Live data from Hacker News

Japanese Govt Asks US Govt to Stop Using Mario, Pokemono, Naruto Meme Postings

mainichi.jp

11–20 of 54 posts

Re: Japanese Govt Asks US Govt to Stop Using Mario, Pokemono, Naruto Meme Postings

#12

I'm not sure if you get this in the news in the USA but trump and his administration are pretty much constantly mocked and made fun of in the press - at least here in Europe. It's just constant legitimate mockery about specific incidents - most recent I saw was the press trying to figure out if trump actually understands the meaning of the word "decapitate" as he used it in a nonsensical way a couple of days ago. Oh,…

As an American, I'm only aware because James Acaster started some deep-seeded obsession with British panel shows, and they'll tear into him in a few of the more political ones like 8 Out of 10 Cats

Re: Japanese Govt Asks US Govt to Stop Using Mario, Pokemono, Naruto Meme Postings

#14

Couldn't the real copyright owner just sue the US government and get a payout? The fact this doesn't seem to be happening suggests that perhaps the copyright owner doesn't care?

Or the copyright owner recognises that suing the current administration in court is going to risk other negative consequences and those are not worth the risk. Or perhaps it's just that taking the US government to court is going to cost a lot of money and take years, so "just asking" is the first step.

Re: Japanese Govt Asks US Govt to Stop Using Mario, Pokemono, Naruto Meme Postings

#15

I'm not sure if you get this in the news in the USA but trump and his administration are pretty much constantly mocked and made fun of in the press - at least here in Europe. It's just constant legitimate mockery about specific incidents - most recent I saw was the press trying to figure out if trump actually understands the meaning of the word "decapitate" as he used it in a nonsensical way a couple of days ago. Oh,…

[deleted]

Re: Japanese Govt Asks US Govt to Stop Using Mario, Pokemono, Naruto Meme Postings

#16

Couldn't the real copyright owner just sue the US government and get a payout? The fact this doesn't seem to be happening suggests that perhaps the copyright owner doesn't care?

This is a very Western-centric way of thinking. The Japanese are culturally oriented toward "saving face" rather than directly confronting things like this. It's very likely that Nintendo approached their own government with private complaints, and the government is handling it diplomatically, rather than Nintendo causing more drama for their company (and country) by immediately suing the US government.

Re: Japanese Govt Asks US Govt to Stop Using Mario, Pokemono, Naruto Meme Postings

#17
post #5

I'm not sure if you get this in the news in the USA but trump and his administration are pretty much constantly mocked and made fun of in the press - at least here in Europe. It's just constant legitimate mockery about specific incidents - most recent I saw was the press trying to figure out if trump actually understands the meaning of the word "decapitate" as he used it in a nonsensical way a couple of days ago. Oh,…

...

I think it's more nuanced than that. Obviously countries have differences on how aligned the people and the press are, but there's also the aspect of how highly educated the people are.

FWIW, I feel like the press in Finland doesn't try to "win" points by pointing out the humiliation and the utter failure of the current state of affairs in the US, because that point is plainly obvious, but the reporting more closely reflects the forces and agenda going on under the surface.

The embarrassment stuff is more for the coffee-table chitchat and having a collective sigh of relief with your co-workers that we're not so intimately close to the whole mess there.

Re: Japanese Govt Asks US Govt to Stop Using Mario, Pokemono, Naruto Meme Postings

#18

I'm not sure if you get this in the news in the USA but trump and his administration are pretty much constantly mocked and made fun of in the press - at least here in Europe. It's just constant legitimate mockery about specific incidents - most recent I saw was the press trying to figure out if trump actually understands the meaning of the word "decapitate" as he used it in a nonsensical way a couple of days ago. Oh,…

Metaphoric use of 'decapitation' referring to an organization or state is normal and idiomatic in American English, especially if you spend a lot of time talking to people with military backgrounds. There's plenty of other stuff going on right now that's actually worth criticism.

Decimate is the one that gets me. That word does not mean what he thinks it means

Re: Japanese Govt Asks US Govt to Stop Using Mario, Pokemono, Naruto Meme Postings

#19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Metaphoric use of 'decapitation' referring to an organization or state is normal and idiomatic in American English, especially if you spend a lot of time talking to people with military backgrounds. There's plenty of other stuff going on right now that's actually worth criticism.

Decimate is the one that gets me. That word does not mean what he thinks it means

Decimate is like Checkmate but even BIGLY.

Re: Japanese Govt Asks US Govt to Stop Using Mario, Pokemono, Naruto Meme Postings

#20

Couldn't the real copyright owner just sue the US government and get a payout? The fact this doesn't seem to be happening suggests that perhaps the copyright owner doesn't care?

This is a very Western-centric way of thinking. The Japanese are culturally oriented toward "saving face" rather than directly confronting things like this. It's very likely that Nintendo approached their own government with private complaints, and the government is handling it diplomatically, rather than Nintendo causing more drama for their company (and country) by immediately suing the US government.

Nintendo specifically is known to sue first, ask questions later. They just like to shake down the little guys, like their own fans.
Post reply on HN