Manga Kaiyorihito/Kaiyorishiki Discontinued Due to Unauthorized Uses of Photos

by dtshyk
Oct 20, 2010 11:15 PM | 61 Comments

Enterbrain and the editors of Comic B's Log magazine announced in the official website that Kazuaki, the character designer of the upcoming anime Starry☆Sky, has used copyrighted photographs in the manga kaiyorihito/kaiyorishiki without acquiring required authorization. The photos are provided in pay websites and their uses are charged. The publisher decide to cease printing of the manga.

Comparison images (Cover of her manga volume 1 and the plagiarized photographs)
Comparison 2 (Back cover of the manga volume 1 and the plagiarized photograph)

Kasuaki released an apology statement and closed her personal website. Honeybee, the game maker of Starry☆Sky, has suspened the website service. They are currently investigating which illustrations of Kazuaki infringe copyrights.

Sources: Kazuaki's website, B's Log official website, Honeybee official webiste
Changed the title. Plagiarism is a bit harsh to describe the situation.
Story by shinkeikaku

20 of 61 Comments Recent Comments

copyrights are copyrights. Respect them.

Sep 8, 2011 6:27 PM by Mirorin

feel sorry for her! and the manga had a really good storyline too...copyright laws are annoying.

Jul 11, 2011 5:02 AM by removed-user

Sakulily said:
This won't affect Starry Sky will it?

This news is months old--the minor delays Honeybee (Starry Sky) experienced while checking their products are long past.

Jul 10, 2011 6:59 PM by shinkeikaku

This won't affect Starry Sky will it?

That Manga was one I was looking at a good while ago, I'm sort of glad I didn't pick it up then if it's been discoutinued now. I'd hate that to happen to a Manga I was reading and enjoying.

edit: Also I see no problem with taking ideas from a photograph like the back cover..

Jul 10, 2011 9:35 AM by 09890

you would think with her talents she wouldnt need to do this...sigh...

Jul 9, 2011 5:44 PM by PandaZMafia

What a pity.. She should have spent more time redrawing/photoshopping. A lot of artists use photo references but copy-paste is not a very wise choice... Another question is why Kazuaki didn't use FREE stock photos?

Jan 29, 2011 2:19 PM by wounder

Ah, I understand the cover, but she drew the back herself! Regardless of reference!
This sucks! Reaaally awful! I hope this won't effect the anime!D;

Dec 28, 2010 5:56 PM by Fishcaek-Chan

Wow, that's something I dont hear on a daily basis. I think people on ANN should be aware of this.

Dec 10, 2010 7:12 AM by mdo7

*facepalm*

Like, her art is so amazing and I love Starry Sky. Why? Look at you've done. ;~;

Dec 10, 2010 6:56 AM by Niinah

=_____= ;;
dang...I still love her art tho. D;

Dec 4, 2010 1:18 PM by EarlCiel

D= well i love her style and i really dont want starry sky to be affected...TT^TT

but then again it was her fault...

Nov 30, 2010 8:50 PM by darknessneko

Dang. And I was getting into the manga too.

Nov 21, 2010 10:42 AM by 3MeowMix3

sad situation.
well, uses of stock photographs in cover image is incontestably proved. as for the second one (back cover)... who said you can copyright the angle of view?

Nov 14, 2010 9:14 AM by sei_mikoto

It is a shame she was cut as she is a fantastic artist. But I feel for Honeybee as they are in a mess right now...
But, for those that are curious, from what I've read from Honeybee's site, the "Starry Sky" game series is still being released it's just that the dates for ALL products will be pushed back (like the after season games, PSP games, and drama cds). As for the ONA, I don't think it's being affected, as the ONA's website is still posting updates and recently posted the series' DVD release dates. So don't worry about it too much.

Nov 10, 2010 9:42 PM by TomoMe

ariapokoteng said:
maybe I am misunderstanding something, but what's wrong with redrawing some buildings, stairs etc?
So, for example, if I am a mangaka, and draw my protagonist's house as the same as some random dude's really existing house, that would be a plagiarism?

She didn't even redraw them, the ones on the cover where just digitally edited,and had some filters throw over them, the water marks on both the images are clearly visible on top of that she poorly edited out the people in the photos not even bothering to remove the their shadows. Copying is one thing but to just slightly alter the source and pass it off as your own work and make money off it is fucking pathetic.

She got what she deserved, I find it hard to believe she didn't know what exactly doing she was doing. She's not a competent artist, one with a half a brain could have figured out what they where doing was wrong.

Nov 4, 2010 5:20 AM by Jigero

Please, please still give me Starry Sky! ;;
I've been looking forward to it since this Summer and I saw the cast, which is like the best cast ever, dammit!

Nov 4, 2010 4:40 AM by Mony-Chan

tokidokimidori said:
OMG?! NO! WHY?!
ugh.....and i luv kaiyorihito!!!! TT^TT
she shouldn't have copied though....it doesn't matter whether you're tired and need an easy why out.......omg....and she's one of my fave artists T^T
and i was going to buy her artbook...later on this year....when i have enough money....

ditto. i'm pretty disappointed. I wait forever for the manga's next chapters. and now there's this :(

Nov 3, 2010 10:18 PM by yukihoshina

OMG?! NO! WHY?!
ugh.....and i luv kaiyorihito!!!! TT^TT
she shouldn't have copied though....it doesn't matter whether you're tired and need an easy why out.......omg....and she's one of my fave artists T^T
and i was going to buy her artbook...later on this year....when i have enough money....

Oct 25, 2010 1:26 AM by tokidokimidori

wow o.o

Oct 22, 2010 2:15 PM by CrystalLake

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