Outlaw Press stolen artwork accusations

We're not judges or jurors. We're customers and I don't see why potential rpg customers should have to wait for the courts. I think people can read that RPG.net thread, come to their own conclusions, and act accordingly. What has happened seems pretty obvious to me.

Sure I agree, but I think it is fair to be careful with our language as the mod requested. At this point it is an accusation. And we shouldn't shy away from discussing it. And I agree with those who are shocked by this news. I would just be careful about how we describe what has occured.

I just feel bad that a great game (Tunnels & Trolls) and one of this hobby's great gentlemen (Ken St. Andre) have gotten tangled up in this mess, and would encourage everyone to look to Flying Buffalo and Fiery Dragon for their T&T needs.

I have to admit I never played Tunnels and Trolls but one of my good friends is a big fan. He even points to meeting Jim Shipman as a hilight from his childhood.
 

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Is Outlaw Press attributing the art work to anyone in their products? I mean, just looking at the PDF, wow...... That's some pretty blatant illegal art reuse if they didn't get permission.

I mean, he didn't even try to rotate the images, flip 'em, mash 'em up with other images or modify the hues.

It varies - some, they're attributed to someone else. Some, they're just not attributed at all. He likes to mix it up.
 

This whole thing is a shame. I can't help but feel sympathy for Rick Loomis, Ken St. Andre, and all of the other artists and fans (e.g., Nick Berquist, Oliver Legrande, etc) that have been injured by Outlaw Press. :(
 


I know the feeling. My wife and I are initiating legal proceedings against a company selling one of my wife's previously published novels as a PDF, internationally.

The really irritating thing at this point is to get law enforcement off their butts and to start doing their job. It seems that certain crimes are not serious enough to bother enforcing the law.
 

I know the feeling. My wife and I are initiating legal proceedings against a company selling one of my wife's previously published novels as a PDF, internationally.

The really irritating thing at this point is to get law enforcement off their butts and to start doing their job. It seems that certain crimes are not serious enough to bother enforcing the law.

That really sucks for you and your wife and I hope your lawyer crushes them, but usually these cases aren't handled by law enforcement at all but by the courts. The cops don't show up at someone's house and arrest them for copyright infringement (as nice as that would be to see) because these are civil cases, not criminal.
 


That really sucks for you and your wife and I hope your lawyer crushes them, but usually these cases aren't handled by law enforcement at all but by the courts. The cops don't show up at someone's house and arrest them for copyright infringement (as nice as that would be to see) because these are civil cases, not criminal.


Actually, copyright infringement can involve the police. I first learned that when a mom and pop movie rental place was shut down by the police for having a lot of illegal copies of movies they were selling/renting.

Since this is also international, it still involves police/authorities. The FBI for in the US, and I don't know yet for the distribution across national lines.

Remember, copyright infringement can get you jail time, not just fines.

Edit:

Since people like to claim I don't know what I am talking about I figured I would provide you with the actual prison sentences that can result from copyright infringement that involves distribution:

2319 · Criminal infringement of a copyright2

(a) Any person who violates section 506(a) (relating to criminal offenses) of title 17 shall be punished as provided in subsections (b), (c), and (d) and such penalties shall be in addition to any other provisions of title 17 or any other law.

(b) Any person who commits an offense under section 506 (a)(1)(A) of title 17 —

(1) shall be imprisoned not more than 5 years, or fined in the amount set forth in this title, or both, if the offense consists of the reproduction or distribution, including by electronic means, during any 180-day period, of at least 10 copies or phonorecords, of 1 or more copyrighted works, which have a total retail value of more than $2,500;

(2) shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, or fined in the amount set forth in this title, or both, if the offense is a second or subsequent offense under paragraph (1); and

(3) shall be imprisoned not more than 1 year, or fined in the amount set forth in this title, or both, in any other case.

(c) Any person who commits an offense under section 506(a)(1)(B) of title 17 —

(1) shall be imprisoned not more than 3 years, or fined in the amount set forth in this title, or both, if the offense consists of the reproduction or distribution of 10 or more copies or phonorecords of 1 or more copyrighted works, which have a total retail value of $2,500 or more;

(2) shall be imprisoned not more than 6 years, or fined in the amount set forth in this title, or both, if the offense is a second or subsequent offense under paragraph (1); and

(3) shall be imprisoned not more than 1 year, or fined in the amount set forth in this title, or both, if the offense consists of the reproduction or distribution of 1 or more copies or phonorecords of 1 or more copyrighted works, which have a total retail value of more than $1,000.

(d) Any person who commits an offense under section 506(a)(1)(C) of title 17 —

(1) shall be imprisoned not more than 3 years, fined under this title, or both;

(2) shall be imprisoned not more than 5 years, fined under this title, or both, if the offense was committed for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain;

(3) shall be imprisoned not more than 6 years, fined under this title, or both, if the offense is a second or subsequent offense; and

(4) shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, fined under this title, or both, if the offense is a second or subsequent offense under paragraph (2).
 
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Okay, well good luck with that. Personally, I'd prefer the FBI concentrating on terrorists and violent criminals and let the courts handle everyday copyright infringement as is normally done, but hey...

Edit: That sounded a lot harsher than I intended it to - I apologize, Treebore.
 
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Okay, well good luck with that. Personally, I'd prefer the FBI concentrating on terrorists and violent criminals and let the courts handle everyday copyright infringement as is normally done, but hey...

Edit: That sounded a lot harsher than I intended it to - I apologize, Treebore.

:lol:

Hey! I would too! Unfortunately criminals won't stop committing lesser crimes! The only way to do that is put them in prison and make them pay fines, etc...

Fortunately the FBI seems to be capable of multi tasking.

Plus they have a lot of help on the violent criminals front.
 

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