Games Workshop Sues Warhammer Online Fansite

chalkyj writes "WarhammerAlliance.com (run for the last five years as one of the leading fansites for the MMORPG Warhammer Online) is being sued by Games Workshop for the use of the 'Warhammer' name, 'cybersquatting' and 'unfair competition.' This lawsuit is yet another in Games Workshop's disturbing pattern of suing their fans and hobbyists, this time going after a legitimate fansite for their MMORPG franchise. The full complaint (PDF) has been posted online."

Wow

[deep9x]

Getting sued by GW must be frightening. You can never be sure when they're going to declare Exterminatus on your offices.

You always hurt...

[masmullin]

... the ones you love

another in Games Workshop's disturbing pattern of suing their fans and hobbyists,

Im going to open a fan site

[masmullin]

Im going to open a fan site for corporations that sue their fans.

Re:How stupid must one be?

[SpeedyDX]

Dear fans,

Please be advised that usage of the Warhammer(TM)®© name on third party websites is not legally authorized. However, we really do value our beloved fans. To show our sincerity, we have come up with a few example names that you may wish to use* to set up your fan site for your favourite online game, Warhammer(TM)®© Online. Instead of Warhammer(TM)®© Alliance, please consider another name similar to the following:

- Battlesmasher Alliance
- Fightmace Alliance
- Pewpewbangbang Friends

Now it's your turn! Try making up some names to refer to the Warhammer(TM)®© franchise without actually using the word Warhammer(TM)®©. It's more fun than you think! More fun than Warhammer(TM)®© Online anyway.

Thanks for your support of the Warhammer(TM)®© franchise.

Sincerely,
Games Workshop.

* No matter how much you wish to use them, Battlesmasher Alliance, Fightmace Alliance, and Pewpewbangbang Friends are registered trademark copyright properties of Games Workshop and may not be used for any reason whatsoever in any third party materials.

Re:How stupid must one be?

[Anonymous Coward]

Dear SpeedyDX:

It has come to our attention that your unauthorized use of our Warhammer(TM)®© trademark harms our business interests and infringes our rights and protection from libel and slander under 17 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq. and could be liable for statutory and punitive damages as high as $500,000,000,000 as set forth in Section 504(c)(2) therein.

We demand that you immediately cease the use and distribution of all infringing works, and destroy all copies, including electronic copies, of the work described above, and that you desist from this or any other infringement of our rights in the future. If we have not received an affirmative response from you by 2:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time on Saturday, 8 May 2010 indicating that you have fully complied with these requirements, we shall take further action against you.

Do not believe that such petty excuses as parody and fair use will offer protection from our Lawhammer(TM)®©.

Sincerely,

Games Workshop