Do All of Your RPG Maps Now Belong To Judges Guild? ... and more?

[overgeeked]

What a bad joke. Wonder if this is going to turn into another NuTSR-style thing we get to watch slowly train wreck for years as it plays out in court.

 

[mamba]

Seems like Judges Guild's Robert Bledsaw II is claiming "creative rights" to all RPG maps using hexes or squares... and DM Screens and NPC random charts!

you are almost two weeks too late with this, would have been good on April 1st

 

[The Soloist]

What a bad joke. Wonder if this is going to turn into another NuTSR-style thing we get to watch slowly train wreck for years as it plays out in court.

Well, if it does, Morrus should take over the topic! I don't want to edit the OP for the next 2-3 years!

 

[The Soloist]

I've found and added the post by Robert Bledsaw in the OP, for those who don't want to watch the video.

 

[Wofano Wotanto]

I'm actually glad I have no positive feelings of nostalgia for Judges' Guild. It would be a shame to have fond memories tainted by the company's modern shenanigans.

 

[MGibster]

Assuming Judge's Guild was the first one to use hexes for maps and random tables in this manner, it's been almost fifty years since such things have been in use. It seems like it's a little late to start worrying about copyright claims now.

 

[The Soloist]

Assuming Judge's Guild was the first one to use hexes for maps and random tables in this manner, it's been almost fifty years since such things have been in use. It seems like it's a little late to start worrying about copyright claims now.

They did not use hexes for maps first. Avalon Hill had the Outdoor Survival game 1972, which is referenced for use in Original D&D. There are NPC random tables in OD&D in the Castle section and Wandering Monster section.

Outdoor Survival

Varied wilderness simulation scenarios - from simple survival to search and rescue.

boardgamegeek.com

 

[Staffan]

Assuming Judge's Guild was the first one to use hexes for maps and random tables in this manner, it's been almost fifty years since such things have been in use. It seems like it's a little late to start worrying about copyright claims now.

Not a lawyer, but to me that seems like something that should have been a patent if anything.

 

[Silvercat Moonpaw]

Robert Bledsaw:
“It never ends. About 6 times each year I have to take down sites for selling Judges Guild products (usually scans) that I own, just to keep hold of our sales numbers. But when I see someone producing new books drawing largely upon our past work (being mostly the work of my late father), it gets under my skin. You have a NEW way to chart progress in an RPG Fantasy world using 1, 5, or 15 mile hex grids for large outdoor areas, and square grids for interior buildings, caves, and dungeons? You have NPC or Random Charts to fill your majestic hex realm??? You selling that WITHOUT giving Judges Guild credit or holding a license? Do you understand what “creative rights” are? If it functions the same, and you did not create it, guess what! Your lawyer-buddies better check into our Product #47 from 1977, called ‘Campaign Hexagon Sub-System.’ PS: If you happen to also be a sniveling weasel that pissed away ANY chance of a license to publish OUR IP, then I guess your better start refunding people their cash!”

It starts out sounding like a guy who's simply frustrated with piracy, which is understandable. Had he stuck to that, we probably wouldn't be having this thread. Personally, I still wonder how much of that was an angry overreaction that he'll walk back once he calms down.

If he's sticking to it, then yeah, he's gone way overboard.

 

[Cordwainer Fish]

Robert Bledsaw:
“It never ends. About 6 times each year I have to take down sites for selling Judges Guild products (usually scans) that I own, just to keep hold of our sales numbers. But when I see someone producing new books drawing largely upon our past work (being mostly the work of my late father), it gets under my skin...

So he tied an onion to his belt, which was the style at the time...