A Japanese metropolis council has recalled collectible playing cards designed to advertise native delicacies, after it was alleged they have been plagiarising Pokémon card designs.
The Japan Heritage Utilisation Promotion Council of Obama Metropolis and Wakasa City launched a sequence of playing cards in April, to make residents extra acquainted with the delicacies of the Miketsukuni area (which takes in three provinces).
The sequence, referred to as Michokukuni Wakasa Historical past Fudocard, consisted of seven characters, every based mostly on a special native meals. 520 copies of every card have been made, and the playing cards have been being distributed at eating places within the space.
Nonetheless, as reported by Fukui Shimbun On-line, the playing cards have since been pulled from circulation after it was claimed that the designs plagiarised current Pokémon playing cards.
Two playing cards particularly, based mostly on Wakasa ell and heshiko (pickled mackerel), have been accused of being lifted from Pokémon playing cards of Snivy and Reshiram respectively.
Taiwanese toy information web site Toy Folks additionally identified that two of the playing cards bore sturdy resemblances to Oddish and Suicune.
In response to the Fukui Shimbun report, a spokesperson for Obama Metropolis conceded: “Now we have to confess that they’re very related.”
They claimed that the cardboard designs have been outsourced to a neighborhood firm, with the meals and written data to be included on every card.
When the finished designs have been submitted, officers from two municipalities failed to note any simmilarities to Pokémon. When the design firm was requested concerning the claims, it admitted it used Pokémon as a reference however denied plagiarism.
Though the council has now recalled all of the remaining playing cards, it has determined to not try to recall the playing cards that have been already given away. As such, they could possibly be thought of uncommon sooner or later.
