Activision/Blizzard Shuts Down King's Quest Fan Sequel

[kaldor]

Hey there!

 

After 8 years of work, and shortly before release, Activision/Blizzard prohibited the fan project for Kings Quest 9.

 

Read the story here:

 

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27441/Activision_Shuts_Down_Kings_Quest_Fan_Sequel.php

 

 

Okay, TDM is trying not to harm the IP of Eidos - or recently Square/Enix - with not mentioning the main chars and places. But, come on, the reference is absolutely clear. I am not sure, if this mod could be sued despite not having "Garrett" and "Hammerites". I am a little scared, as they want to release "Thi4f" in the next years. Don´t you think they might have an interest in shutting TDM down? Are you prepared for a response on this?

[Springheel]

The case you quote is entirely different than our situation. They had requested the right to use IP, were given that right under a specific license, and it was later revoked.

 

We have used none of Eidos' intellectual property, and won't host or support FMs that do, so we have had no need to get permission from Eidos. The fact that TDM and Thief have lots of similarities is of no more significance than D&D and Lord of the Rings have similarities.

[Serpentine]

It's highly unlikely that they could do anything to TDM besides go for trivial stuff(scare tactics) which sane courts would throw out. Also since the code and assets are now public domain, its unlikely that any action would be a killing blow

[kaldor]

What I meant with similarities is: It is like building a car that looks like a Porsche 911, but not calling it that way. It is some sort of plagiarsm. But I am not a lawyer - and if you say it is not a problem, I will believe you.

 

Apart from the law and the possibilites, I guess the main reason why Eidos (Square/Enix) is not going to attack TDM, is that it will not continue the official Thief-story. That will be reason, why I will buy Thief 4 (if the previews arent´t that terrible). I want to know whats going on with Garrett. That way, both thief-like-games can coexist.

[Melan]

It is not plagiarism, since ideas and aesthetics, as well as game mechanics cannot be copyrighted. Copyright only applies to specific artistic presentation. See the following citation from the US Copyright Office, with my emphasis:

Copyright does not protect the idea for a game, its name or title, or the method or methods for playing it. Nor does copyright protect any idea, system, method, device, or trademark material involved in developing, merchandising, or playing a game. Once a game has been made public, nothing in the copyright law prevents others from developing another game based on similar principles. Copyright protects only the particular manner of an author's expression in literary, artistic, or musical form. Material prepared in connection with a game may be subject to copyright if it contains a sufficient amount of literary or pictorial expression. For example, the text matter describing the rules of the game or the pictorial matter appearing on the gameboard or container may be registrable.

[Baddcog]

What I meant with similarities is: It is like building a car that looks like a Porsche 911, but not calling it that way. It is some sort of plagiarsm. But I am not a lawyer - and if you say it is not a problem, I will believe you.

 

Apart from the law and the possibilites, I guess the main reason why Eidos (Square/Enix) is not going to attack TDM, is that it will not continue the official Thief-story. That will be reason, why I will buy Thief 4 (if the previews arent´t that terrible). I want to know whats going on with Garrett. That way, both thief-like-games can coexist.

 

Alot of VW's have a striking similarity to earlier models of BMW's. In fact my BMW 325 had been mistaken for a VW Jetta by some people. All cars have 4 wheels...

 

Also, some of the Thief4 team is said to have tried TDM and said it was a good effort. So they are aware, don't feel threatened, and even gave props. I think that alone says they have no issues.

[jdude]

This mod won't be shut down, it has no relation at all to thief. It's the fans which are drawing similarities not the mod. And lets say the mod was threatened, I'd make it my life goal to keep this mod going underground anyways.

[AluminumHaste]

It is not plagiarism, since ideas and aesthetics, as well as game mechanics cannot be copyrighted. Copyright only applies to specific artistic presentation. See the following citation from the US Copyright Office, with my emphasis:

 

 

Yeah you don't Copyright a name you Trademark it.

[Crispy]

Also, some of the Thief4 team is said to have tried TDM and said it was a good effort. So they are aware, don't feel threatened, and even gave props. I think that alone says they have no issues.

Not to play devil's advocate or anything (because the assurances that everyone is giving in this thread are all true): Keep in mind that the Thief 4 team are developers. Us developers are generally pretty cool folk who have absolutely no issue with homages or whatever, because we're sane. The companies who make legal threats against fan projects are generally publishers. Large, short-sighted publishers, with legal departments who need to look like they're pulling their weight.

 

That said, Eidos has absolutely no leg to stand on regards shutting down TDM, so it doesn't matter what anyone at Eidos (developer or publisher or lawyer) thinks of TDM.

[Irenices]

They said it was a "good effort", not incredible?

 

We'll see about that after they put out -deadly shadows 2:deadlier shadows.

[Goldchocobo]

They said it was a "good effort", not incredible?

 

We'll see about that after they put out -deadly shadows 2:deadlier shadows.

 

Deadlier shadows? Lol!

[Baddcog]

They said it was a "good effort", not incredible?

 

We'll see about that after they put out -deadly shadows 2:deadlier shadows.

 

 

I don't know the exact words, and they didn't say much which is understandable. But it was something along those lines, very good for an unproffesional team ...

[stumpy]

the only difference between a professional team and a non professional team, is time and money.

 

Although if activision and blizzard bothed to think it through they could probably fund the finishing of the king quest game and release it as being a real game they could both make money from, like valve do.eg like gary's mod.

Edited March 4, 2010 by stumpy

[Tels]

the only difference between a professional team and a non professional team, is time and money.

 

I disagree, the difference is "professional behaviour", e.g. proper management (that stops non-sensive squabbling, or people pulling in different directions etc.). Time and Money can be bigger in amateur teams than in commercial enterprises, and vice versa. And the "professionality" of the team is actually not really depending on their time and money - both cases can be very amateur or very professional.

 

 

Although if activision and blizzard bothed to think it through they could probably fund the finishing of the king quest game and release it as being a real game they could both make money from, like valve do.eg like gary's mod.

 

Sometimes I think they don't want money, they want control, and hope they get money as a side-effect (and since it usually works, they are strengthen their belief they need more control...)