Third Party Character Creation iOS App Removed

The d20 Fight Club for D&D 5th Edition iOS app has been removed from the Apple App Store by its creator at the request of WotC. The creator reports that he received a Cease & Desist demand (although it's worth noting that some supposed recent C&Ds appear to have turned out to be amicable requests). This follows on from the removal of the D&D Tools website and the more recent online character generator.

The creator reports that "I received a cease and desist order from Wizards of the Coast. All D&D apps will be removed from the App Store as they weren't compliant with WotC's copyrights and trademarks. Hopefully they'll be back in some form someday. Til then, thanks for all the support."

Nobody has actually shared one of these C&Ds yet, and others have indicated that what they actually received was simply a friendly email asking that they respect WotC's trademarks, so it's not entirely clear what is happening. Hopefully somebody will share one soon!

It does look like this particular app contained text and stat blocks copied directly from the D&D books. Below is the DM version of the app (the companion to the character creation app).

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[Kramodlog]

What gave you that impression?

A mix of common sense, lack of self-aggrandizement*, the absence of mass marketing, lack of pop culture penetration and people from the industry saying it is a niche hobby?

Spider-Man had more brand recognition in the 90s and it still led to Marvel signing a terrible contract with Sony. Which was my original point before you ignored it and hyperfocused on what you saw as a slight toward your doubleplusfavorite brand.

But please, tell me how it is awesome. I'm pretty sure a lot of people will give you XP for it.

 

[Hussar]

Interesting that you have at no point in your lengthy rant addressed the actual content of my post.

If you actually had a legitimate point, then it might be worth my time to address it. Otherwise, it's just more same old same old sour grapes.

 

[Mistwell]

Just so long as you admit it happened and very much -IS- happening and -IS- a reality that people outside the internet ARE paying attention and getting exposed to this! That's all I ever wanted....Thanks!

I trust that you saw it happen that one time. None of that says it "is" happening and "is" a reality that non-internet users are paying attention to news that is found only on the internet about a couple of small time internet tools being taken down - that's a nonsensical theory in fact. That's a new claim - that non-internet users are upset about news sourced from the internet which ONLY impacts internet users (these were all internet based tools). I am pretty sure the guys you saw talking about this read the news on the internet somewhere.

Evenglare, can you honestly and sincerely say you know this type of event you witnessed has ever been repeated, anywhere, ever? If not, why are repeating it like it has (and after you said you were done with the topic in fact)?

 

[Hussar]

A mix of common sense, lack of self-aggrandizement*, the absence of mass marketing, lack of pop culture penetration and people from the industry saying it is a niche hobby?

Spider-Man had more brand recognition in the 90s and it still led to Marvel signing a terrible contract with Sony. Which was my original point before you ignored it and hyperfocused on what you saw as a slight toward your doubleplusfavorite brand.

But please, tell me how it is awesome. I'm pretty sure a lot of people will give you XP for it.

How was the contract with Sony horrible? Five blockbuster movies that have all made mountains of money. A couple of which are considered the gold standard in superhero movies these days.

Yeah, Marvel totally screwed the pooch on that one.

 

[Kramodlog]

How was the contract with Sony horrible? Five blockbuster movies that have all made mountains of money. A couple of which are considered the gold standard in superhero movies these days.

Yeah, Marvel totally screwed the pooch on that one.

It is always worth educating oneself before speaking. It helps saving oneself from embarassement. http://www.vox.com/2014/8/11/5974743/marvels-x-men-conspiracy-theory-guardians-future

You're welcomed.

So, for the lazy ones who do not read articles. Well, the contracts weren't very good for Marvel. Like only 5% of the profits of the movies and not a lot from merchandise. There are reasons why they want to get the rights back and support the comics less and less.

But please, spin away how that guy from Disney/Marvel doesn't meen what the author of the article and I think it meens.

 

[Iosue]

The Sony contract is only bad from the perspective of Marvel having created its own studio arm. Back when the deal was made it was awesome: every few years Sony would make a Spider-Man movie, which would bring all kinds of ancillary revenue. And Marvel would have a hand in advising production, so that the movies stayed close to the character.

Marvel producing its own movies was by no means thought to be an obvious, orthodox move. It was a tremendous gamble.

 

[Derren]

If you actually had a legitimate point, then it might be worth my time to address it. Otherwise, it's just more same old same old sour grapes.

You apparently found it worth enough to reply to my post.
And your unwillingness to address my question why other companies allow fan made generators even though that would, according to some posters, mean that they forfeit all rights on the brand, and that you instead post a, in my eyes, quite hate filled rant, which only has little to do with my post speaks volumes about your attitude here.

 

[Dannager]

A mix of common sense, lack of self-aggrandizement*, the absence of mass marketing, lack of pop culture penetration and people from the industry saying it is a niche hobby?

Okay. You need to be careful about common sense, though. D&D has tremendous brand recognition.

Spider-Man had more brand recognition in the 90s and it still led to Marvel signing a terrible contract with Sony. Which was my original point

No, it wasn't, but that's okay.

before you ignored it and hyperfocused on what you saw as a slight toward your doubleplusfavorite brand.

I didn't perceive it as a slight, just something worth correcting.

But please, tell me how it is awesome. I'm pretty sure a lot of people will give you XP for it.

You need to take a step back, maybe. There are a few too many personal jabs in this post.

 

[Shasarak]

Just a quick perusal through the iPhone App Store shows dozens of third-party apps related to Magic: the Gathering. Many of those apps include not just the card text but the card art as well. Many of those apps are $0.99 or more.

How can these people get away with stealing from WotC!

 

[Jacob Marley]

How can these people get away with stealing from WotC!

They're not. Those third-parties have agreements with Wizards. That's the point. Wizards has no problem with third-party publishers that work with them.