[OT] WotC being bullies again?

[Krug]

http://www.gamingreport.com/article.php?sid=4386&mode=thread&order=0

Magic Patent Extended, Strengthened

 

[CWD]

I wouldn't call that being a bully, I'd call that trying to maintain control of their invention.

 

[Holy Bovine]

Yes, but they have money - so if they try to protect their inventions then they must be bullies.

The only thing I'm surprised at is that WotC didn't have their CCG system patented in full right from the beginning.

 

[Black Omega]

The WotC patenting the CCG thing is pretty old news really, though they may have just formalized the final legal side of it recently. It's a little pointless to call them bullies if they aren't actually picking on anyone yet, though. Wait until they smackdown Wizkids or someone and then we can complain. Though as an old BattleTech fan, anything they do to Wizkids is fine with me.

 

[Krug]

I agree it's old news, and hardly anyone else besides WotC is making CCGs anymore. They appear to want to extend the patent so that they can crush Mage Knight.

Well Ryan Dancey has updated the thread with his take on the issue. Frankly I just think it's ugly. Doubt if it'll get extended beyond CCGs and that genre is dead anyhow.

http://www.gamingreport.com/comment...d=4386&pid=283&mode=thread&order=0&thold=#284

 

[Zappo]

It's not WotC being bullies, it's the copyright laws that have a few issues.

 

[Ranger REG]

Though as an old BattleTech fan, anything they do to Wizkids is fine with me.

Why? Just because they're trying a different approach doesn't spell the end of BattleTech.

BTW, I did report that WizKids have licensed what is now called Classic BattleTech to a Germany-based company, FanPro. They will continue that product line. In fact, you should ask your FLGS if they have Technical Readout: 3067 on sale, the first Classic BattleTech product since FASA have shut down, and all IP have been transferred/acquired by a former FASA founder, Jordan Weisman, now owner of WizKids.

On-Topic... I don't see how their strengthening their TCG patent have anything to do with the Clickable/Collectible Miniatures Combat Game, unless the "collectable game piece" part is the main issue.

 

[trancejeremy]

Wait until they smackdown Wizkids or someone and then we can complain. Though as an old BattleTech fan, anything they do to Wizkids is fine with me.

Yeah, mean old Wizkids. Sure was evil of them to license out classic battletech to FanPro, to make sure all their old battletech fans get new products, despite the fact it won't make them any money.

 

[Black Omega]

Why? Just because they're trying a different approach doesn't spell the end of BattleTech.

Well, Wizkids initial comments were along the lines of "We're trashing 90% of Battletech and just keeping the history and mech designs." It wouldn't be the end of Battletech as a game. But the new BT would not have had anything to do with the past product aside from giant robots.

I'd not heard the FanPro news. That sounds encouraging.

On-Topic... I don't see how their strengthening their TCG patent have anything to do with the Clickable/Collectible Miniatures Combat Game, unless the "collectable game piece" part is the main issue.

I suppose by the very loosest definition, anything using collectable something could fall under it. It does seem like quite a stretch though.

 

[mooker]

Looks like Wizkids is going to have a Mechwarrior-Mage Knight lookalike.

See here -> http://www.wizkidsgames.com/mwdarkage/

Yes I hear screams...