Curse

Bowstring Badass · Aug 04, 2007, 06:22 AM // 06:22

Glacial Blade = new skinned forgotten sword with different mods and colors. You know how many people entered that design? You might as well say you are going to sue everyone who entered that in a contest good luck finding them.

Patrick Smit · Aug 04, 2007, 06:34 AM // 06:34

OMG, it's a sword, I need to ask the designers for fees to my patents on the hilt and blade ideas.

Soz, but if it is not exactly similar they didn't steal anything, and if you didn't copyright it, there is nothing you could even do about it. Even with colleagues you need to be very careful these days, if they say you are not a team player because you don't share information, they will slander your name behind your back and it actually means you are not on "his" or "her" team, working for his or her career. So much for intellectual property, integrity, and honor, bottom line, don't trust anyone. I can tell you a couple of stories if you wish.

Operative 14 · Aug 04, 2007, 07:17 AM // 07:17

I mean no disrespect to the original Author of that art, it is probably the best piece like that that I have ever seen.

However, I think it might be interesting to note the following photo of The Arwen Hadhafang Sword, a prop that was made for LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring which was released in 2001, five years before that art work was created. (This is a recreation prop that was made for the Noble collection)

To me, the two look almost indistinguishable. Certainly much more closely related than the GW version of the authors item. I don't think Arena Net would have any reason to steal someone elses work like that. And, really, after you make 91 seperate sword skins (I counted the skins that are listed on GWWiki) what are the chances they would stumble on something that resembles that design...?

Qual · Aug 04, 2007, 07:28 AM // 07:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowsRequiem

I don’t think you really can understand this, because you have not had something you designed ripped off and past as someone else’s work. Imo walk into any school now, read the rules about stealing works, you'll see there are HUGE penalties for doing this.

Traditional sword designs? Please show me a sword that looks similar to this? Name any katana, Dao, scimitars, rapiers, sabers... etc

The problem is this isn’t just a "similar" design as you bluntly put it. This is a FULL BLOWN rip-off, I’ll bold it just for you.

You can clearly see the hilt, guard, the very small cross, and even the fuller is ripped off. You can see the hamon is also the same in both swords. Well I guess it doesnt hurt to put a small change to the hilt when rippin off peoples work now does it?

As with the not much you can do with it statement.... have you seen every single part that makes up a sword? Doesn’t seem like it.

IMO that winner sword is another cheap take off this sword. It's hard to believe someone can win a contest by just redesigning a sword and changing the blade. Yay for creativity?

it would be different if this design wasnt seen in a large thread for over a year.

Quoted for truth

ilovecp · Aug 04, 2007, 07:30 AM // 07:30

No offence to the OP's work but I personally don't see enough of a similarity between the two designs to suggest plagiarism.

A clearer picture from guildwiki of the forgotten sword for comparison

Vilaptca · Aug 04, 2007, 07:35 AM // 07:35

While your sword is great and all...Have you seen what the artists the Guild Wars crew can do?

The stuff that they make in house is far superior to your drawing. There is no reason a company would steal...that.

And no, while they are similar, they are not the same, they are not identical. The one is not the other. I see no reason to acuse anyone of stealing here.

Voltar · Aug 04, 2007, 07:35 AM // 07:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onarik Amrak

You need a tinfoil hat as well.

i think that only keeps the government and the aliens from planting ideas in your head and mind controlling you. i don't think it works the other way around but i could be wrong.

twicky_kid · Aug 04, 2007, 07:39 AM // 07:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowsRequiem

IMO that winner sword is another cheap take off this sword. It's hard to believe someone can win a contest by just redesigning a sword and changing the blade. Yay for creativity?

it would be different if this design wasnt seen in a large thread for over a year.

And this is new?

Look at any marketing company. They all steal each other's ideas and rehash old ones with small twist.

Go to any art school in the country. The first they teach you to do is COPY some one else's drawing. Drawing is a learned skill. Talent only gives you a head start but anyone can do it. Copying other's art is how this is achieved. Naturally when you copy images to learn to draw it will influence your own work and style.

In the grand scheme of things nothing is original anymore. It all comes from something that came before it. That sword is pretty generic really. If you are that paranoid or want to protect your work get the digital marks to copyright your work to protect yourself.

Miral · Aug 04, 2007, 08:01 AM // 08:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Operative 14

I mean no disrespect to the original Author of that art, it is probably the best piece like that that I have ever seen.

However, I think it might be interesting to note the following photo of The Arwen Hadhafang Sword, a prop that was made for LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring which was released in 2001, five years before that art work was created. (This is a recreation prop that was made for the Noble collection)

To me, the two look almost indistinguishable. Certainly much more closely related than the GW version of the authors item. I don't think Arena Net would have any reason to steal someone elses work like that. And, really, after you make 91 seperate sword skins (I counted the skins that are listed on GWWiki) what are the chances they would stumble on something that resembles that design...?

not at all.... the concept art and GW images look nearly identical (other than texture), that blade you posted is far different, in both blade and hilt shape.

Redfeather1975 · Aug 04, 2007, 08:28 AM // 08:28

OP, that drawing is really good!
But, I have to say. The drawing and the actual forgotten sword have quite a few differences. Different etchings on the blade, hilt and pommel, and even what direction the blade curves. Also the forgotten sword doesn't have the straight edge and opposite pointy tip at the bottom of the blade.
They are quite different, and any similarities that may be seen are bound to happen when you consider how many different variations of a blade on a handle there can possibly be.

Here's the wiki's closeup of the Forgotten sword.
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Image:Forgotten_Sword.jpg

sindex · Aug 04, 2007, 09:19 AM // 09:19

I find certain things taken for granted so much now, when it comes to other peoples work. Pirating, plagiarism and so on, have become a frequent usage among the common public; it’s depressing that there is just no original thought out there at times. Yes I know there is a fine line behind taking something else and enhancing the idea with a few tweaks, to copy and pasting.

I mean how you guys feel if someone made almost the exact twin of Guild Wars itself, but called it Rouge Wars instead. The defense would be, “we used our own code to make this game, and there is plenty other Online RPG that are the same as ours (not just GW)”. I mean I can see the lawsuits flying then; but when it comes to the little guy some people could just care less. Very, very, sad indeed.

Xanthar · Aug 04, 2007, 09:22 AM // 09:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowsRequiem

Traditional sword designs? Please show me a sword that looks similar to this? Name any katana, Dao, scimitars, rapiers, sabers... etc

The blade form is that of a Sappara with the addition of a small flare on the ricasso in a very fantasy-ish style.

Last picture in the OP of this thread on the myArmoury forums, shows a timeline of swords, passing through the Khopesh and the Sappara (four and five from the left), two blade types very similar to the one in the OP.

Cineris · Aug 04, 2007, 09:39 AM // 09:39

This thread is absurd.

Maybe if you had created a 3D model and texture and somehow had evidence to suggest that Guild Wars used your model, you'd have a legitimate complaint. As it is, all you did was make a drawing with a weapon that looks like thousands of other exotic weapons in fantasy art. Get over yourself.

Shadis · Aug 04, 2007, 09:46 AM // 09:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cineris

This thread is absurd.

Maybe if you had created a 3D model and texture and somehow had evidence to suggest that Guild Wars used your model, you'd have a legitimate complaint. As it is, all you did was make a drawing with a weapon that looks like thousands of other exotic weapons in fantasy art. Get over yourself.

This. Agreed completely, there is no basis for these accusations.

Perynne · Aug 04, 2007, 10:09 AM // 10:09

These days rarely any artwork is 100% original anymore. So many people have drawn so many different things, it's nearly impossible not to have similarities between someone else's work. Like Xanthar nicely pointed out, that sword has the same basic structure as a historical sword, and probably has been recreated millions of times in fantasy art. It's just coincidence that the two look alike.

Copying someone's work is downright disgusting when it's an exact copy of the original. However, if it's only one single work that looks similar to another (and the person who supposedly copied it is trusted and has done lots of original work before) then it's better to give the benefit of the doubt first time. These days everyone and their dog designs new fantasy armor/swords/jewelry/etc and it's just impossible to keep everything completely original.
I'm against copyright breaking and stealing other people's art is the worst crime you can do, but unless the person is clearly ripping others off and does it over and over again, then you really won't know if it ever was intentional. Who knows, maybe one day you design something you think is really original, and then someone comes along and says they already did it years ago.
That's just how it is in the art business these days. People recycle old ideas, and sometimes unconsciously modify newer ones. You're only hurting yourself if you stop posting up your art - there will always be similar works out there. What really defines an artist is how well they can stand out against all the plagiarism without being swallowed by it. Some cases you'll just have to write off as coincidence. And if your style is really original, your fans will definitely know when someone is clearly ripping off your work and help to stop that person.

Bithor the Dog · Aug 04, 2007, 10:35 AM // 10:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowsRequiem

I don’t think you really can understand this, because you have not had something you designed ripped off and past as someone else’s work. Imo walk into any school now, read the rules about stealing works, you'll see there are HUGE penalties for doing this.

Smacks of someone whos had a plagarised design without thinking to copyright it legally. If you are that worried about it, watermark them before posting them, I'll bold it just for you

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowsRequiem

Traditional sword designs? Please show me a sword that looks similar to this? Name any katana, Dao, scimitars, rapiers, sabers... etc

Go google "Sappara" not exact but the shape is a concept starter!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowsRequiem

The problem is this isn’t just a "similar" design as you bluntly put it. This is a FULL BLOWN rip-off, I’ll bold it just for you.

In your eyes possibly, Others can draw similarities or disimilarities.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowsRequiem

You can clearly see the hilt, guard, the very small cross, and even the fuller is ripped off. You can see the hamon is also the same in both swords. Well I guess it doesnt hurt to put a small change to the hilt when rippin off peoples work now does it?

You would have to go a long way to prove that. Seeing as its not your work why are you sticking up for it. Kind of odd.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowsRequiem

As with the not much you can do with it statement.... have you seen every single part that makes up a sword? Doesn’t seem like it.

Yes I have and it doesnt have all of them that some swords do. So is it wrong, that someone puts their opinion down from their perspective. So what, we have to get a weapons or blade maker in now to judge our competitions to make them authentic?
**cough its a game Cough**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowsRequiem

IMO that winner sword is another cheap take off this sword. It's hard to believe someone can win a contest by just redesigning a sword and changing the blade. Yay for creativity?

And your entries for the competition are where? If you are going to make a statement like that surely you have comparative images to put up? no?

As an "artist" ill use that term loosley, as it appears you are someone who likes to sketch, and that isnt the only medium art work has been designed on here, and from what i can see you are particularly favouring "manga" styling, you should have a broad outlook and perception as to what is and isnt art to others. Most artists would have a "live and let live" attitude. Yours seems to smack of "i'm right you are all wrong because you know nothing of art"

I may also be wrong but the OP's drawing image was "watermarked" (eventually) within Adobe CS2. I would be interested to know how a 21 year old can afford such an expensive application.
As i said i may be wrong, he/she may have it at college or something but interesting to note that some people just "rip off" software companies these days for their own needs...Pot - Kettle - Black...if thats the case...

if im wrong i apologise and If proven wrong will retract that part of my post

Anphobia · Aug 04, 2007, 11:33 AM // 11:33

in other news, I think you should do a colour version of that drawing!

Superdarth · Aug 04, 2007, 11:37 AM // 11:37

I noticed many of those opposing the theory that it was ripped grosly underestimate the similarities between the two. Its not just "similar" its nearly completely identical, i know theres a good chance sompthing similar to the sword was submitted, maybe even more then once. But the chance that the almost exact same design was thought up by someone else is very small, especially considering that the slight diffrences where probably applied by A-net after recieving the drawing.

By the way nice drawing!

spellsword · Aug 04, 2007, 12:44 PM // 12:44

They don't look that similiar to me. There is some resemblance, but not enough to call it a ripoff.

Also, sappara.

Noanoa · Aug 04, 2007, 12:53 PM // 12:53

It's perfectly possible for two people (or three, or three hundred) to come up with the same concept, especially when it comes to fantasy weapons and armor

. I also remember drawing something similar when I was younger, which was in turn inspired by pictures of historical weaponry.

I agree that the pictures in the OP look very, very similar, but when considering the amount of sword art and photos floating around, it's not surprising at all. I've also seen clothes in stores that I'd doodled years before and thought them fine and original. It happens, and unless there's some obvious connection, it's only coincidence.