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EFF Continues Fight On Blizzard Vs. Bnetd Case

Posted by simoniker on from the still-dragging-on dept.

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to a Boing Boing post discussing the continuing conflict between Blizzard Software and the makers of bnetd, linking to the latest EFF-authored court documents (PDF) in a continuing legal battle over "the free bnetd software that emulates Blizzard's free Battle.net gaming service." Boing Boing argues of the EFF's new documents: "The prose here positively sings, and is as good a treatise on fair-use reverse engineering as you could hope to read", going on to quote their argument that "...the dissimilarity between the 'BATTLE.NET' and 'bnetd project' marks alone warrants summary judgment for the Defendants on Blizzard's Count III. Also weighing heavily in Defendants' favor is the fact that Blizzard has still failed to come forward with any admissible evidence of actual customer confusion." We've previously covered this long-running legal battle on several occasions. In related news, other readers point out a $1.2 million bequest to the EFF from the estate of Leonard Zubkoff "to establish the EFF Endowment Fund for Digital Civil Liberties."

14 of 201 comments (clear)

  1. blizzard online?? by Mantorp · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm confused, don't they sell those at DQ? Let's sue.

  2. *sigh* by ohchaos · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'd just managed to convince myself Blizzard was no longer evil, and that I could look forward to purchasing W.o.W. and now slashdot's gone and reminded me that they're still evil.......

    1. Re:*sigh* by kfg · · Score: 5, Funny

      You think you've got it bad?

      I'm an AoE addict.

      KFG

  3. I hope so by ObviousGuy · · Score: 3, Funny

    We haven't had a good president since 1988.

    --
    I have been pwned because my /. password was too easy to guess.
  4. If I were in charge... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'd polymorph Blizzard

    "Don't make me turn you into a mindless sheep!"

    1. Re:If I were in charge... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      This is what REALLY happened: /** Before Warcraft III **/
      [Blizzard] I command you to cease and desist!
      [BnetD] Why what did we do wrong?
      * CAL_Darl whispers to Blizzard "Intellectual Property"
      [Blizzard] It violates intellectual property!
      [BnetD] RMS Said that you can't use that word! its bad!
      * Blizzard starts to heat up
      * CAL_Darl slaps Blizzard with a bit of a trout
      [Blizzard] Well, Cause I said so!
      [Blizzard] Its my Idea, Mine Mine!
      [BnetD] but we were clever enough!
      [Blizzard] Don't let me turn you into a mindless sheep!
      [BnetD] uhm okay...
      [BnetD] When my work is finish, I'm comming back for you! /** Post Warcraft III **/
      10:30:15 [BnetD] Look who's baaack!? :-)
      10:30:18 [Blizzard] What you're back again!?
      10:30:20 [Blizzard] That's it, i'm turning you into a mindless sheep!
      10:30:21 * Blizzard sets +polymorph on BnetD
      10:30:23 [Blizzard] Feel the pain! hahaha
      10:31:21 * lilo sets -polymorph on BnetD
      10:31:22 [Blizzard] WTF?
      10:31:24 * lilo whispers to Blizzard: Polymorph isn't permanent anymore
      10:31:26 [BnetD] That's why i'm back. your polymorph is now crap! now feel mine!

  5. Re:I'm with the AC above by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    You obviously are the AC above.

  6. ATTENTION BLIZZARD by asscroft · · Score: 5, Funny

    For the right price....

    I'll pretend to be a customer who was confused and sell out free software and legitimate uses of reverse engineering and for that matter all practical applications of intelligence and education. Why the fuck not. For the right price...

    private message me for details.

    --
    because I have been enjoined by this Holy Office to abandon the false opinion which maintains that the Sun is the centre
  7. Re:The solution is there but sadly unpopular by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
    Clearly, communism holds the key to great game design

    But games played with dirt and potatoes just aren't as fun.

  8. Re:Emulation can be the only option by abertoll · · Score: 5, Funny

    invaluable to many users who would otherwise have no means of taking advantage of the matchmaking services offered by Blizzard's official servers.

    ... looking for love in all the wrong places

    --
    "he drew his sword Ringil that glittered like ice... and he wounded Morgoth with seven wounds..."
  9. When I was younger, I was into tabletop RPGs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I find it hilarious that Blizzard can complain about copyright infringement when their entire IP is stolen from Dungeons and Dragons and Games Workshop

  10. Re:I'm with the AC above by kfg · · Score: 2, Funny

    To my brother Louie, who said I'd never remember him in my will. Hello Louie.

    Sorry. Couldn't resist.

    KFG

  11. WoW by filtur · · Score: 2, Funny
    Someone tell the EFF to leave Blizzard alone so they hurry up and release World of Warcraft :)

    (I kid, I kid)

  12. Re:The solution is there but sadly unpopular by LittleBigLui · · Score: 4, Funny
    Soviet Union produced Tetris, the most played game yet made


    No no, you've got it all backwards!
    --
    Free as in mason.