Dredd Lawgiver MKII- Ive been 'recast'- Digitally!!

[CustomCreations]

Imagine my confusion when I came across an image used in a new Judge Dredd collection, published by 'Mongoose Publishing'.
'That looks familiar' I thought!!!
So as your first reference : Here is a picture of the Officially Licensed design/version of the Lawgiver MkII, which is still available in print form from Wake at Termight Replicas:
www.termight.co.uk:

So, I wanted to do my own version, so here's my take on the design, which I designed and made as a prop replica, and is the weapon of choice in the Judge Minty Fan film:

and here is the (sort of?) 'recast' printed version, - the image used in the publication is the direct side on view seen in the selection below. The best angle to see what I am saying is the rear 1/4 side view, however...

So you can see the similarities are pretty conclusive, they've taken all my original design elements, mixed up the scales and put them into a digital file.
I don't know whether to be really annoyed or flattered, or both, and what, if anything I can do about it-it may be a fan version of a product, but its a version unique to me, and taken from my work folio, so I think that's wrong,they are a professional company-and they didn't ask me first. Any advice?

 

[Blad]

Isocube - 10 years.

 

[CustomCreations]

Yeh damn right..
Ive emailed the publishers to see what they think over it.
Its not worth getting shirty over, but its a bit gutting they didn't even ask me first etc.
D

 

[Grey]

I really hate the ones who make minor alterations to the design, because it says that they think by doing that they can get away with it.

Recasters are recasters, they steal work to sell cheap and make a quick buck, greed is a simple motivation. But then you get guys like this, who steal your ideas, slap on a few of thier own and try to pass it off as an origional idea that they came up with. That pisses me off more than the straight up recasters.

 

[Straycatt]

Maybe I am missing something here. Did you also do the drawing that is available through Termite??

The reason I ask, is the digital image takes more from that drawing then from your version. The visible gun frame with grip portion is significantly different in shape from both yours and the 'original' drawing. The laser sight on the digital recreation is nothing like the detailed one on your physical prop. Theirs has cutouts on the mag holder that match the 'original' drawing, that yours does not have. The barrel cutout on the slide on the 3d matches the original, but does not match yours. The big similarity I see, is in the length/scale of the muzzle end between yours an the digital version. Since the two of you were crating a 3d representation from the same source material, it is no surprise, IMO, that the two representations are similar, but I don't think you have been "re-cast".

-Adam

 

[CustomCreations]

I know what you are saying but that's like saying an Audi TT looks the same as a Porsche because they both have 4 wheels and a steering wheel.
My point is that EVERY element on the bottom design is taken from my STYLING.
They are the same 'gun' so they will have common 'elements', BUT
The artist has simply taken my side on shot, and cut out each element.
Then they have rescaled it to make a 'new' design.
The only element they have added would be the grip area as you say...
but then look at the design/construction of the grip, and its relation to the triangular section with the gold eagle motif, and the positioning of the eagle motif ? The rear 'dial', the design of the red ammo selector swoop, the cartridge ejection slot has just been covered over, note the various 'holes' in the lower design that match mine too, and the front red laser sight has been simply lost I think simply because of the rescaling issues.
(My Mag also has the same details as the top/bottom design, but its 'inside' the gun, btw)
To sum it up- look at the top version, and then mine. OK,They are the same gun, but WAY different. Then look at the bottom gun- Everything I have done to mine to make it different has been used on the bottom design.......

 

[Darth Lars]

The general proportions are the same, but saying that the "styling" is the same is saying that the Blade Runner gun and the BSG guns are the same because they both are based on revolvers and have fat barrels. The details of the digital guns are just as close, or more close to the drawing, than your real-world gun. So no, I don't think you have anything.

 

[Mercury]

I think it's pretty obvious they based their digital image off of your design. I'd wait to hear back from them and see if they will credit you or what.

 

[exoray]

Now I'm no Judge Dredd expert but from what I gather, this drawing...

Is based on this replica

And both are in fact based on this original drawing...

Now I can certainly see similarities across the board on all the designs and some borrowed inspiration, but recasting? Sorry I don't see any recasting... I see several takes based on a similar design...

 

[Blad]

In that case it's impersonating a Judge, or Mega City 1 Justice Department digital imagery, which is 25 years in an Isocube citizen.

 

[Mercury]

In light of the extra images posted by Exoray, I retract my early post.:cool

 

[exoray]

The only element they have added would be the grip area as you say...
but then look at the design/construction of the grip, and its relation to the triangular section with the gold eagle motif, and the positioning of the eagle motif ? The rear 'dial', the design of the red ammo selector swoop

To me it looks like the 'new' artist simply gave the entire rear half of the gun geometric continuity not copying your design at all...

Look (attached photo) at how the entire rear half of the 'new' design radiates in a near perfect and even emphasized circular pattern from the 'eagle' location as center... This radiating pattern is emphasized and carried out throughout the entire rear half of the 'new' design gun... This was clearly intentional as a design and artistic aspect, not copied from yours as yours doesn't share this continuity...

Like I said I can possibly see some inspiration from your design, mostly in say in the addition of the 'slide' slit and some screw hole details, but beyond that I fail to see your claims, the front of the gun is very proportionally similar in design and detail to the original drawing (the one I posted earlier) and IMO shares as many if not more designs similarities to that original drawing then it does to yours in regards to the front half of the gun details...

Some borrowed inspiration, possibly... But beyond that I simply consider any similarities to be coincidental as they are both based on the same thing...

 

[CustomCreations]

Well how you can compare the 3x licensed versions as posted by Exoray to the one the artist has drawn, and then look at my personal version and say the artist has not ripped off my design work, is beyond me, but oh well, looks like I am outvoted !!! ;-(

 

[lonepigeon]

Speaking as a licensed artist what I'd say happened here is an artist was given an assignment to render a Lawgiver Mk2. They or the art director did an image search on the web for reference pics. They find yours plus a couple other versions and the artist ends up doing a meld of them.
Unless the artist is a big fan and knows about all the different replicas etc they probably don't care where the pics came from.
A LOT of reference sent by art directors these days comes off the web instead of the actual licensees.
I basically work full time on Star Wars projects and more often the reference I get comes from Wookieepedia instead of Lucasfilm. The web is just faster and easier than putting in images requests and waiting for a response.

 

[tango'd fett]

I wouls say its a LOT closer to your design Jason than too the original , it has almost the same angle under the selector ,the split above the trigger and a smaller scope at the back as well as the grips . Be interesting to hear if they reply to you.

 

[Sterlacchini]

I'm pretty familiar with Dan's MK2.

As a fellow designer and illustrator I think Lonepigeon has probably guessed what has happened.

I'd say they've definitely used your gun as reference, which is kind of cool for an official 'illustration' to reference a fan built design. They've possibly, cut a few corners as well and illustrated over the top of some elements of your images, but I think they've probably made enough changes legally (or artistically).

Some companies play it a bit loose when creating images. Others go completely by the book, I was creating illustrations for big toy company once and they wanted to know where every tiny element on a large illustration came from, even if they'd been recreated, to make sure that they didn't break intellectual copyright.

It's strange that they didn't use the official designs, which are pretty cool and they'd obviously have access to, perhaps they preferred yours.

It would have been nice for them to contact you, but I don't think they'll be making mountains of cash from that image. I'd take it as a compliment and contact them to offer your own services for the future.

 

[lonepigeon]

I think it shares just as much or more in common with this one than yours...

 

[Sterlacchini]

You can pick bits from each design. Which is probably what they've done They've definitely taken some elements from yours Dan, but not enough to make it naughty.

They're not trying to create a new design for a RPG book, it's kind of cool that some of the unique parts of your design have become sort of official?

Time to get that license application in Dan.

Steven

 

[CustomCreations]

Everybody- I've calmed down from my original 'nose-out-of-joint' opinion...;-)

As lone pigeon says- there is more in common with the official version, but that's how it should be- that's the official version after all ;-)

What changes they made are inspired by my work, and for that i guess I am flattered.
All the best,

Dan.

 

[Sterlacchini]

Everybody- I've calmed down from my original 'nose-out-of-joint' opinion...;-)

As lone pigeon says- there is more in common with the official version, but that's how it should be- that's the official version after all ;-)

What changes they made are inspired by my work, and for that i guess I am flattered.
All the best,

Dan.

I know what you mean. When I first saw it I thought F-KINNEL, but then I thought, 'well they changed it enough, and used parts from another illustration, it's possible they're just fans of your version, which is cool'.

I'd still send them an email, to see if they need anything doing. Some nice shots of your other Dredd stuff would look cool as images in a RPG book!

Steven