SPECIAL NOTICE
Malicious code was found on the site, which has been removed, but would have been able to access files and the database, revealing email addresses, posts, and encoded passwords (which would need to be decoded). However, there is no direct evidence that any such activity occurred. REGARDLESS, BE SURE TO CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS. And as is good practice, remember to never use the same password on more than one site. While performing housekeeping, we also decided to upgrade the forums.
This is a site for discussing roleplaying games. Have fun doing so, but there is one major rule: do not discuss political issues that aren't directly and uniquely related to the subject of the thread and about gaming. While this site is dedicated to free speech, the following will not be tolerated: devolving a thread into unrelated political discussion, sockpuppeting (using multiple and/or bogus accounts), disrupting topics without contributing to them, and posting images that could get someone fired in the workplace (an external link is OK, but clearly mark it as Not Safe For Work, or NSFW). If you receive a warning, please take it seriously and either move on to another topic or steer the discussion back to its original RPG-related theme.

The RPGPundit's Own Forum Rules
This part of the site is controlled by the RPGPundit. This is where he discusses topics that he finds interesting. You may post here, but understand that there are limits. The RPGPundit can shut down any thread, topic of discussion, or user in a thread at his pleasure. This part of the site is essentially his house, so keep that in mind. Note that this is the only part of the site where political discussion is permitted, but is regulated by the RPGPundit.

"Space Marine" is claimed as IP now by Games Workshop

Started by Punch and Pie, February 06, 2013, 08:55:16 AM

Previous topic - Next topic
Print
Go Down Pages1 2 3 ... 8
User actions

Tahmoh

#1
February 06, 2013, 09:42:29 AM
Pretty sure this is gonna blow up in Games Workshops face if they pursue this stupid idea any further.  Would be funny to see them lose though, especially if they ended up having to start pointing out in all future products that they didnt create the term.

Sacrosanct

#2
February 06, 2013, 09:53:59 AM
How stupid.  The term was used as early as the 1930s and is a fairly common term in Sci-Fi
D&D is not an "everyone gets a ribbon" game.  If you\'re stupid, your PC will die.  If you\'re an asshole, your PC will die (probably from the other PCs).  If you\'re unlucky, your PC may die.  Point?  PC\'s die.  Get over it and roll up a new one.

Vile Traveller

#3
February 06, 2013, 10:23:53 AM
That kind of crap works because places like Amazon have idiots working for them.

beeber

#5
February 06, 2013, 10:58:44 AM
maybe they should claim "spehs mahreens" instead ;)

curious how this turns out.

crkrueger

#6
February 06, 2013, 11:07:28 AM
Guy should start an "Anti-GW Lawsuit Kickstarter", he might make enough to buy the company.
Even the the "cutting edge" storygamers for all their talk of narrative, plot, and drama are fucking obsessed with the god damned rules they use. - Estar

Yes, Sean Connery\'s thumb does indeed do megadamage. - Spinachcat

Isuldur is a badass because he stopped Sauron with a broken sword, but Iluvatar is the badass because he stopped Sauron with a hobbit. -Malleus Arianorum

"Tangency Edition" D&D would have no classes or races, but 17 genders to choose from. -TristramEvans

gattsuru

#7
February 06, 2013, 11:19:01 AM
Quote from: Vile;625471That kind of crap works because places like Amazon have idiots working for them.
Amazon's required by law to cooperate : they're only 'idiots' to the extent that they're trying not to get sued for millions of dollars.  There is no DMCA-equivalent trademark safe harbor provision, and as a result, online service providers must either immediately remove the source of any plausible trademark dispute or be immediately liable.  There aren't other large sellers doing any better, and for a reason.

The deeper problem is that it's ridiculously expensive to challenge or risk these sort of things, no matter how trivial.

Sacrosanct

#8
February 06, 2013, 11:53:50 AM
Sounds like what's needed is a social backlash, like what happened to Applebees when they fired that girl for posting the receipt.
D&D is not an "everyone gets a ribbon" game.  If you\'re stupid, your PC will die.  If you\'re an asshole, your PC will die (probably from the other PCs).  If you\'re unlucky, your PC may die.  Point?  PC\'s die.  Get over it and roll up a new one.

Ladybird

#9
February 06, 2013, 12:14:39 PM
This is insane.
one two FUCK YOU

Blackhand

#10
February 06, 2013, 12:23:24 PM
There's a lot of GW knock offs out there, like the guys at Kromlech.

If this guy's space marines aren't the "Aliens" style and are superhuman warriors in powered armor, there might be an issue.  That's the only reason I can think that the trademark would be extended to cover this fiction.

That said, I like Kromlech.  Yet they and many other companies skirt awful close to the "direct copy" zone.

Such as Kromlech's models being made specifically for GW's games.  Bad move.
Blackhand 2.0 - New and improved version!

jhkim

#11
February 06, 2013, 12:51:24 PM
Let's be clear what the issue is here.  Trademarking a word isn't a claim that the word is unique and/or can never be used.  For example, "Apple" is obviously a common word, but is still trademarked for alternate purposes by Apple Records and Apple Computers, among others.  Likewise, "Barbie" was a common nickname prior to the doll franchise, but it was still considered distinctive enough for a trademark.  

The point of trademark law is to prevent copycat products that ride on the popularity of the other brand.  

Like Apple Computer, series of books sometimes have common words or phrases that are used as their marker.  Examples would include the "American Girl" franchise or "Beast Quest".  

Games Workshop has published several series of novels including Heroes of the Space Marines, Legends of the Space Marines, Victories of the Space Marines; and Treacheries of the Space Marines.  It uses a term, "Space Marines", as the marker for its series.  So Games Workshop is making the claim that someone can't publish another novel with a title like "Triumphs of the Space Marines" because it would (they claim) be riding on and diminishing their brand.  Someone could still publish the same novel with a slightly different title, however.  

Whether that is insane or not is still a judgment call, but I'm not sure people were clear on the issue.

jhkim

#12
February 06, 2013, 12:59:07 PM
Quote from: Blackhand;625504If this guy's space marines aren't the "Aliens" style and are superhuman warriors in powered armor, there might be an issue.  That's the only reason I can think that the trademark would be extended to cover this fiction.
Trademark is different than character copyright.  

For trademark purposes, it doesn't matter at all what the space marines are like within the contents of the book.  The key issue is whether people might buy the book thinking that it is connected to one of the Games Workshop "Space Marines" series.

beeber

#13
February 06, 2013, 01:44:13 PM
Quote from: jhkim;625524Trademark is different than character copyright.  

For trademark purposes, it doesn't matter at all what the space marines are like within the contents of the book.  The key issue is whether people might buy the book thinking that it is connected to one of the Games Workshop "Space Marines" series.

yes, "spots the space marine" just screams "FOR THE EMPEROR" :p

but indeed thanks for the clarification.  :)

Blackhand

#14
February 06, 2013, 01:53:25 PM
Quote from: beeber;625529yes, "spots the space marine" just screams "FOR THE EMPEROR" :p


Actually that fits with a lot of the non-GW stories.  Almost all of them, in fact.
Blackhand 2.0 - New and improved version!
Print
Go Up Pages1 2 3 ... 8
User actions