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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[Maggan]

I am a serial fan material producer, for a variety of games such as Cyberpunk, Call of Cthulhu and even Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay.

Everything I do is done with my understanding that I am using other companies IP, and that they can choose to shut me down whenever they feel like it. And yet, I don't worry about it, and I wouldn't bear the companies any ill will should they send a C&D to me.

It's part of the game, it's not something that's never ever has been on the table ever before in the history of games.

And someone being shut down after selling stuff using another company's IP? A given, and really something no one should be surprised by or in my opinion even upset about.

Still the app looked good, judging from the screenshot.

/Maggan

 

[Uchawi]

They just run the risk of offending the players, who may want to play the game, but nothing official has been released for "online/offline tools". I believe the better approach would be to correct what was done wrong, i.e. distributing copyright material found in books, but otherwise leave the app alone.

 

[Maggan]

If the problem can be corrected by removing the copyrighted material, there should be no problem for the app creator to rerelease the app soon enough. If it's not using any IP from WotC, then there's nothing they could do about it.

So we'll see how much utility was from using the copyrighted material, and how much was from other, non-copyrightable functions.

/Maggan

 

[Mistwell]

WotC/Hasbro manages to appeal to a divided fan base with a new edition. Then it manages to divide it again. If only clear communications were made to explain stuff to fans.

The fan base is not dividing over these events. Almost nobody had even heard of these things, let alone used them. No meaningful number of people are going to react strongly over any of this. It takes a heck of a lot more to divide a fanbase.

 

[DaveMage]

WotC having a clear fan and commercial policy would certainly be the best solution. Unfortunately, I doubt even they know at this point what they want. (And, of course, "they" is actually different groups within the company so who knows when we will actually see something.)

They seem to be making it up as they go along with regard to D&D. (Which I guess can be expected since, for the first time in its history, the flagship of D&D is not the RPG, but the brand.)

 

[Dannager]

Whatever. I already know the Pathfinder system. 13th Age has some great ideas but the numbers are too large to work with. I will join the Pathfinder Party. It's been a good experience and a learning experience being a part of the 5th Edition play-test. But now it is time to move on to Pathfinder and support them for awhile.

Uh-huh.

 

[Jeremy E Grenemyer]

I wonder if the developer forked over to WotC any of the money he made?

The least he can do for stealing from them.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I wonder if the developer forked over to WotC any of the money he made?

The least he can do for stealing from them.

If I were WoTC I would sue for all profits plus damages plus punitive and bankrupt the guy...

 

[Morrus]

If I were WoTC I would sue for all profits plus damages plus punitive and bankrupt the guy...

How vindictive of you.

Fortunately, I'm pretty sure WotC is made up of fairly nice people.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

How vindictive of you.

Fortunately, I'm pretty sure WotC is made up of fairly nice people.

Yea. I get vindictive sometimes... You don't want to know what I would do if I ever fought the guy who 5 years ago broke in to my house and stole almost a thousand dollar worth of gifts, our tv, and my mothers jewelry box...I can't really say Eather in a form friendly way...