Celebrating her 20th anniversary this year, Sanrio's popular character Kuromi has seen a significant surge in popularity recently. However, this beloved icon is now at the center of a heated copyright dispute.
STUDIO COMET, the animation studio responsible for the 2005 TV anime "Onegai My Melody," has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Sanrio. In response, Sanrio issued a special statement asserting that, based on existing contracts and evidence, Kuromi's copyright unequivocally belongs to them, though the legal proceedings are currently ongoing.
The dispute traces back to Kuromi's origins. The character first appeared in the 2005 TV anime "Onegai My Melody." STUDIO COMET claims that when the anime was being produced, their animation team specifically designed Kuromi as an antagonist to My Melody, and that Sanrio did not possess this character prior to the anime's production. STUDIO COMET alleges that when Kuromi was later integrated into Sanrio's roster of characters, neither the studio nor the original animator was credited, a move they strongly disagree with.
Consequently, in June of last year, STUDIO COMET filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Sanrio, stating that Kuromi was designed by their animator, Tomoko Miyakawa, during the production of "Onegai My Melody," and therefore, the character should be considered a copyrighted work belonging to STUDIO COMET.
Sanrio recently posted an official statement on its website, asserting that Kuromi's copyright is unequivocally owned by the company through relevant contracts, and that personality rights have also been appropriately addressed. Furthermore, Sanrio stated that it has consistently engaged in good-faith negotiations regarding STUDIO COMET's recent claims, but as their position was not accepted, the lawsuit remains ongoing.
Sanrio emphasized its long-standing commitment to managing characters and intellectual property with appropriate and compliant practices, and stated it will firmly present its position throughout the judicial process. The company apologized for any inconvenience and concern caused to fans and stakeholders, requesting their understanding and support.
Currently, neither party is backing down. The core issue revolves around how character personality rights and copyright were originally allocated when the anime was produced. The outcome will ultimately depend on the court's decision.
via： 日本三麗鷗官網