WotC may have sent the Pinkertons to a magic leakers home. Update: WotC confirms it and has a response.

[Snarf Zagyg]

So, everything you've posted in this thread is gross,

I am sorry that the truth offends you, or that you struggle with honesty.

But some of us are second-generation descendants of Pennsylvanian coal miners and don't have to "Google" why seeing Pinkerton in the news is alarming. Again, to my knowledge, not even Amazon or Google has them shaking people down.

Some of us are (1) descended from West Virginia coal miners, (2) understand far too well the deficiencies in modern labor law, and (3) find the unthinking rudeness of your comments, that are trying to make a false equivalency between asking for the return of stolen property and VIOLENTLY SUPPRESSING WORKERS' RIGHTS not just gross, but wildly offensive.

But hey, you do you.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

A lot of companies put a lot of money into marketing their products. It's not a far stretch to think WoTC probably put some cash into marketing this game/cards/whatever. Some YouTuber leaking these cards would probably defeat the purpose of spending money on marketing. I'm willing to bet all the money in your pocket, to all the money is that other guy's pocket that WoTC probably won't be able to get a refund on the money they spent from the vendors that provided various marketing services.

I would like to hear from one of ENWorld's many lawyers about whether this guy committed a crime or whether WotC has a civil case against him. I'm guessing no, because they wouldn't have sent the Pinkertons to him if so -- lawyers would have sent him an email (and physically served him) instead.

That being said, the incident doesn't appear to be such a violent occurrence. Some guys showed up and told the YouTuber to turn over the cards. They collected the card and the foil wrapping. They counted the cards. They gave him a number to call. I don't see where they punch his dog and kicked his wife and insulted his cat.

The fact that they have hired the Pinkertons at all is a huge red flag. I'm giving the people shrugging at this the benefit of the doubt that they don't really know who these guys are. This is like sending the Mafia to recover these cards.

 

[Bedrockgames]

This is like sending the Mafia to recover these cards.

I think you mean "legitimate businessmen"

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

My understanding is that WotC was reacting to Youtube videos posted under a pseudonym. So it isn't like WotC could Google up the phone number to have a discussion. Getting a home address from that sounds like "actual investigation".

Getting folks' real identities and home addresses is a lot easier than fiction makes it look. Once you've got the name, getting the home address is just a matter of a Lexis/Nexis search, which any investigation firm (and many other companies) has access to.

Once they have that info, they don't need to go to his house. That's the time you fire up LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc., and see who else they're in contact with and find the least degrees of separation to WotC, specifically the list of access to people with the cards.

If WotC couldn't figure out where these cards came from without physically seeing them, then have have additional issues on their end.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Honestly this was the first time I'd heard of the Pinkertons, how do they get away with this kind of criminal behavior?

When you work for the rich and powerful, it's weird how often your problems disappear.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It does seem heavy-handed, and a bad choice for Hasbro's image in the wake of recent fiasco. Hard to imagine why they thought this move was worth it.

 

[Bedrockgames]

So, everything you've posted in this thread is gross, but this in particular bears correction --

I don't think attacking one another is great here. I am very concerned about WOTC's behavior. I also like Snarf Zagyg as a poster and think it's valuable to get contrary opinions. Snarf is intelligent and a good contributor to the forum. We aren't going to all agree on everything all the time. And we don't need to go to war with one another just because some of us are angry at WOTC and some aren't. I can count on Snarf to challenge my ideas in these threads and it is something I appreciate (even in a topic as contentious as this one)

 

[Weiley31]

Well, I guess when inviting them over for this particular One-Shot, this was how WoTC described/envisioned the session when hiring these players.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It does seem heavy-handed, and a bad choice for Hasbro's image in the wake of recent fiasco. Hard to imagine why they thought this move was worth it.

At the very least, hire a different investigation firm.

I assume whoever is managing WotC PR at this point just sits in their office all day and weeps.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

I would like to hear from one of ENWorld's many lawyers about whether this guy committed a crime or whether WotC has a civil case against him. I'm guessing no, because they wouldn't have sent the Pinkertons to him if so -- lawyers would have sent him an email (and physically served him) instead.

It depends.*

If they are conducting an investigation, and from the timing of this it would appear that the cards had not reached distribution channels yet, you would normally want to secure the physical objects first. Usually you do this by making a request or demand.

Absent this, you would move for an injunction- the issue of what action you would move under, and what would be pled (and/or supported through affidavit) would depend on what was reasonably known at the time. It would seem, again, that this is not property that he would be permitted to have.

Because he is definitely not in privity with WoTC, it's not as simple as going after him directly with the usual (NDA, trade secrets, breach of duty, etc.). But you would definitely be able to file a legally cognizable claim, even if it's something as stupid as conversion. Exact claims would depend on jurisdiction.



*What? Next time, hire a one-armed attorney.