Kengo Kuma, the architect of Japan's new 2020 Olympics stadium, says his design has not borrowed from earlier blueprints by British-Iraqi designer Zaha Hadid that were dropped last year.
Kuma said Friday that the structures were "absolutely" different and that similarities in details of their seating and layout reflected the need to meet fire standards and other requirements.
London-based Zaha Hadid Architects says the Japan Sport Council is withholding money owed for work on the 2020 Tokyo Olympic stadium design while demanding her company give up claims to copyrights.
Kuma said he could not comment on those discussions. Hadid's company said Thursday it gave the Japanese side a report detailing similarities between her design and Kuma's, which replaced it.
Two of the companies working with Kuma worked earlier with Hadid.
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