Toei Animation Gets Sued For Copyright Infringement Involving Saint Seiya

by dtshyk
Mar 8, 2011 12:53 AM | 63 Comments

According to Anime!Anime!, the US branch of Toei Animation was sued by a US citizen. The person named Isaac A. Potter, JR. clams to the United States District Court of the District of Columbia that Saint Seiya (Knights of the Zodiac) infringes the plaintiff's copyrights and trademark rights. The person accuses the United States along with Toei and claims damages of one billion dollars. Toei stated that there is no basis for the accuser's claim and they believe the court will dismiss it.

Potter's website

The man has also filed lawsuits against the US and the US Secretary of Health and Human Services in 2010.

Sources: Anime!Anime!, Toei Animation, Justia, Justia
News credit: Archaeon

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20 of 63 Comments Recent Comments

I suppose this is the part where we laugh. Sigh, what's the point of the guy suing, other than being an utter nuisance to the court.

Mar 12, 2011 7:32 AM by MysticHrist

So for what reason is he exactly sueing? Sure, they infrigimented his copyright, but with what exactly?

And how did the lawsuit against the US and the US Secretary of Health and Human Services in 2010 went?

Mar 10, 2011 4:00 AM by Ilyaoh

There's a US branch of Toei Animation?

..and what exactly does this US branch of Toei do?

Mar 10, 2011 12:39 AM by therubicon

Funny, but the suit will get thrown out because that's just a ludicrous amount of money.
But really, Saint Seiya of all animes? xD

Mar 9, 2011 3:06 PM by soulless4now

ARXLaevatein said:
Stupid get rich quick scheme? Stupid get rich quick scheme.

Mar 9, 2011 10:43 AM by nolongerusingbye

What a weird way of thinking that guy has...

Mar 9, 2011 3:20 AM by Tomislavr7

Well... I certainly wish him good luck with his idea xD

Mar 9, 2011 2:43 AM by 6630893480

so to recap what's actually going on:

in 1995, Potter and his brother drew a picture titled "Zodiac Knights 2000"

in 1997, they copyright it and the title but fail to do anything with it. The copyright is listed as abandond in 1998

in 2002, Toei US released a dubbed version of Saint Seiya under the name "Knights of the Zodiac" (to avoid getting lynched for using the word 'saint' in the title of a fantasy series on TV)

in 2003, Potter self publishes a book with his "Zodiac Knights 2000" title and again copyrights the title

and now he's suing everyone he can for stealing his ideas... :P

Mar 9, 2011 1:27 AM by torgon02

Suing for what....I don't understand? He makes pottery?!?! I make thAt stuff everyday in my ceramics class lol

Mar 9, 2011 12:51 AM by CalamityMeg

There must be some point of his thinking where he thought 'Yeah, 1 billion dollars, this will work'.

Mar 8, 2011 8:45 PM by Moimy

guess, in this economy people will do whatever they can to obtain money..... even if they have to be complete douche-bags....

Mar 8, 2011 7:21 PM by renjikuchiki1

lol !

Mar 8, 2011 7:02 PM by badlander_vtg

Bloody yanks. Always in debt, always suing.. doesn't surprise me at all.

He'll be on a suing spree soon, what's next?

smokes said:
lol what, 1 billion $

Damn that's fricking funny

Mar 8, 2011 6:59 PM by Kazeshini

Wow.

Mar 8, 2011 6:56 PM by chocolaetmaelk

brb suing Gainax.

Mar 8, 2011 6:36 PM by Sabinlerose

he must been money-hungry too to sue Toei Animation over a 80's anime
"FacePlam"

Mar 8, 2011 5:59 PM by freezeheart

Sooo, according to the comments:

Knights of the Zodiac (dubbing title of Saint seiya), Zodiac Knights (potter dude)...

Hardly necessary. Suing these days never seem to be reasonable.

Mar 8, 2011 5:17 PM by shakeyourpup45

he sues them for copyright infringement over an anime that aired IN THE 80's!

it takes a whole new level of limited intelligence to do something like this. seriously.

Mar 8, 2011 4:42 PM by Lordcrab86

*facepalm* He must really need the money...

Mar 8, 2011 3:46 PM by Pshaman

Meh, here in the US, people will sue for just about anything you can imagine. There are many sue-happy idiots out there... EX. accidentally bumping into somebody's car could get you into a lawsuit. >_<

Some people actually find things to sue about, and that is likely what this guy here did.

But 10 billion? That's just absurd.... no way that will pass with the courts.

Mar 8, 2011 2:41 PM by Ocean_Horizon

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