Clover Theater's Mascot 'A-Qie' Replaced Due to Copyright Disputes: When Artist Departure Costs the Company Its Icon

The ACG community is abuzz with the latest drama: the mascot 'A-Qie' from the game 'Clover Theater' has been forced into an image overhaul due to copyright issues. According to leaks, the character was designed by the artist Pomo. Since the artist has left the company, the rights to the character went with them, forcing the developers to swap out their own mascot.

Here is the comparison showing the new design, which lacks the original's iconic features.

The official explanation regarding the copyright loss is provided in the screenshot below, confirming the awkward situation where a company cannot retain rights to its own mascot.

The community response has been harsh. Players mocked the developer, 'HM' (a shorthand for the company), calling them an 'artist management firm that happens to run a game,' criticizing their lack of professional IP management. Others expressed disbelief that a developer could operate a mascot without owning the rights. Some users dug into the history, questioning if this was part of a previous 'doujin' (fan-made) collaboration that went sour.