting the senior enyclopedist of ANN as well as VIZ Media concerning the issue and that he'll keep me posted.

Noticeably, the other plot synopsis on Ryusei has been omitted, probably because the page has been brought up to ANN's staff's attention, so that only mine remains now.
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[AngelfanA16]

Are you looking for credit? Cause what they did is dead wrong, if in fact they did do so. I don't see them making a public statement, or retraction. Anyway, i hope it works out for you.
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[mi]

Just wondering if you've recieved any feedback from this yet...?
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