Italian Artist May have been Shortchanged
Widespread rumors of an Italian Sonic fan winning the European component of the Sonic and the Black Knight fan art contest for a work that wasn’t necessarily his has incited outrage among the community’s artists.
The work in question is below. In SBK, the artwork is credited to Italy’s Antonino Miniero. The problem is that the original art–beautifully drawn photo of Sonic and Shadow closely passing by one another–was actually drawn by well known artist Mega777. News tipster Elessthehedgecat told TSSZ News that Mega777 is female, while Miniero is male.
It’s no wonder the infraction comes out of Italy; the original photo can be seen on Italian Sonic fansite SonicItalia.Net. Interestingly, the website states the original work was published in 2003…six years ago.
That raises two issues. First, the contest rules specifically prohibited submissions that are or will be posted on other public sites, such as DeviantART. While the original art was not on that site, even if Miniero’s art is simply a re-trace, as is being speculated, it is close enough to the original work, which was publicly published, that it could and perhaps should have been given an automatic disqualification.
Second, the original artist may not have any recourse, as it is our understanding all entries submitted to the SBK fan art contest last year became the property of Sega. The bulk of the contest rules have been taken offline by Sega, but most contests of this nature require the ownership rights of works submitted transferred to the contest holder as a legal matter.
We have both the original photo and the altered art as seen in Sonic and the Black Knight below. TSSZ News will attempt to reach all parties involved in the matter for clarification and further investigation. We will report our findings if we get new information. Thanks to the other news tipsters who sent this in. If you have a story to share or a matter you’d like investigated, tell us by clicking “News Tips” at the top of every page.
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that kid shouldnt call himself a sonic fan if hes jacking other peoples art, and plus when he altered it , he made it look horrible so this is practically plagerism AND vandalism. This sads kid fails at life and probably has no talent
There was another piece I saw in Black Knight that must have been on the net before. Syksil, a YouTube user who used to makes hundreds of videos with Sonic music until he was banned, used the artwork of Eggman (06) in one of his videos. I don’t think he’s the artistic type, and even if the art was his, he’d have still been disqualified for putting it on YT.
It gets worse: BOTH of those scenes and their characters are actually taken from the game Sonic Adventure 2! What’s Sega’s recourse?
That Antonino Miniero is really not Way Past Cool.
Fairfieldfencer
yea I know youtube is a bunch of idiots for doing that
I think we all knew that it wasnt his artwork, i just hope a simmilar famous sonic/video game music maker, soniman32 doesnt get banned as well
I guess this means a recall on SBK…
Geez, what a stupid bastard that Italian is.
To quote SA2/SA2B… “I found you, faker!”
I did not see that coming.
Theres going to be a recall no I get it today please be there game!
Wow. It amazes me that people are stupid enough to think they can get away with this shit. If you steal, trace over, or edit someon else’s art, you WILL be found out one way or another.
I agree with Crysore. That guy can’t call himself a true Sonic fan, let alone an ARTIST, if he goes around doing stuff like this. Way to fail.
Woah, my journal actually got this widespread of a news!? Holy shit…
I’m ashamed of being Italian now >_>
Hey, look! It’s another Greg Land in the making! Man, I can’t stand plagiarists at all. Even if it’s just fanart, I mean, come on! Don’t these people even have an OUNCE of creativity in them? Evidently not.
Wow, that’s actually pretty funny. But all joking aside, that sucks that the original artist’s work was copied and submitted without them knowing it.
On the other hand, way to go Eless! Good job catching that!
Quick note on this – I’ve been informed of the situation and am looking into just what can be done within the realms of possibility. I’ll inform the relevant people when appropriate but obviously don’t expect anything else on this til gone the weekend.
Yes, that was great on Eless’ part. What’s EVEN WORSE is now the internet has his name and relative location.
Anonymous does not forgive, Anonymous does not forget.
But Anonymous doesn’t work for Sonicfags, you idiot.
Am I glad this is coming to the light. What’s weird is I thought some of those pictures seemed strange. Don’t ask me about it, though.
I’m not much of a Sonic fan, but that’s just not cricket for Sega to do that to the original artist, especially when she wasn’t even aware of this obvious theft. I hope the (bad) tracer gets some comeuppance for this. He certainly should not be rewarded.
I’ve been looking for Mega777′s art for years! I remember finding on Sonic-Italia or whatever, and then I forgot the site! Good times…Good times.
Oh yeah, I heard about that… I can’t believe that prick not only got away with stealing Mega777′s artwork, but actually winning a contest hosted by SEGA! I mean, SEGA of all people!
Son of a BITCH!!! Some one give me a steel chair. I’m gunna whack him one!
Didn’t Italy have enough idiots? I hate that Antonio! That sonic fan is probably dead soon, beacus his name and aftername AND loctiation is in the video!
That jerk! I can’t beleive he’d do something like that! D:<
Or, y’know, it could just be, coincidence
Too late now. The characters in the work is copyrighted SEGA so nothing can really be done about it. SEGA wont recall the game just to change a piece of work like that.
Got to be careful when you put your work out like that … get it copyrighted if there are no copyrighted characters in it. If there is … then, well, not much you can do.
Soon after I’ve read about the contest last year, I knew this would happen. Well, I’m still a little bit suprised, but not at all. It is a shame, especially since I really do not like tracing that goes beyond practicing or fun, but frankly I found it a bit funny.
Still, I’m sorry for Mega777 and hope that it will turn somehow into something good for her.
To SLJCOAAATR:
Lol awfully big coincidence, dipshit.
I’m truly ashamed to be italian… *sad*
But I’m glad things are moving and this guy is in troubles for doing what he did.
i saw the plagerized art in SBK …cant believe it made it in
Also im on the part where you vs arthur a second time, after blaze. and I DONT KNOW HOW TO KILL HIM he throws red balls, I hit them i use soul surge and it says to swing your sword when he does BUT ITS FREAKIN IMPOSSIBLE!!! if im doin somethin wrong plz someone tell me
@JadeMare
Watch how you talk to my friend, especially when you’re going up against a scouser and a New Yorker.
Knock it off, you two. This is no place for personal threats, and whether you’re a scouser, a New Yorker, a South East Asian or a Papua New Guinean shouldn’t make a difference.
(Sorry for doublepost)
For the record – I have to agree that it’s just a tad too identical-looking to be a coincidence, but the dipshit remark was uncalled for.
And yeah – your heritage shouldn’t make any difference on how much street cred you have. As a Dutchman I say — Mellow out.
Yeah you’re right, the namecalling was uncalled for. I apologize.
This seems true. The art is obviously redone and posted somewhere but Sega had no idea of the original this was based off of. Both deserve credit, but more the Mega777.
I say stop bitching about it and just send the tracer’s prize to mega777.
Problem solved. Not that anonymous cares at all for sonicfag related issues.