Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Attendees walk by the Sony PlayStation booth at the 2019 GDC Game Developers Conference on March 20, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Playstation Japan has come under fire after an ad released by the company was panned citing multiple instances of animation plagiarism.
Released a music video featuring many of its new games coming out for the next few weeks. Interwoven between footage of the games is some beautiful animation from Canadian artist Kevin Bao. However, he seems to have ripped some frames of animation from multiple artists. In a comparison video, YouTube user Okama Sorteos put up a side-by-side of the commercial vs works from certain artists.
Playstation Japan has since pulled the ad and all traces of Bao's work with them seems to have vanished as well.
Norris' Modified Opinion: Originally, I didn't think this was a big deal because this came off as an homage. Fan art/videos, sampling in hip-hop, cover bands, none of them can happen if the internet was more draconian about IP law enforcement. I think there should ALWAYS be a context in which people can gush over some of their favorite work with works of their own. However, if this was not PRESENTED to Sony as homage, if it was touted as a 100% original work then I fear it's hallmark plagiarism. Not to mention some of the work was lifted from students. Dude is in SERIOUS trouble.
