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Legal Analysis Critical of Blizzard v Bnetd

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the how-to-look-at-it dept.

anewsome writes "As reported previously several times, Blizzard has sent a cease and desist letter to the ISP of bnetd (which develops an open source Battle.net emulator). Lawmeme.org (from the Yale Law School) has published a long piece with lots of background and legal analysis on the case. Conclusion: Blizzard has an uphill legal battle."

3 of 362 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Blizzard does have a point though... by geekoid · · Score: 3, Funny

    If Blizzard sends me a beta disk, I'll use there servers! ;) Nice to know that they pased me up, and chose some yahoo who doesn't even use there servers.
    Note to self: WC3 was NOT properly beta tested, wait 3 months after release to buy.

    this post is supposed to be funny.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  2. What is it with the letter V? by Guppy06 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Between Vivendi and Jack Valenti, it seems that things with names that begin with the letter V are out to get us...

  3. Re:It wouldnt matter by Kaa · · Score: 2, Funny

    Finally if you check the licence agreement that comes with your Blizzard games you will see:

    you are not entitled to:
    (iv) host or provide matchmaking services for the Program or emulate or redirect the communication protocols used by the Licensor in the network feature of the Program, though protocol emulation, tunneling, modifying or adding components to the Progran, use of a utility program or any other techniques now known or hereafter deceloped, for any purpose including, but not limited to network play over the Internet, network play utilising commercial or non-commercial gaming networks or as part of content aggregation networks withoug the Licensor prior written consent.

    This is just wonderful. Let's see -- as an occasionally reasonable human being I have a NAT/firewall box sitting between the big bad 'net and my home machines. Now, part of the job of this box clearly is to redirect the communication protocols ... through any other techniques ... for any purpose.

    I guess I am in breach of the license. Oooh, what should I do? Multiple-choice quiz: (1) Destroy my Diablo CD and send a panicked letter to Blizzard begging forgiveness; (2) Chuck the NAT/firewall box; (3) Loudly say FUCK THAT SHIT.

    Hard choice, really.

    --

    Kaa
    Kaa's Law: In any sufficiently large group of people most are idiots.