Emily the Strange is a rip off of a 1978 book “Nate the Great Goes Undercover”
chelseamca of You Thought We Wouldn’t Notice discovered some similarities between 1978 book called Nate the Great Goes Undercover, by Marc Simont and Emily the Strange.
The cover on the left is Nate the Great Goes Undercover and the poster of Emily the Strange is on the right. Can you see the similarities?
If you’ve ever walked into a Hot Topic, you are somewhat familiar with Emily, but on the off-chance that you haven’t, you can get aquainted with her at her big fat website. She was designed in 1991, according to creator Rob Reger, as an image for use on skateboarding merchandise. Since then, she has morphed into a kind of goth pop icon. At first she was just a mouthpiece for typical Hot Topic tee slogans (”I WANT YOU to go away,” “Problem Child,” etc. etc.) but since has moved to full-fledged characterdom, with her own comic book series and a film slated for 2010.
Google searching for any information on this rip has yielded a tiny handful of bemused observers (this one offering the most analysis), but as far as I can tell no real action has been taken. I doubt that neither Marjorie Weinman Sharmat nor Marc Simont (the author and illustrator of the Nate the Great books, respectively) is aware of the appropriation of their character. I plan to send a letter to each c/o of their publishers as soon as possible. I really do think something should be done. This stolen character has already made millions for its “creator” and the fact that she will have her own film is clear testament of how big she’s gotten.
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10:51 pm on December 5th, 2008
http://www.youngeomall.com/bemarket/shop/index.php?pageurl=page_goodsdetail&uid=2725
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.
11:06 pm on December 5th, 2008
Why isnt anyone blaming Nate Carrico? It’s not the creators drawing so why rub his face in mud when he is not deserving of it?