Wizkids Vs. Wizards otC

[VictorC]

Did any thing ever come from the lawsuit that Wizkids filed against Wizards over the collectible strategy games.

 

[Glyfair]

Did any thing ever come from the lawsuit that Wizkids filed against Wizards over the collectible strategy games.

Lawsuits like this typically take a while (even years) to hash out. It's only been a couple of months.

 

[dmccoy1693]

Lawsuits like this typically take a while (even years) to hash out. It's only been a couple of months.

And then they usually settle out of court, and we never hear the end result. Half the time, these are done simply to generate publicity. Just take a look at White Wolf and Underworld. Do you think that that movie would have done as well as it did without WW threatening to shut down the movie? Stuff like this is a nudge, nudge, wink, wink licencing fee.

 

[Glyfair]

And then they usually settle out of court, and we never hear the end result.

I doubt this will be settled out of court, though. WizKids definitely wants the patent declared invalid, otherwise every single game along these lines could be affected. Given that these games are some of their most popular games, I think WotC would pretty much have to give them close to carte blanche before there is a settlement.

 

[HellHound]

I doubt this will be settled out of court, though. WizKids definitely wants the patent declared invalid, otherwise every single game along these lines could be affected. Given that these games are some of their most popular games, I think WotC would pretty much have to give them close to carte blanche before there is a settlement.

Why wouldn't they settle out of court if they could settle it in a manner which allows them to continue publication of said games and new games in that genre without payout to WotC?

That's exactly why most of these are settled out of court. So someone with smaller pockets can't join in on the fun, because the original patent still holds.

 

[Glyfair]

Why wouldn't they settle out of court if they could settle it in a manner which allows them to continue publication of said games and new games in that genre without payout to WotC?

If they get a settlement that allows them to continue publication of those games and any future games that WotC claims fall under the patent, then I can see them settling. Given the way WotC approached the letter to WizKids and the announcement of the patent (have you seen any other patents announced in a press release by WotC?), it certainly seems unlikely that WotC will settle unless things look bad for WotC.