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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[Morrus]

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...

Not exactly the same thing.

 

[Sunseeker]

Not exactly the same thing.

Not even remotely the same thing.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Not exactly the same thing.

No in the case of WoTC though there is a big pr issue Anne I understand why they not take the same tactic as I would... However I dare someone to make a Rifts app...man that would be fire works

 

[Morrus]

No in the case of WoTC though there is a big pr issue Anne I understand why they not take the same tactic as I would...

I'm fairly sure they don't behave in a psychotic manner for reasons other than PR. Ruining someone's life for making a character generator is not reasonable by any moral standard.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I'm fairly sure they don't behave in a psychotic manner for reasons other than PR. Ruining someone's life for making a character generator is not reasonable by any moral standard.

I don't believe I am psychotic...or that I have any moral issues, I just don't believe in proportional responders, I believe if someone does something against you, you have to hit them back harder to try to stop people from starting things with you . I don't believe in starting a fight, but I do believe in stopping one quickly.

I am surprised you of all people would think that a personal choice of vengeance is too far in a moral standing

 

[Morrus]

I don't believe I am psychotic...or that I have any moral issues, I just don't believe in proportional responders, I believe if someone does something against you, you have to hit them back harder to try to stop people from starting things with you . I don't believe in starting a fight, but I do believe in stopping one quickly.

I am surprised you of all people would think that a personal choice of vengeance is too far in a moral standing

Me of all people? What have I ever done to make you believe I'm a big fan of vengeance?

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Me of all people? What have I ever done to make you believe I'm a big fan of vengeance?

I don't know but I always got the feeling you were someone bad to cross... The not quick to anger but powerful anger when roused. Maybe I miss read you, but as much as I'm sure you would be polite to someone that you would not let them take advantage... Guess I was wrong.

 

[Dannager]

Haha wow this thread took a really weird turn.

 

[Uchawi]

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.

The only fan base that would be in question are those that use digital tools, but tie that to social media (also online) and the perception may radiate out farther.

 

[Hussar]

Reading this, I'm reminded of a story a while back where fans were badgering George R R Martin to hurry up and finish writing the next instalment of A Song of Ice and Fire. Neil Gaiman wrote a fantastic bit on his blog - George R. R. Martin is not your bitch.

The most relevant passage for me is:

People are not machines. Writers and artists aren't machines.

You're complaining about George doing other things than writing the books you want to read as if your buying the first book in the series was a contract with him: that you would pay over your ten dollars, and George for his part would spend every waking hour until the series was done, writing the rest of the books for you.

No such contract existed. You were paying your ten dollars for the book you were reading, and I assume that you enjoyed it because you want to know what happens next.

That's precisely what is happening here. You paid your money to buy the Dungeons and Dragons game. There is absolutely no contract stating that WOTC will produce ANYTHING beyond that. If you feel that buying the Dungeons and Dragons game somehow entitles you to have a digital character generator available, you would be very, very wrong. You can want such a thing, but, at no point in time are you actually entitled to it.

If WOTC decides to produce a digital character generator, fine and dandy, but, that is THEIR decision, not yours. Nor is the decision of some third guy who puts it online for you to use. IT'S NOT HIS PROPERTY. Full stop. There's no other way to look at this. Charging for it or for free, he or she has absolutely no right to do so. None.

Just remember, WOTC is not your bitch.