Torchwood ripped off SRD?

Post by **Flytrap** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 4:28 am

In the episode titled, "Dead Man Walking", which aired on Feb 20, 2008, one of the characters got possessed and started ranting. What he ranted was, "Melenkurion abatha! Duroc minas mill khabaal!”
At first, I thought I was mistaken, but he repeated this several times during the show. The explanation was that this was an old demon and the translation was something about, "I'm hungry and I'll eat the Earth!" (or something like that.)
Did anyone else see this yet? Does Donaldson have a grievance here?

Flytrap
Round Rock, TX
78664

flytrap@holeinthehill.com

Post by **danlo** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:15 am

SRD needs to be notified about this...

Post by **Loredoctor** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:56 am

Flytrap wrote:In the episode titled, "Dead Man Walking", which aired on Feb 20, 2008, one of the characters got possessed and started ranting. What he ranted was, "Melenkurion abatha! Duroc minas mill khabaal!”
At first, I thought I was mistaken, but he repeated this several times during the show. The explanation was that this was an old demon and the translation was something about, "I'm hungry and I'll eat the Earth!" (or something like that.
Did anyone else see this yet? Does Donaldson have a grievance here?

Unless SRD was noted in the credits it's plagiarism.

Post by **Xar** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:30 am

Something along these lines occurred when they released the Dungeons & Dragons 2 movie... I think it was a direct-to-DVD release. The words of one spell which was repeated two or three times during the movie were "Duroc minas mill khabaal" (not to mention the protagonist was called Berek).

Post by **Kenaustin Ardenol** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:59 am

I actually posted a message in the gradual interview yesterday Informing SRD In case he wasn't aware. I love Torchwood but credit should go where credit is due and if SRD is uncredited it just isn't right not to mention putting a false translation on the words of Power. It might take a while before he gets to the message though as I think he is a bit behind on answering questions.

Post by **Xar** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 10:21 am

Kenaustin Ardenol wrote:I actually posted a message in the gradual interview yesterday Informing SRD In case he wasn't aware. I love Torchwood but credit should go where credit is due and if SRD is uncredited it just isn't right not to mention putting a false translation on the words of Power. It might take a while before he gets to the message though as I think he is a bit behind on answering questions.

I did the same regarding the phrase in the D&D2 movie. However, I'm unsure how much he can do in this regard... but it's better for him to know, anyway.

Post by **Kenaustin Ardenol** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 10:50 am

Hey Flytrap, Did the words really leap out at you too, I thought Owen was making some sort Of Joke and there was going to be some sort of reference to Thomas Covenant.

Post by **Flytrap** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 12:33 pm

<<Hey Flytrap, Did the words really leap out at you too, I thought Owen was making some sort Of Joke and there was going to be some sort of reference to Thomas Covenant.>>

That's what I thought, too; has to be a Covenant reference here. But then they came up with that funky translation. The episode itself was below par, too, I thought.

YouTube · Post by **Menolly** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 1:10 pm

I have no comment on the episode, other than what has already been stated.

But, I do want to welcome Flytrap to the Watch.

Be welcome to the Watch, Flytrap. Be Well Come and True.

Post by **Nav** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 2:46 pm

Can't it just be a nod to Covenant? It's not like the words were in any way integral to the story, he could've raved anything they wanted. People pay homage like that all the time, the credits for a show like Spaced, South Park or Family Guy would go on forever if they had to credit them all.

Post by **Flytrap** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:57 pm

Can't it just be a nod to Covenant?

Not sure how this could be, as they translated the phrase later into something entirely different from the original context. I haven't checked the credits yet; will do that when I get home tonight.

Post by **Flytrap** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:44 pm

OK, I checked the credits thoroughly and there is no credit/reference to SRD or the Chronicles. This means it's plagiarism.
I wonder if it was unintentional; did the writer think he came up with this on his own? That seems unlikely, as the ENTIRE phrase was used, verbatim.

Post by **Farm Ur-Ted** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:20 pm

Meh, I think it was just a nod/joke. I wouldn't get too upset about it. Plagiarism is a little strong there. You could also call it a mild bit of parody.

Post by **Sunbaneglasses** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:53 pm

Surely it was done in tribute, other words could have easily been written. It would suck for someone to be sued for tossing a nod in the direction of one of their favorite author.

Post by **Flytrap** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:09 am

Surely it was done in tribute, other words could have easily been written. It would suck for someone to be sued for tossing a nod in the direction of one of their favorite author.

Then it should have been listed in the credits and due given.
Thing is, had they said just it once, nodded and/or somehow attributed it to Covenant or SRD, I wouldn't give it a second thought. But the phrase was repeated several times and then translated as something else. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it didn't come across as a tribute; it felt like a rip off.

If you haven't seen it, it should be on BBC America or Sci-Fi channel within a couple of weeks. I'd like for you to see this before commenting on it further.

Flytrap

Post by **Loredoctor** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:10 am

Flytrap wrote:Then it should have been listed in the credits and due given.
Thing is, had they said just it once, nodded and/or somehow attributed it to Covenant or SRD, I wouldn't give it a second thought. But the phrase was repeated several times and then translated as something else. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it didn't come across as a tribute; it felt like a rip off. If you haven't seen it, it should be on BBC America or Sci-Fi channel within a couple of weeks. I'd like for you to see this before commenting on it further.

Flytrap

I agree.

Post by **I'm Murrin** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:16 am

Funny considering your avatar, Lore, but according to Wikipedia they also used a line from Cracker in the ep.

Post by **Loredoctor** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:26 am

Murrin wrote:Funny considering your avatar, Lore, but according to Wikipedia they also used a line from Cracker in the ep.

That's great!

Post by **Sorus** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:18 am

I don't know how I feel about it, at least without knowing the reason behind it. Metallica used uncredited quotes from LFB. It would have been nice if it had been acknowledged, and translated correctly. But I think it would actually be kinda neat if it was intended as an inside joke.

Post by **Seareach** » Sun Feb 24, 2008 3:51 am

It's not plagiarism. SRD can't copywrite words...even if they're his made up words. I can write a book and call my characters Thomas Covenant, Gollum and Aslan and get away with it. ...but I'd be silly to do it. Really, they're just "words". It's a bit daft they're using them (out of context) but I don't think they're under any legal obligation to include SRD in the credits.

If anything, I think it's a good "nod" (as Nav says). Anyway, SRD likes Dr Who. And it's got people talking (wanting to know where the words come from). That's great publicity for The Chronicles.

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

Torchwood ripped off SRD?

Torchwood ripped off SRD?

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