Magic The Gathering publisher, Wizards of the Coast (WotC), has severed its relationship with artist David Sondered after he was accused of plagiarism. Sondered had worked on Lost Caverns of Ixalan but has now been suspended from working on MTG until further notice. WotC stated that using artwork without permission violates their artist guidelines.
The allegations arose when artist Lorenzo Lanfranconi pointed out the similarities between one of his paintings and the background of the card Wayfarer’s Bauble, which was released as part of Lost Caves of Ixalan. Sondered took responsibility for the incident and explained that he often uses artwork as a reference when starting to paint MTG art. However, in this case, the changes made were not enough to disguise the original source.
Sondered’s statement received significant backlash from MTG fans, leading to the closure of his studio’s social media accounts. Legal action is also being considered against individuals who have harassed his family members. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in the history of MTG, and WotC’s response has been to sever ties with the artist until further notice.
| Date | Event | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 18 | Lorenzo Lanfranconi accuses David Sondered of stealing his artwork for Wayfarer’s Bauble | N/A |
| Nov. 18 | David Sondered takes responsibility and explains the use of artwork as a reference | N/A |
| Nov. 18 | WotC suspends David Sondered from working on MTG | N/A |
| Nov. 18 | Social media accounts for Sondered’s studio are closed down | N/A |
| Nov. 18 | Possible legal action considered against harassers of Sondered’s family | N/A |
Source: DOTESPORTS
