Nintendo Warns MMO Company Over Trademark Issues 86
Gamasutra.com (news now registration free) has word that MMOG developer Webzen has received a friendly letter from Nintendo discussing the similarities screenshots of their upcoming game have with The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. The developer states that this is a coincidence resulting from the cell shades style of their game, and the particular hair and clothes show in published media. From the article: "a spokesperson from developer Webzen claims that the hero of the game does not have any fixed image, and is created by the player to be their avatar in the game world." Heads up courtesy your friendly neighborhood simoniker.
Cut/paste (Score:5, Insightful)
Make Him Spunky (Score:5, Insightful)
Wow! (Score:5, Insightful)
But then I loaded the page and saw the screenshot.
The Big N has a point.
That shot could easly pass as something directly out of WW.
Um. (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm not saying that this is or isn't a copyright infringement, but one small screenshot is hardly representitave of their work on the game as a whole, nor is the game complete.... I'm guessing that Nintendo's letter will simply protect their right to complain in the future while making the Wiki development team think about a some changes in the artwork. The style and technology lend a bit to the art effect, but short of seeing a "Jaunty Green Outfit(TM)" or a "Breeze Baton(not tm)", I'm betting that the company is smart enough to change the art such that there's no infringement by the time the final product comes out.
I hope this gets stamped out (Score:4, Insightful)
It is inevitable with MMOs increasing the ways players can customize their characters people are going to make them look like a super hero, or another video game character.
I know this is a terrible analogy but Ford and GM don't get sued for what their customers do after purchasing a car. On the service side of things my phone company doesn't get sued if I use the phone to conduct illegal activities. Why is the creator of the game responsible for the actions of their customers?
Re:I hope this gets stamped out (Score:5, Insightful)
I understand your point of the vendor not being liable for infringing after-market modifications and uses, but in this case, these shots are coming from those making and selling the game. To use your car analogy, it's like GM advertising their Corvette as easily modified to look like a Mustang and featuring such a modification in their press material.
Re:Make Him Spunky (Score:3, Insightful)
And welcome to the Missing the Point Club! As a black person myself, I think I know a bit about standing up for what you believe in. I do that everyday. As for Webzen, the character does look too much like Link. Ever seen the Sho Yu Weenie episode of Harvey Birdman?
Three points (Score:5, Insightful)
2. The letter, I don't think it was a cease-and-desist, just a warning. Nintendo's lawyers aren't actually *that* overzealous concerning matters not related to people making illegal copies of their games. It'd be nice if they were more enlightened in regard to some of their older, forgotten properties, but large corporations are not particularly known for their Buddha natures.
3. Dudes, the game's called Wiki! Has anyone asked Ward Cunningham about this?