Public - GW Bashing
- Thread starter Talion
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Sand Rat
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Started as a fan film Kev - then they actually asked GW for permission, got a limited go ahead, then GW found a little bit of a German copyright law that said even if I use your material to make something, I own part of the copyright because I put my spin on it - at which point GW balked because they would \"Loose Control\" of the 40K universe -
Course who the hell makes a $20,000 110 minute long fan film?
Course who the hell makes a $20,000 110 minute long fan film?
It\'s not really a bashing is it? The problem isn\'t with GW it\'s with the German copyright laws:
As I understand it these laws give the creators IP rights that should belong to GW. Even though the film makers don\'t want these rights they are unable to turn them over to GW and therein lies the problem.
It\'s unfortunate that as it stands at present there will never be a \"proper\" GW based film as there would be massive problems with the merchandising rights. Just look at what happened to Starwars and LOTR. Spacemarine lunchboxes is the last thing we want. GW would lose too much control over their product if this were to happen as the rights would belong to the film producers rather than them. If they were to stipulate that they would retain control of these rights then no film company would touch the project.
As the article says this isn\'t a case of being killjoys it\'s just an unfortunate situation that can\'t be rectified at present. No amount of fan campaigns will change their position if anything these campaigns should be directed at the German lawmakers as it\'s their fault.
I\'m coming out on GW\'s side on this one. As a company they made the right decision even though I\'m sure that there were plenty of people at GW who wish the situation could be otherwise.
As I understand it these laws give the creators IP rights that should belong to GW. Even though the film makers don\'t want these rights they are unable to turn them over to GW and therein lies the problem.
It\'s unfortunate that as it stands at present there will never be a \"proper\" GW based film as there would be massive problems with the merchandising rights. Just look at what happened to Starwars and LOTR. Spacemarine lunchboxes is the last thing we want. GW would lose too much control over their product if this were to happen as the rights would belong to the film producers rather than them. If they were to stipulate that they would retain control of these rights then no film company would touch the project.
As the article says this isn\'t a case of being killjoys it\'s just an unfortunate situation that can\'t be rectified at present. No amount of fan campaigns will change their position if anything these campaigns should be directed at the German lawmakers as it\'s their fault.
I\'m coming out on GW\'s side on this one. As a company they made the right decision even though I\'m sure that there were plenty of people at GW who wish the situation could be otherwise.
Talion
New member
Ok bashing was a strong word but I think GW are being a bit over protective.
I\'m sure there are plenty of other German Fan films for bigger companies than GW, and you don\'t see them moaning and crying about it.
There are plenty of stupid laws in this world that would be thrown out in a court if you tried to act on them. I\'m sure UK Taxi drivers dont drive around with bails of straw in their cabs.
I think GW are being awkward for awkwards sake.
I\'m sure there are plenty of other German Fan films for bigger companies than GW, and you don\'t see them moaning and crying about it.
There are plenty of stupid laws in this world that would be thrown out in a court if you tried to act on them. I\'m sure UK Taxi drivers dont drive around with bails of straw in their cabs.
I think GW are being awkward for awkwards sake.
painterboyroy
New member
shame
maybe GW could buy the whole film off Mr Vue, after all they charge enough for minis and paints.lol but from the bit I had time to watch here at work.. lol it looks ok.
maybe GW could buy the whole film off Mr Vue, after all they charge enough for minis and paints.lol but from the bit I had time to watch here at work.. lol it looks ok.
I think GW acted properly given my limited knowledge of the situation.
I certainly don\'t think GW bashing is a fun hobby... it provides a lot of people with minis and a lot of people with jobs (apart from teh people who worked in my local store that closed recently).
It\'s all well and good having all these indy companies making great minis for great prices but at the end of the day, it\'s GW who has shops on highstreets and many many people have been introduced to the hobby at large because of walking by one.
I certainly don\'t think GW bashing is a fun hobby... it provides a lot of people with minis and a lot of people with jobs (apart from teh people who worked in my local store that closed recently).
It\'s all well and good having all these indy companies making great minis for great prices but at the end of the day, it\'s GW who has shops on highstreets and many many people have been introduced to the hobby at large because of walking by one.
Talion
New member
Don\'t get me wrong - I fully understand the legal reasons why they\'ve done it.
What I\'m saying it Typical GW to be the stick in the mud and whine for whining sake.
I\'m sure there are plenty of German StarWars fan films, but you dont see George Lucas moaning about IP.
What I don\'t like is GW is the first to nick everyone elses IP, then start crying when there\'s the slightest possibilty somebody might have some thing to do with theres
What I\'m saying it Typical GW to be the stick in the mud and whine for whining sake.
I\'m sure there are plenty of German StarWars fan films, but you dont see George Lucas moaning about IP.
What I don\'t like is GW is the first to nick everyone elses IP, then start crying when there\'s the slightest possibilty somebody might have some thing to do with theres
Sand Rat
New member
While there are certainly a number of items of questionable IP that GW uses (cough power armor cough cough Tyranids cough cough Necrons cough cough) they have probably deviated enough from the original that they are safe from lawsuit -
Although I wonder if Harlan \"F**K you James Cameron\" Ellison is aware of the Necrons.
Although I wonder if Harlan \"F**K you James Cameron\" Ellison is aware of the Necrons.
Talion
New member
Exaclty they probably have covered their backs. But when GW start getting all high an mighty about you can\'t steal our ideas, I find it laughable because 80% of their ideas aren\'t thier\'s.
I love thier minis...........but don\'t start preaching about this is our IP we came up with the idea.....when in fact you didn\'t
In my time at GW I don\'t think I ever remember anyone whining for whinings\' sake. Whining involves effort, and the less of that put into your employment the better!
The thing with this as opposed to fan films for other stuff is that GW have been in contact with the maker, which makes them fully aware of the fan film and thus legally accountable for any associated law.
I saw some of the German\'s efforts on this a while back anyway and from what I saw I think it\'s fair to say you aren\'t missing much.
EDIT - and now I just think you are getting silly. Regardless of how many sources they take inspiration from they still have one of the deepest and most creative fantasy and futuristic IPs going.
The thing with this as opposed to fan films for other stuff is that GW have been in contact with the maker, which makes them fully aware of the fan film and thus legally accountable for any associated law.
I saw some of the German\'s efforts on this a while back anyway and from what I saw I think it\'s fair to say you aren\'t missing much.
EDIT - and now I just think you are getting silly. Regardless of how many sources they take inspiration from they still have one of the deepest and most creative fantasy and futuristic IPs going.
Talion
New member
I think this is the heart of the matter GW seem to stop any attempt on using any of their stuff even for harmless reasons.
I agree they have got a fantastic fantasy world made up, but to deny they haven\'t blatantly nicked other peoples ideas, and used them for themselves is being a bit naive.
I\'m not sure exactly what you are getting at.
I\'ve never heard GW make an attempt to deny they get ideas from all over the shop and I\'ve actually heard them confirm it on plenty of occasions.
What relevance that has to them potentially handing over legal control of their IP to the maker of a fan film though, I don\'t know.
