Elite: Dangerous Tabletop Kickstarter Hits Snag

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The Kickstarter for the Elite: Dangerous tabletop role-playing game has hit a legal snag. Based on elements from the 1984 computer game Elite, and the sequels Frontier: Elite II and Frontier: First Encounters published by the video game publisher Frontier Development, the Elite: Dangerous tabletop game's website says:

Elite: Dangerous is the modern day incarnation of the seminal space trading game Elite. 30 years after the original game reinvented the way people experienced playing computer games, Elite: Dangerous Role Playing Game seeks to immerse the role player in the same cut throat galaxy experience by online players.

The problem seems to stem from the fact that one of the rights owners (who had purchased the rights owned by Ian Bell, one of the original developers of the first Elite) is saying that the company who is the current Elite publisher does not have the right to sublicense the rights originally owned by Bell. That is a confusing sentence, and it will no doubt require some legal unpacking to make sense of it. Without actually having access to the documents, it is impossible to figure out who is right in all of this. The basic idea seems to be:

1. Ian Bell and David Braben created the original Elite game, and co-owned some of the rights. Bell licensed his parts of the intellectual property, to allow development of future properties.
2. Chris Jordan, who is either the current owner of Ian Bell's share or the rights, or is representing Bell's share of the intellectual property stake in the Elite games, is saying that the license of Bell's rights were non-transferable. This means that, while publishers could create and publish future Elite computer games, they can not license out those rights to a third party. This would mean that Spidermind Games (the publishers of the tabletop RPG) did not actually have the rights to publish their game.

All of this seems to revolve around whether or not Frontier Development has the right to license the rights to Elite. Again, a confusing and complex sentence.

More on this as it develops...

 

[Desh-Rae-Halra]

too bad all these legal experts can't just go lend a hand to the Spidermind Games guys instead of kicking each other in the balls here

 

[Lwaxy]

ED - the game that can't seem to get it up.

I think there is no point arguing about it, their lawyers will have to figure it out.

 

[cmad1977]

too bad all these legal experts can't just go lend a hand to the Spidermind Games guys instead of kicking each other in the balls here

Some folk on this board insist on regularly shaming themselves.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Desh-Rae-Halra]

ED - the game that can't seem to get it up.

I think there is no point arguing about it, their lawyers will have to figure it out.

I know. and I do wish they wouldn't use that abbreviation. I read it and think it is either shorthand for Erectile Dysfunction, or just some guy named Ed.

 

[Desh-Rae-Halra]

I wonder how long this will take....weeks, months?
Kickstarter has made it where people can cancel their pledge, and I don't think the project was in it's last 24 hours, otherwise this clause would kick in:

"You can change or cancel your pledge at any time before the project’s funding deadline (with one exception). You can increase, decrease, or cancel your pledge at any time during the campaign, with one exception. During the last 24 hours of the campaign, you can’t decrease or cancel your pledge without contacting customer support first — if that action would drop the project below its funding goal. Once the project has been funded, you can only cancel or change your pledge by making special arrangements directly with the creator."

I hope people keep their pledges in and wait to see the outcome, but I worry that a long wait might have an adverse effect.

 

[Desh-Rae-Halra]

Newest Backer Update:

[FONT=&quot]Hi Folks,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]A quick update just to let you know what is currently happening with regards to our campaign and its current hiatus.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]We completed the paperwork required for the DMCA Counter Notification last Thursday and this notification was then sent to the complaining party (Ian Bell Elite Rights LLP and is three partners). This had to go via Kickstarter for them to pass on.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Once they had confirmed that the paperwork was in order, they sent us an email stating:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]'Your counter-notification has been received and forwarded to the original notifier. We may unhide your project 10-14 business days from now if we do not receive notification in that time that the alleged copyright owner has filed legal action relating to the allegedly infringing material.'[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]In the 5 business days since this email we have heard nothing from this LLP or its partners nor have we received any detail as to what in the books it is that we have allegedly breached. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Until we hear from Kickstarter, there is not much we can do but any news we do have, including new artwork that is still being commissioned we will publish on the following platforms.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]EDRPG Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/Elite-Dangerous-Role-Playing-Game-1866957180207364/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]EDRPG Twitter
https://twitter.com/E_DRPG[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]EDRPG Forum Page on Frontier Developments forum
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/312638-Elite-Dangerous-Role-Playing-Game[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Spidermind Games YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGRjhuJ2WUJBOlAqhvufp9g[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Spidermind Games Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/spidermindgames/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Spidermind Games Twitter Account
https://twitter.com/SpidermindGames[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](Sorry hyperlinks not permitted by KS)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Ars Technica have written an article on this and there is also a fan created EDRPG Facebook page which I strongly recommend you check out.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]https://www.facebook.com/groups/EDRPG.Fans/[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]As soon as we know something we will be letting you know and in the meantime, many thanks for your continued patience and support.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Jon & Oliver
Spidermind Games[/FONT]

 

[imagineGod]

And the superb team at Spidermind Games are both Elite and Dangerous and defeated the forces of darkeness today, the 3rd of March.

Elite Dangerous Role Playing Game is back. Only 4 days to go to a super successful Kickstarter, so come join the party.

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[Desh-Rae-Halra]

Very happy about this!!!