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This article is from the Anime FAQ, by Steve Pearl with numerous contributions by others.

09 Lupin, Rupan, What'S Going On Here? Why The Different Names For The Same Guy?

The reason for the difference in names is a matter of international copyright. Lupin III is based on a series of French novels about a gentleman thief known as Lupin. Monkey Punch's anime charecter is purported to be the grandson of the first Lupin. Now here's where the fun part comes in... It's been about 50 years since the death of the author, which makes the Lupin copyright public domain, internationally. AnimEigo is trying to avoid any copyright problems by calling it Rupan. Streamline, on the other hand, after refering to him as The Wolf to avoid similar problems has reverted to the Lupin name now that they can. You may notice that the Japanese pronounciation of the word is "Rupan."

 

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