Unraveling the Controversy: How Dead or Alive’s Crusade Against Inappropriate Fan Art Damages Creators’ Freedom

The Blurred Lines of Fan Art: A Conversation About Creepiness and Property Rights in Gaming

In the early days of the Dead or Alive series, it was a fighting game that held a reputation for its serious take on martial arts and combat. The franchise’s evolution, however, has often found itself at the crossroads of absurdity and artistic expression. While developers Koei Tecmo Games might argue that their protection of the Dead or Alive cast is a necessary evil, it’s fascinating to examine the boundaries between creative expression and property rights.

What Prompted the Crackdown?

At Tokyo Esports Festa, Koei Tecmo’s executive Tomotoshi Nishimura, in charge of the company’s legal affairs division, shed light on their stance regarding fan art. He posited that dead or alive, the characters are likened to daughters, which raised more eyebrows than a raised eyebrow. This assertion is not only peculiar but also hints at an outdated, formal use of the word "musume," meaning "young girl" or "daughter."

Countering Censorship with Facts and Figures

Statistics reveal that the company takes action against 2,000 to 3,000 pieces of fan art on social media platforms like Pixiv each year. They also took down around 200 to 300 Dead or Alive fan projects online, with one instance involving art from an unreleased game. This aggressive approach has been met with skepticism, considering the franchise’s history of incorporating fan service elements, such as bikini, maid, and schoolgirl costumes as DLC.

The Gray Area of Legal Action

Nishimura emphasized that Koei Tecmo respects its fans and has even sponsored events like Comiket, but they must also protect their intellectual property. They must maintain the image of their characters, which is crucial for official merchandise. While it’s understandable for a company to guard its assets, it’s crucial to balance this with tolerance for art that, while potentially questionable, stays within the boundaries of artistic expression.

Further Examples of Censorship in the Dead or Alive Series

This is not the first instance of Koei Tecmo engaging in legal action to protect the franchise. In 2021, they sued the creators of a DVD that used footage from nude mods. As the next installment in the series, Venus Vacation Prism: Dead or Alive Xtreme, a dating sim with a photography mode, readies for release, it’s interesting to wonder what other boundaries the company will need to draw.

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