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Nintendo Shuts Down Fan-Made Zelda Movie
Andorin writes "An independently filmed adaptation of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, called The Hero Of Time, has been taken offline by Nintendo as of the end of December. The film's producers write: 'We came to an agreement with Nintendo earlier this month to stop distributing the film... We understand Nintendo's right to protect its characters and trademarks and understand how in order to keep their property unspoiled by fan's interpretation of the franchise, Nintendo needs to protect itself — even from fan-works with good intentions.' Filming for the feature-length, non-profit film began in August 2004 and the movie was completed in 2008. It premiered in various theaters worldwide, including in New York and Los Angeles, and then became available online in the middle of December, before it was targeted by Nintendo's legal team. As both an avid Zelda fan and an appreciator of independent works, I was extremely disappointed in Nintendo's strong-arming of a noncommercial adaptation to the Game of the Year for 1999."
Absolute proof isn't a luxury often available, certainly not in this case. Which do you believe? That Nintendo convinced these people that making their film was actually harmful to Nintendo, and that they truly regretted it, or that Nintendo forced them to say so despite their belief otherwise?
I don't see any evidence at all for the former proposition aside from the bare statement itself. There's plenty of circumstantial evidence for the latter proposition, however, including Nintendo's known litigious nature and the existence of such high penalties in copyright law.
Seriously- what does nintendo have besides zelda? Mario- thats it!
Just another example of how companies shoot themselves in the foot, strangle interest and circumvent a prime method of promoting their product; all in the name of that false idea of "protecting themselves". Had some one in their executive management pulled their head out of their ass, they could have capitalized on this to no end. Not that I care one way or another how this played out. It just seems one of the major problems companies have is the; not invented here syndrome.
My karma is not a Chameleon.
Do not confuse one group's good will with something that should be expected from everyone.
Good will should be expected from everyone. Without it, you're a dick, by definition. And when you give good will, you get it back.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
I'm not calling the GP a dick, I'm calling Nintendo dicks. Shutting down someone's project just because you can is a dick move. Being nice about it would get Nintendo good publicity, keep the fan community healthy, etc. It's a win win situation, and the only reason to shut down this project is to be a dick because you can be.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
Exactly - oh bawwwww you spent 4 years and lots of time and money to make something based on a franchise you don't have rights to? I'm so sorry! Seriously, all of the effort could have been used in a much more productive way - they could have, you know, written their own set of characters, their own story (granted, I don't know how closely the movie follows Nintendo's lore), and done the work to create a really good, quality independent film. Or they could have donated it to better Zelda games in the future. Or fuck, taken up a new pass-time - such as crocheting.