C-netizens are Appalled at Streaming Giant Youku Ripping Off Netflix Hit Squid Game with Childhood Game Program Squid’s Victory

This feels so blatant, and illegal, that I wonder who thought it could be gotten away with? Chinese streaming platform Youku, one of the big sites, announced today a new program called Squid’s Victory that combines story narrative with team advancement using childhood games as the basis for mental and physical challenges. The above is the title and logo design, look familiar? Of course it was a direct knockoff of Netflix hit drama Squid Game and I highly doubt Youku bought the licensing rights to remake it, what with Netflix being banned in China so there isn’t even staff there to negotiation with. I do appreciate sensible reactions from C-netizens, namely abject embarrassment and shame at a Chinese company’s appropriation, from the subject matter to using Squid in its name and of course copying the font and colors in the logo design. Youku apologized a day later and changed the name to Game’s Victory and also changed the logo design and claimed the earlier one was mistakenly posted. Riiiiiight.