This situation highlights a growing tension between fan creativity, commercialization, and intellectual property ethics in the Pokémon franchise — especially as digital adaptations like Pokémon TCG Pocket expand rapidly.
Here's a breakdown of the key points and implications:
🔍 What’s Happened?
- Ho-Oh EX Card Controversy (Earlier): The Pokémon Company admitted that the artwork for the Ho-Oh EX card in TCG Pocket’s "Wisdom of Sea and Sky" expansion was based on unofficial fan art — not original concept work. This sparked backlash, especially since the fan artist had never given permission, and the company had used it as a direct reference.
- Buzzwole EX Immersive Rare Card Now Under Scrutiny: Fans have now pointed out that Buzzwole EX’s dramatic pose — one arm raised, soaring through space with muscles flexed — bears a strong resemblance to a 2017 piece of fan art posted online by an artist known as Krazed (or similar handles). While not a pixel-for-pixel copy, the composition, pose, and emotional tone are strikingly similar.
🎨 Fan Art vs. Inspiration: Where Is the Line?
- Similarity ≠ Theft, But Context Matters:
- Drawing inspiration from fan art isn't inherently wrong — many official artists have long drawn from fan concepts.
- However, using fan art as a direct visual reference, especially when it's not credited or licensed, crosses an ethical line. Fans pour time and emotion into their work, often with no expectation of commercial use.
- The Real Issue Isn’t the Pose — It’s the Source:
- As one Reddit user noted: "It could have been an inspiration, but it was clearly not traced."
- This suggests the design may have been loosely inspired, not plagiarized. But that doesn’t absolve the company of responsibility — especially after the Ho-Oh scandal.
🛠️ Why This Matters: Process, Not Just Art
- The Pokémon Company has double-downed on blaming internal processes, not the illustrator:
"The illustration errors were caused by the production teams of The Pokémon Company and Creatures Inc, who provided incorrect materials as official documents..."
- This is crucial: The illustrator wasn’t at fault. They were given flawed reference material — a lesson in how gatekeeping and quality control fail at the corporate level.
- Fans are now calling for transparency and accountability, not just apologies.
📌 Fan Reactions: Divided but Alert
- Support for Credit & Change:
- Many fans believe the Buzzwole EX card should either be replaced or credited to the original artist (if confirmed).
- Some suggest that even if the design isn’t identical, the spirit of the piece deserves acknowledgment.
- Cautious Defense of Artistic Freedom:
- Others argue that Buzzwole is often shown flexing or posing heroically in canon — so the pose might be natural for the character.
- But as one fan put it: "Similar is an understatement." That level of similarity, in context, raises eyebrows.
🧩 What Should The Pokémon Company Do?
- Audit All Cards: They’ve already said they’re auditing every card — now is the time to publicly report findings, not just quietly fix them.
- Credit the Original Artist (If Confirmed): If the 2017 fan art is definitively linked, credit should be given, even if it’s not a direct copy.
- Fix Buzzwole EX (If Evidence Is Strong):
- If the artwork is proven to be heavily inspired (or copied), replace it with new art — just like they did with Ho-Oh and Lugia.
- If not, issue a public statement explaining why — to maintain trust.
- Strengthen Internal Review Processes: Stop relying on unverified fan content as reference. Implement checks before sending materials to artists.
🤔 Broader Implications
- Fan Art Is Not Free to Use: Just because something is online doesn’t mean it’s public domain. The Pokémon Company has a responsibility to respect both legal and ethical boundaries.
- Community Trust Is Fragile: After multiple controversies, fans are watching closely. One wrong move could deepen distrust.
- A Chance to Set a Better Precedent: The company could turn this into a positive story — one where they acknowledge fan creativity, compensate creators, and build a culture of respect.
✅ Final Takeaway:
The Buzzwole EX card may not be a stolen copy, but its uncanny resemblance to a 2017 fan art piece — combined with the earlier Ho-Oh scandal — is a red flag.
The Pokémon Company must act not just to fix art, but to restore trust.
🔹 If the fan art is confirmed as reference, replace the card.
🔹 If not, still issue a public statement clarifying the process.
🔹 Always credit creators when inspiration is clear.
Because in the age of fan culture, respect isn’t optional — it’s essential.
💬 "Art inspires. But stealing inspiration is not creativity — it’s negligence."
— A lesson the Pokémon Company now owes its fans.
Category 
