Novel #1
Tom: “I could never make you such a promise.”
Novel #2
Dick: “I can’t make that kind of promise.”

——————————————————————
Novel #1
He caught her right arm in midair.

Novel #2
He caught her wrist midair.
—————————————-
Novel #1
. . .to yank her arm out of his grasp.

Novel #2
. . . yanked her wrist free.

Novel #1
Will: “The CEO of Thompson Techniques acting as courier? You could have sent me an E-mail.)

Novel #2
Rachel: “But you’re the CEO, with an army of assistants . . .
———————————–
Similar Scenarios
Tom and his mother argue over Rachel in the same way that Tim and his father argue over Jane.

Tim doesn’t know who his father is, and his real father turns out to be a man he’s already been dealing with, in the same way Gina doesn’t know who her father is, but finds out it is a man she has been dealing with.
——————————–
Tm sees something in the newspaper that makes him leave his office in a huff to confront the person. In Novel #2, Will sees something in the newspaper that makes him leave his office in a huff to confront the person.

In Novel #1, Will visits Rachel’s home office and notes the clutter. In Novel #2, when Jim visits Dianne’s office, she notes the clutter.
——————————-
Novel #1
Faye: “No matter what happens, I’ll always love you.”

Novel #2
“Whatever tomorrow might bring, she would always love him.”

And Rob has it 100% correct: “…there is legally nothing wrong with sharing or implementing a unique variation on a concept.”

It’s similar to me making a dessert for you using a Julia Child Recipe and you like it, you love it in fact. So you go home and try to figure it out and, since you’re creative and brilliant in the kitchen, you do. It comes out exactly the same…or so close that most would not be able to tell. You also decide to publish a cookbook and include the recipe for what has become your “signature dessert”. Someone reads it, maybe makes it, and…OMG! This is almost exactly the same as Julia Child’s! Is it plagarism? Copyright infringment? Nope. It’s a variation on a concept…and there’s nothing you can do about it. It’s not even unethical. It just is.

I wrote more about the Emily/Rosamond thing including the Hot Topic connection here in my blog: http://dysmindseye.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/hi-its-emily-isnt-it-or-maybe-rosamond/

http://www.youngeomall.com/bemarket/imgs/save/upload/bookpage/kizC01_tardy_1.jpg

How can you say THIS looks like Emily the Strange? You cannot copyright a girl with bangs and cats.

Because that seems to be the only similarity. Why not look at every other girl with bangs or cats and say they should be sued for a character with Rosamond traits?

She bares no resemblance. OBVIOUSLY she has changed since that drawing.

Perhaps the gentlemen, if called to task for it, should concede the uncanny similarity, offer some monetary restitution, and make efforts to ensure his work is utterly original in the future. -H…

I’ve been made aware of this blog and some similar ones with inquiries regarding the origination and creation of the Emily the Strange character. As you may be aware by what has been noted in many interviews and on Wikipedia, Nathan Carrico first conceived of and used Emily as a character for a skateboard design back in 1991. After seeing a sticker of the design, I thought the quirky “looks strange” design was in line with other tees Cosmic Debris was doing, and that it might resonate well with the crew I was selling to. I asked and received permission to use the design from Nathan. We then began creating Emily’s gothic, nonconformist, dark world by using a variety of original expressions (”I want you to leave me alone”, “Teacher’s Pest”, “Emily doesn’t search to belong…” etc.) and unique Emily designs on our t-shirts and other products. Several years thereafter, the character of Rosamond from the children’s book series Nate the Great was brought to my attention for the first time.

Although the designs and worlds of Rosamond and Emily are different and readily distinguishable, and although we never received any complaints from the author, the artist, or the publisher, we phased out the original skateboard design upon learning of the Rosamond character, and worked with the creative team to further distinguish Emily and her universe. Regarding copyright law, there is legally nothing wrong with sharing or implementing a unique variation on a concept. I have never drawn inspiration from the Nate the Great series or Rosamond. In fact, we at Cosmic Debris have always moved to individualize the idea of Emily the Strange and her universe, which are original to Cosmic Debris.

Today Cosmic Debris prides itself on what it has become over the years: the creative design house that is responsible for providing consumers with strong messages about feminism, empowerment and individualism. Through years of development, Emily the Strange has grown from simple graphics into a concept that reaches far beyond design. Through our fan forum, I have learned that Emily has comforted the suicidal, helped people accept their sexuality, and get through very taxing personal situations. This is all in addition to making everyone know it is okay, and even better, to be different. I am very proud of this, because that was and is my goal: to make the world feel more comfortable in its own skin.

We applaud your interest and hope you continue to stand up for what you believe— that’s what Emily would do.

Sincerely, Rob Reger