Netflix Squid Game: Chinese video app Youku changes name and artwork of new show after accusations it copied popular drama
- Youku’s new show had a similar name and artwork and had similar font, the same circle, square and triangular symbols in pink that appeared in Squid Game
- The company’s explanation that it was an accident which it blamed on a ‘technical error’ drew further criticism
Youku, a leading video platform in China, came under fire soon after it announced the new show on Wednesday with a poster that closely resembled elements of the popular South Korean survival drama.
Not only did it have a similar name in a similar font, the same pink circle, square and triangular symbols that appeared in Squid Game also appeared in Youku’s poster.
The controversy has been a trending topic on Weibo since Wednesday, with many users calling it “blatant plagiarism” and “shameful”. The company’s explanation also backfired, triggering a new round of criticism that it was a poor excuse.
“On the one hand we complain about Koreans stealing our culture, and on the other hand, we copy their work when they produce something popular,” one Weibo user commented.
The show itself, whose name the company changed to Game Victory later the same day, will have some of the elements made famous in Squid Game, according to its official introduction.