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Aric Queen, former executive producer of ChinesePod, writing from exile, appears to think so. Once upon a time, his friend Frank Fradella flew to Shanghai and approached ChinesePod with a pitch for a new show designed to teach foreigners how to recognise radicals [see video below]. He was told by the Shanghai startup that they didn't have the budget for the show and Fradella flew home a little dejected, but that was that.
Eight months later, ChinesePod released this video below as premium content for paying users [ripped by Aric and uploaded on Youtube]. Frank Fradella classifies the show as “Clearly Derivative, But Not Maliciously Stolen” after having spoken with John Pasden who hosts the below show. Aric,however, will have none of it and is convinced ChinesePod was guilty of stealing.
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I'm not even sure it's derivative. Every child who learns Chinese starts with 人 as the first radical they learn. Neither Frank or John are original in that sense.
And John, if you're reading this? If you're going to go with the "Radical" 80's theme, you really gotta find sidekicks that are more like "Bill & Ted"
Duuude, Strange things are afoot at the Circle K!
Frank Fradella doesn't seem to think it's stealing, ergo absolutely no story here.
It is well cheeky though.
And indicative of a wider problem. By that I mean, companies other than C-pod. I have this experience.
Hello! Frank Fradella here again! :)
As I've said in several places, while I was originally irked by the similarities, I've talked this over with John Pasden, who is a man of honor and integrity. There was no theft.
As dedlam pointed out above, if you are going to teach how to read Chinese characters, these are likely to be the characters used to start. This is likely to be the format you'd use, if video was going to be involved.
Do I wish I'd gotten the gig? Of course. This is how I make my living. But I'll take the show somewhere else and they'll do theirs and we'll all remain friends.
It's far less dramatic than it all seems.
Frank
The only story is that a privileged meeting with a possible subcontractor was publicized by a former employee. No employment contract? No loyalty? Good luck with that next job.