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Games Workshop Bullies Author Over Use of the Words 'Space Marine'

New submitter jzoetewey writes "An author I know (MCA Hogarth) recently had her book Spots the Space Marine taken off Amazon because Games Workshop claimed it violated their trademark. The interesting thing? Their trademark doesn't include ebooks or novels. Unfortunately, she doesn't have the money to fight them. Plus, the idea of a space marine was around long before they were: 'In their last email to me, Games Workshop stated that they believe that their recent entrée into the e-book market gives them the common law trademark for the term “space marine” in all formats. If they choose to proceed on that belief, science fiction will lose a term that’s been a part of its canon since its inception.' Cory Doctorow at Boing Boing also made this important point: 'Amazon didn't have to honor the takedown notice. Takedown notices are a copyright thing, a creature of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. They don't apply to trademark claims. This is Amazon taking voluntary steps that are in no way required in law.'"

4 of 211 comments (clear)

  1. Quick, someone trademark the term "Time Machine"! by crazyjj · · Score: 5, Funny

    We must stop them from going back in time to the 1930's to sue E. E. Smith and Robert Heinlein!

    --
    What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
  2. Re:Quick, someone trademark the term "Time Machine by LWATCDR · · Score: 4, Funny

    Done. Also got.
    Portal, Hyperspace, Warp, Starship, space dock, lander, blaster, fusion torpedo, and bent time.
    Now all your belong to us.

    --
    See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
  3. Starcraft by naroom · · Score: 4, Funny

    Boy are they gonna be mad when they find out about Starcraft!

  4. Re:Quick, someone trademark the term "Time Machine by BryanL · · Score: 5, Funny

    It looks like you dropped the base.