Except GF didn't take a picture, drawing, or model of Baragon and drew over/added stuff onto it. Nidoking is a classic example of a homage, yes its based on Baragon with some visual similarities, but Nidoking is just as much as its own unique creature. It has a different posture, different body proportions, very different silhouette, not to mention different art style and presentation. You're not going to confuse a costume of Nidoking for a giant kaiju monster, just like you're not going to confuse Baragon for a Pokemon.
It... it really doesn't, Nidoking's ears are rounded and he has a white chest, but otherwise is just Baragon, yes one is a rubber costume and the other is a drawing but how does that change anything? is not as if the postures of either are static, their silhouettes vary only in the ears, Baragon is even called "Fierce King of the Underground" he's a ground type
also, art style? aren't we talking about character design?
here's realistic Nidoking
here's realistic Baragon
also also, don't see how "hey kids want to command a not-kaiju in RGP battles?" is so different from "hey kids want to command a not-pokemon in FPS battle?"
also also also,
what are we even arguing?!
that they literally ripped the model of pokemon and edited them a little?
some 3D modelers say yes, some 3D modelers say no, the fact that all reports say Nintendo is suing for patent infringement and not for stealing assets points to "they didn't"
that either Nidoking or
grass Cinderace (we really need to find out that guy's name) Verdash are somehow
not derivative of other characters? sorry but no, both
absolutely derivative of other characters; not based-on-some-popular-concepts, straight up resemble-but-are-legally-distinct-from-this-specific-character
that one's a homage and one a rip-off? how can you tell when someone is homaging something versus when they're ripping the off? intent
and how do you know someone's intent?
mind reading, no literally mind reading, oh sure we
claim we can read someone's intent, but just on this argument 2 out of 2 people that have quoted my posts have misread my intent to the point I've had to spell it out word by word, and I
still think my intentions are misread; I'm not going to pretend that I can read the intent of someone I've never met and whose language I don't understad
seriously, what are we even arguing?!
I'm arguing "Palworld is not plagiarism is highly derivative work" cause I think that's an important distinction and also "patent trolling is bad" cause is suing not because you think you're right but because you think you can pay a lawyer for longer than the other guy and thus win that way