INTERNET Watch, a newscasting webpage released an article.
A newscasting webpage released an article as follows :

Is HMV "inspired" by Onigiri?
In HMV website, Onigiri was introduced in advertisement of O-Zone new release information.

"Dragostea din Tei" or "Koi no Mai a hi" prevailed broadly with "Noma-Neko" problem.
Now it is said that O-Zone's new single which is supposed to be released at the beginning
of November "Fiesta de la noche" or "Ai-no de la noche" is pointed out that another
AA character is featured being "inspired" in its PV.

The picture of character featured was placed on the topic of "Dance & Soul" as a new
release info. in HMV Japan official webpage .
With pharase "Now Ai no de la noche is ready to come!", an AA character known as Onigiri
(*=Riceball. Webmaster added.)which is popular especially among 2-channellers
or too closely ressembled character dancing was shown.
(*2-channellers means the users of gigantic BBS website 2(ni)-channel. Webmaster added)
This picture is deleted few days after it was noticed and informed in a 2-ch thread,
it has been placed on September 12 for a while.


AVEX, a music giant promoting "Dragostea din Tei" and "Fiesta de la noche" annouced that
it is no concern with AVEX about the characters featured in the picture shown in HMV
webpage. HMV Japan, meanwhile, has answered to an individual who asked about the picture
that "To launch a news on releasing O-Zone new single, we found this picture to retrieve
any picture suitable from computer search." Onigiri picture was deleted little while later.

According to HMV Japan, HMV Japan produces pictures to be placed in new release info. not
only receiving pictures from music label.
"As producing advertisement by ourselves, we normally are careful enough with matters of
copyright, we were too careless to upload the picture without making sure nor getting
permission from AVEX. "
HMV Japan has admitted that picture of Onigiri inspired characters was released as a part of
advertisement of O-Zone's new single without being permitted by AVEX
nor assuring the copyright.

HMV also announced, however, "We are not sure if the data of picture was retrieved via
internet or our own database.", which does not make clear where the picture itself come from.

AVEX has announced "No Comment" about new character "Noma Tako" born as a critisizm
against "Noma-Neko" problem which resembles logo of Ayumi Hamasaki, an AVEX singer.
(September 16, 2006 INTERNET Watch)

Wa? Did avex commit plagiarism to 2-channnel based character?
A homepage campaigning against AVEX's pirating character
introduces an article.
(In this article , there are some indications of pictures.
But only one picture is shown. Please be Informed.
You can see all the pictures explained in Italic letters by clicking the webpage shown at the bottom of this article.)
*On September 18, 2005 JST, the author of this article has started a mirror webpage of this article. There you can see whole article with complete pictures of it. Please visit the webpage shown at the bottom of this article or click here.

=Comprehend "Noma-Neko" case in 5 minutes.

You know "Dragostea din Tei" or "O-Zone Koi-no-Maiahi"
known with the phrase "Mai a hi, Mai a hu", dont'you?
You also probably should have seen a flash movie
(cartoon works streaming through internet.) showing a
catlike character dancing.


*Character AVEX calls "Noma-Neko"

What? Doesn't this character remind you of something?
Yes. You're most surely right. They closely ressemble
to Monar and Mo-lala having been beloved in a gigantic
BBS website 2-channel.



*Monar and Mo-lala, long beloved characters in 2-channel.
(Picture not shown)

There should be some people who thought these charcters
in flash movie along Dragostea din Tei were Monar, Mo-lala.
AVEX, a music giant in Japan emphasizes
"THEY ARE NOT MONAR NOR MO-LALA!!"
Well, it is ovbiously necessary to know how characters in
this flash were created and history on it.
Let's move forward.

??Suspicion to "Noma-Neko" of AVEX plagiarize 2-channel character.
-history-

End of September, 2004.
Wata, an inhabitant of 2-channel thread (onwards : 2-channeller) has created
a FLASH movie .

You can see it here.
(Flash not shown here)

End of September-October, 2204. Wata unveiled it in 2-channel.
Most of 2-channeller preferably enjoyed this movie in which shows
Monar and his friends dancing.

A little while later, March, 2005 AVEX a music giant in Japan has released
O-Zone CD entitled of Dragostea din Tei.
This CD contained the flash movie as a bonus truck with some correction.
Wata's flash movie called enough attention to let AVEX ask Wata to renew
some part making suitable for O-Zone CD.

You will find some slight difference comparing to the original,
But still characters shown and parodied words were constructed
basically the same. (This is what you should often see now.)

Many of 2-channellers found it good to achieve to be used as a main character
in AVEX products, some found not as a profit making company uses character from
public domain.

One day, however, the situation suddenly changed! On September 5, 2005
AVEX announced to promote these characters as their "original" characters
on a large scale in goods sales. Especially the principal character named
"Noma-Neko".

(Picture of Noma-Neko goods. Not shown in this page.)

A beloved character which has been brought up in BBS, virtual internet
world has been kidnapped as an "original" of profittal enterprise!!
2-channellers were sorrowed, confused and so on... But most of all,
the were quite much raged. There was even some who started asking AVEX on it.

September 6-7,2005 response from AVEX were as follows :
1. Noma-Neko is a completely original character. It has got nothing to do with
2-channel.

2. Do Kitty and Noma-Neko look the same? No. It is the same that 2-channel
character and Noma-Neko are not the same.

While 2-channellers were in a big confusion and anger, MUZO has announced
an official statement on their webpage.
( * MUZO is a group which promotes FLASH BOMB 2005, an event of flash movies.
Webmaster added.)
(Pitcure of statement of MUZO. Not shown in this page.)

=quotation=

"Inspired" from Monar, usually recognized as 2-channel based, is what
AVEX admits.

=quotate end=

Many could not see what this statement exactlly means.
"Nothing to say at this moment." was only reply we could
get from AVEX.

And at night on September 8, 2005, an article titled "About copyright of Noma-Neko"
was added on an official internet shopping website of AVEX.
Following is part of that article.

=extract=

"Noma-Neko" was born to be "inspired" by ASCII Art characters often seen on internet
BBS such as Monar and so on.

=omitted=

Copyright of Noma-Neko does not restrict you of using EXISTING ASCII Art characters
at all.

=extract end=

"What does "inspired" mean?"
"Isn't this a confession of copying our character after all?"
"Who does AVEX think it is? AVEX copied our characters in puclic domain!!"

Quite a few people started inquring or protesting against AVEX though what
AVEX mechanically responded was :

"Noma-Neko is completely different character from Monar and Mo-lala."

"Word in statement "inspired" means "influenced" or something similar.
Anyway it does not mean something special."

"Distinction between Noma-Neko and Monar/Mo-lala can not be commented."

(Picture comparing the difference of 1st edition and 2nd edition of
Wata's flash movie. Not shown in this page.)

So many are in deep sorrow or raging agains what AVEX has done.
Even an artist belonging to AVEX found it wrong, stating
"It's mad to insist in its copyright." on his own weblog page criticizing
AVEX.

AVEX has not (at the moment of September 12, 2005) admitted their fault.

??Suspicion to "Noma-Neko" of AVEX plagiarize 2-channel character.
-Point of problem-

1. Suspicion of plagiarism from a character whose copyright exists.
2. Suspicion that copyright of author of the AA is violated.
3. AVEX does not responsiblly do their duty to explain the
situation.
-The only answer given to those who asked what makes Noma-Neko
origial is "Cannot answer."
4. Freedom of creation and culture following is being endangered.
-AVEX commented that it does not restrict the use of EXISTING
AAs, but AVEX itself is not even sure what to do about AAs
created after the statement on September 8.
Restriction or action along law to 2-channel related or based
character goods cannot be decided at this moment, as AVEX
says "Cannot be answered. We might (restrict), maybe not."

??Suspicion to "Noma-Neko" of AVEX plagiarize 2-channel character.
-Frequentll asked questions and replies.-

Q. Does ASCII Art own a copyright?
A. The answer seems to be YES. Official judgement should be made by
judical system, of course.
-According to Copyright Research and Information Center, AA is
definately a work like papercrafts.

Q. Isn't it free to use as the author is unknown?
A. No. To use certain subject whose author of the work can not be
determined,
it is necessary to apply following law. To be permitted, it
takes a lot of efforts of determining author.

Q. What is a problem that an AA character is used. Let them do as
they like.
A. It is not such a simple question.

What if a profittal company suddenly declares that certain
ocject, like Noma-Neko, is their original characters, even
though it is a copy of some existing object with slight change.

Everyday many artistic works are unveiled in internet such as AA
characters, stories, music, and of course, FLASH movies.
All these works are introduced with author's aim for audience to
enjoy, author made it because author wanted to, and so.
No one will feel llike introducing their works if their works
can easily be pirated by a major companies.

What AVEX is doing could even destroy culture of creation in
internet, namely a barbarous act, isn't it?

Q. Isn't Noma-Neko an original character? Don't 2-channellers
merely want to argue on AVEX product?
A. You could think that way.

(Picture comparing the difference between 2-channel character and
characters in Wata's movie flash. not shown in this page.)

Q. Isn't there anything we can do to be used Monar by AVEX if the
author is not determined?
A. Author of Mo-lala is determined. Mo-lala is also used in O-Zon
CD though the author was not informed nor asked for permission.

Q. AAs are made from letters and signs, Noma-Neko is not. Can not
it be the originality?
A. Point of creativitiy or originality should be judged by judical
sysytem, of course, but in the other hand, the Copyright
Research and Information Center said filling the blank of
letters and signs can hardly be admitted a new creation.

This means that illustrating(drawn in line. Webmaster added.)
Monar will not give excuse to call it "original".

Q. Anything I could do against it?
A. YES. Plenty of things you can do are shown below.
-Write about it on your own webpage.?@
-Tell your friends about it or show webpage would be nice, too.
-Call or send mail of questionaries to AVEX.

If you want to do something further, please see the content
"What we can do" in the webpage shown below.
Act against plagiarism of AVEX from 2-channel based AA character.
=Noma-Neko kidnapping case=
(All in Japanese but you'll find pictures.
Webmaster of this page has created English page.
You'll find the article with complete pictures.)

Noma-Neko problem getting to spread outside Japan.
Non-Japanese internet users are reacting to the topic that a character shown in PV
of a song promoted by AVEX "Noma Neko" real closely resembles to an AA character
well known to be often seen in 2-channel.
Many of internet users in Japan are reacting against this problem to spread this
matter in BBS websites or individual weblogs which repurciussions are to spread worldwide.

On September 14, an website was created to explain this problem in English and its URL has been placed on BBS websites out of Japan.

"Getting to know this issue at first made me real sad. I also like Ayumi Hamasaki"
A computer programmer(23) an AA in 2-channel fan from Maryland, USA said.
He also said "The usage of these AA characters should be completely free to everyone.
A profittal company should never attempt to own copyright of them although they are not
their original creation." He got to know this problem from BBS website built outside Japan.
He is now eager to catch up with this matter.

A 17 year old male student from Haarlem, Netherland expressed his anger
"It's not fair! It is an obvious plagiarism. I want to take avex to court."
He also said, "I will keep in touch and updating about this problem in my blog and BBS."

AA characters, songs, and flash movies born in 2-ch have been accepted and enjoyed abroad
as well as it has been in Japan. Some personal weblogs built by non-Japanese introduce
these works. AA characters made from letters and signs, which many of them are born in
2-channel, are still used or introduced in some websites outside Japan.

On September 13, a Japanese newspaper has released an article that
"Noma-Neko that resembles to a Mona, well known from 2-channel is causing a situation."
(September 18, 2005 Website:Jiyu-tyo)

AVEX disturbance becoming hot topic.
A newscasting website has released an article on AVEX disturbance.
Article translated is as follows;

Where are you going, Monar.........?

Noma-neko problem dominated the 1st prize in weekyly Jiji ranking.
(*Jiji is a newscasting company. Webmaster added.)

Situation occurred by promoting character goods named Noma-neko, that look like an
AA character well known as Monar, in PV of big hit song "Dragostea din Tei" .
Opposition between AVEX group holdings, promoter of O-Zone in Japan and those who
raged to violate the copyright of a character in public domain took much attention.

As following the breakout of "Densha-Otoko" (=Train Man. A story based on posted messages
on a gigantic BBS site "2-channel" . Train Man kept posting messages about a girl he saved
in train to whom he fell in love at once. Webmaster added.), AA or Kao-Moji in Japanese
has been becoming popular called attention to many people not only heavy users of internet
but general users.

ASK, an organization of anti alcohol and drug claimed
ASK, an organization of anti alcohol and drug claimed "Noma-Neko" cartoon
on September 13.

Noma-Neko promotes daredevil alcohol drink!

A song "Dragostea din Tei" sung by a group from Republic of Moldova "O-Zone"
has been breaking out through Europe.
In Japan a Flash movie(cartoon streaming in internet) with parodied words
releaved broadly.

Words parodied contains "Noma noma yeah! (= drink it up! drink it up!)"
showing a cute cat like character Noma-neko holds a bottle of Sake and
gulping or letting his folk gulp.
(* This cartoon is revealing especially among little children. Webmaster added.)

This flash movie was introduced in some magazines which took attention of a music
giant AVEX who promotes O-Zone. AVEX designed O-Zone CD with picture of Noma-Neko
as a promotion video attatching the flash movie. A very popular idol group SMAP
picked this topic up in a TV program which helped this CD get No.1 sale on a
music CD chart on August.
Following this movement AVEX started promoting character goods such as
dolls or T-shirts.
To see the pictures of goods click herehere (ALL in Japanese)
(*The cat was named Noma-Neko at this moment. webmaster added)

Many inquries has been sent to ASK by e-mail or phone.
ASK has sent an urgent letter of demand to president of AVEX.

Wata announced a statement on her website
On September 14, Wata (an "inspirational" flash creator that had
actually contarcted with AVEX) had annouced a statement on her website.

The statement was shown shortly before or after the NTV was broadcasting
Dragostea din Tei's PV when such a lot of people were raging against it.
(Omae sakushi dana. = You're such a wily. He, he.)
The PV showed some offensive scenes such as derailment, or promoting
alcohol drinking. Many people had claimed on it to NTV.
(It is an open secret that I am one of them.)

Detail of the statement is as shown below.
(To see original Japanese message, click here)

Dear guests.

Thank you for visiting my site.
I am sorry for causing such a big disturbance.

Please let me explain my situation.

At the moment of July 27, the copyright of "Noma-Neko" had already been
handed over to ZEN Inc. which means since then I do not hold its copyright
any more.

We contracted a formal coneyance and I do not have any more copyright.

And no income made from its royality has been made by now.
I will not receive any money regarding "Noma-Neko".

As I do not have any authority as a rightsholder, I can not force anything to
any company concerning goods sold now.

I judged myself that I do not worth participating flash?šbomb'05 to be involved
in right at the center of this disturbance. I sorrily declined the invitation of
participating flash?šbomb'05 to MUZO, the sponsor.

I am sorry being absent from flash?šbomb'05 betrays fans
looking forward flash?šbomb'05.

Also, please let me deeply apologize to give such a annoyance to the webmasters
linked to my site "Dennei-damemushi-cho", and to my personal acknowledges.

At last, I give my most appreciation to all those who supoprted me involved in this case.

2005.September.14?@"Dennei-Damemushi-cho" Webmaster Wata
damemushi@yahoo.co.jp


Sigh.... What does she want me to say to these frivolous words?
That's it for today.... Too tired to see this...

Media started newscasting about anti-AVEX campaign
Anti-AVEX campaign grows bigger.

Since AVEX released O-Zone DVD with Wata's flash movie,
so many people have been campaigning against AVEX.

Some called AVEX's customer center, some started boycott
campaign, or some started distributing handbills via
internet so that anyone interested could do his/her own
campaign individually, and others demonstrated in front
of AVEX headquarters.

And there are such a lot of webpages talking about this
problem on websites. There are now 3 English pages
including this page.

Summary of Monar kidnap (pirated)
Well the story started last March when O-Zone's
DVD has been started to break out.
A music production AVEX started selling O-Zone's
DVD with bonus of flash movie whose characters in it
were copied from Ascii Art mainly used in 2-ch.

It should have been no problem that the characters
themselves were used in her(one who created this movie
named Wata) movie. It is that AVEX tried to monopoly
MONAR's authority. What has become of AEVX and Wata
in progress was...

1:Wata created the movie using AA-characters known
as 2-ch typical.(She also created funny hearings
to the words). And she put it up onto 2-ch thread.
The principal character and all the rest were
obviously copied from AA called Monar, and Shii.
The principal character was still called Monar.
(this part happened last autumn)

2:AVEX approached Wata in order to produe O-Zone's
DVD with Wata's flash movie.

3:On March, AVEX started selling and promoting
the DVD with so much advertisement on TV,
Magazines, and of course in internet.
*In this movie attatched as a bonus truck,
characters were a bit(only a bit)
transformed from the original.

4:In the very beginning of September, AVEX declared
that they'd start promoting the related goods of
Monar's but as NOMA-NEKO.

It says

(c)AVEX/NOMANEKO EXECTIVE COMMITTEE

beside the picture of ad on the website.
It became the actual trigger of our conflict
against AVEX.

4:Since then AVEX has been trying to deny what we were
doing at first, but AVEX messed up the situation
with their very own hands.

AVEX tried to hide the evidences that AVEX
contracted with Wata knowing the fact that Wata is
not a legal author.
**This sentence has not legally been proved.
This is what we most suspect in what AVEX has done.

5:2-channellers started promoting boycott of any
AVEX products, or related goods such as TV commercials
whose theme song is of an AVEX artist. And also we
kept asking AVEX and all the related companies
the truth. Some of 2-channellers even demonstrated
right in front of AVEX headquareter holding snacks
in their hands called Umai-Bo(Its package design
is a copy from Dorae-mon. Dorae-monis a cat-like
robot from 22nd century).

AND

The story goes on.

Know what is going on an ASCII Art character
Dear all

Welcome to my blog mentioned to expose a plot of a record label AVEX.
This blog should stay neutral all the time.

Please be ashemed of blaming others or yelling.


=THINGS NECESSARY TO KNOW BEFORE YOU READ=
1. An AA(Ascii Art) character well known as MONA in
biggest BBS website
has apparently been copied without permission of legal author.
*MONA is one of the oldest AA character and he is now
anonymous as well as we are in 2ch.

2.This blog is NEVER made to hurt anyone but blame AVEX.

3.If you do not understand WHY we protest this much, better you leave.

4.Whoever interested in this matter, you're welcomed.

Posted by monseurmonar at 9:10 PM KDT

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