In Japan, fan art is bought and sold in comic markets all the time. While the characters are copyrighted, the images are original. To Japanese companies, fan art, fan manga and other fan-made products are considered "promotional" so big companies turn a blind eye unless the original creator objects, or the fan is making too much money.
You are right, you don't have any obligation to tell the original cel owner you're going to make a repro like what he/she has.
Japanese copyrights only last a year or so, *but*(and this is a BIG but, mind you) Lodoss has American copyrights too.
I believe Manga Entertainment owns them, and US companies are MUCH more anal about copyrights and intellectual property.
While the Japanese companies that own Lodoss could care less, US companies may be another matter. |
