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Games Workshop Goes After Fan Site

Posted by Soulskill on from the don't-anger-your-base dept.

mark.leaman writes "BoingBoing has a recent post regarding Games Workshop's aggressive posturing against fan sites featuring derivative work of their game products. 'Game publisher and miniature manufacturer Games Workshop just sent a cease and desist letter to boardgamegeek.com, telling them to remove all fan-made players' aids. This includes scenarios, rules summaries, inventory manifests, scans to help replace worn pieces — many of these created for long out of print, well-loved games...' As a lifelong hobby gamer of table, board, card and miniature games, I view this as pure heresy. It made me reject the idea of buying any Games Workshop (read Warhammer) products for my son this Christmas. Their fate was sealed, in terms of my wallet, after I Googled their shenanigans. In 2007 they forbid Warhammer fan films, this year they shut down Vassal Modules, and a while back they went after retailers as well. What ever happened to fair use?"

4 of 174 comments (clear)

  1. No respect for intellectual property... by puroresu · · Score: 4, Funny

    Games Workshop have every right to go after this kind of flagrant IP violation. After all, the company spent countless hours and huge amounts of money inventing orcs, elves, vampires, zombies and dwarves. They should be able to benefit from their creative efforts without some "fan" treating it as if it were in the public domain!

    1. Re:No respect for intellectual property... by Osinoche · · Score: 0, Funny

      Dearest sir. Your use of the terms Orcs, Elves, Vampires, Zombies, and Dwarves is a violation of our IP rights. Please surrender your username immediately for dismissal of a possible law suit. Yours truly Garmes Wokshop

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      Osi Osi Osi Osi Osi
  2. Re:Warhammer? by polar+red · · Score: 3, Funny

    I would've replied 'where did you live the past decades ? in your basement ?' but ...

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    Yes, I'm left. You have a problem with that?
  3. Surely this is the topic where... by williamhb · · Score: 3, Funny

    Surely this is the topic where the moderation ought to be "+1 Troll".

    (And if it's a troll, I'm guessing it's +1 to the strength stat.)