Why would they even bother?

Backstory.

>>40927475

Huh, well that sucks I guess but as >>40927608
said. Why?

Are they making their own game or something?

Was it making a profit somehow?

Are they just douchebags?

>>40927628
http://www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?2713-Regarding-the-Mass-Effect-ENnies-Nomination

>>40927722
In short, this story is something that the people over at /mlp/ would be familiar with.

Game gets presented at large fan event, big wigs get pissed at the thing that doesn't garner any money and doesn't harm them in anyway by just existing.

>>40927772

Well, that sucks.

Teaches them not to be a fan and make content for other fans.

>>40927475
Wow, anybody got the PDFs?

>>40927475

They deserved it for not putting Talia and Samara up front instead of Mellissa.

Though I like that Jack is literally about to force punch her in the back of her head while Brute laughs.

>>40927876
Yeah, I'm a big fan of both Fate and Mass Effect, and apparently this was good enough to get a nomination. I'd kind of like the pdf myself.

>>40927950
He pulled them from the site so it'd take someone having saved them.
Really sucks.

Oh fuck, i didnt even know this existed. And my gaming group were throwing the idea around of doing a mass effect rpg using fate. we were just going to wing it with fate.

I wish i knew this was a thing before this.

>>40927475
Bioware did the takedown because US copyright requires you to actively defend your claim. Most companies do this by suing random small people who can't fight back.

>>40928273
Well, you can thank ENWorld for "doing the right thing".

>>40928378
>US copyright requires you to actively defend your claim
No it doesn't.

>>40928557
Isn't that Trademark law, rather?

Seems like the right thing to do to me. Everything good about it was stolen.

>>40928611

What was the good stuff, by the way?

>>40928611

Stolen from?

>and have heard from artists whose work was used in the product, and have established since that some artwork was not used with permission.

Yeah, this guy can go DIAF. Jesus freaking Christ.

>>40928649
The art.

>>40927772
>/mlp/
I didn't even know there was a board for bronies. Oh humanity, how you have failed me.

>>40927842
>Teaches them not to be a fan and make content for other fans.
Well, to be fair, if you make something that is obviously not approved by the creator, but has art and names of the IP all over it, you're asking for someone to tell you to take it down.

File: angry robot noises.gif (936 KB, 146x146)

936 KB GIF

>>40927889
>Talia
>Mellissa
>Brute

Are you okay, son?

>>40928761
Wait you need artist permission for non-profit?

>>40928945
So game review videos should be taken down if they talk shit about the game and the developers get mad?

So who's got it?

>>40928830
"This site is for the Fate version of the Mass Effect RPG. This is a free-of-charge RPG presented in PDF format for you to download and use for your enjoyment. This is solely a labor of love and represents many hours of hard work. It’s not intended for commercial use."

How is it stolen if it's art available for you to see elsewhere and he's getting nothing from it?

>>40928895
Didn't you notice nearly all ponyfags stopped invading all the boards a while ago? MLP having their own board is the best thing to happen regarding that fanbase on 4chan. They get their own little corner to be in and we don't have to deal with their insertion into everything anymore.

If anything, humanity has accomplished much for you.

>>40929070
What does this have to do with anything? Are you actually retarded?

>>40929070
That actually happened at least once.

>>40929238
If you make a game review in video format you're using their IP (images from the product) without permission.
If you give them a bad review they can just censor you for using their IP, as anon said.

What the fuck is wrong with people that a non-profit RPG needs permission to exist, exactly?

>>40929336

Better destroy all competetion to a hypothetical official product that might be released somewhere in the future.

>>40929336
It was fine until he submitted it for an ENnie.

>>40929238
Oh and you have just proven yourself to be dumb as fucking door if you don't understand the parallel.

You're basically justifying that kind of dumbshit by using the reasoning the other post replied to.

You're not taking their profit away by publishing an ME RPG because people will still buy the game.
You're not taking their profit away for showing footage of the game because people will still buy it (unless it's shit, but then just asking other people will get you fucked, better luck next time).

>>40929365
I'm pretty sure he didn't actually get a C&D, but it's still retarded as hell.

SOMEONE HAS TO HAVE THIS PLEASE SHARE!

>>40929394

Well, I don't know the details, but for an corporate executive a RPG system about a video game "RPG" might sound like a product they might look into later.

>>40929336
Incorrect, usage of an IP in the context of a review is protected under fair use. It's just that Youtube's policy is to pull and ban anything if they get an IP complaint, whether or not it is valid. Or from the actual IP holder for that matter.

For non-profit work you need permission so the actual IP owners don't have to file claims to protect trademarks. That's not even going into things like the IP owners wanting control over how the IP is presented, if the existence of said non-profit work could interfere with other for-profit endeavors, or whether or not the presence of the non-profit work could be used to promote the creator's/host's for-profit work.

Here friends

>http://www.uploadmb.com/dw.php?id=1435691304

>>40929487
I'm extrapolating on what anon said:
"if you use their IP you should expect for them to take it down"

>>40927722
Ahh so EA just shitting on everything that's good or fun as much as they can.

It's sad to see ENWorld take that dirty EA cock up their ass so easily without any resistance though.

>ITT: thieving autists getting mad because some other thieving fuck couldn't get an award for his plaigerized game

>>40929098
The artists might not have been credited properly, or at all. Which can be an issue, even for stuff that's freely available. It's a slightly different deal but EP goes into detail about all the contributors in its credits

>>40929425
http://www.uploadmb.com/dw.php?id=1435691304

>>40929584
Pretty lame bait tbh though it's surely going to get a few responses.

>>40929518
>>40929624
Thankyou. Downloading now and checking legitimacy.

>>40929667
Looks legit, says its from October of last year
Is there are more recent edition, or was that just the last update released?

>>40929624
>>40929518
Legit

>>40929632
Why should he have gotten an award? What did he actually do other than the layout? The fluff was taken from the game, the mechanics were "powered by Fate," and the art was used without permission. If you don't see how this is an issue you have clearly never made anything of value in your entire fucking life.

>>40929518
>>40929624
Looks good. Thanks, anons.

>>40929716
Even if something is powered by Fate, there's still a fair bit of design work that goes into putting it together, because Fate is a huge toolkit with a lot options.

>>40929716
It was a NOMINATION, not an award. ENWorld shouldn't have to bend over to EA for something like this and I don't think EA even has a case against ENWorld. They were just afraid and it's easier to suck corporate cock than to defy it.

>>40929768
A huge tool shit with lots of options. The tool in question here being Fred Hicks.

>>40929813
Also it's not ENWorld's fault if the game has some IP issues. If it's a good game it should be eligible for an award.

>>40929813
From EA's point of view they are protecting their IP from someone who copied it without permission. It would be very inconsistent to prosecute the guy for making it but skip over ENWorld for giving it promotion with their nomination
Its kinda harsh, but IP laws often are

>>40929813
What does that matter? If it won it would have been an award, and if it hadn't there would be no change. Might as well remove it from the nominees instead of just sitting there waiting for it to happen like a retard.

>>40929861
I don't think there's a law against choosing something as being good even though it uses unlicensed IP. It's just that ENWorld chose the easy way out the first moment EA's lawyers sent them a notice.

>>40929273
I think it happens to Jim Sterling every other week.

>>40929871
>If it won it would have been an award
So? ENWorld still would not be breaking any IP laws.

The creator already apologized. Couldn't we close this affair?

>>40929896
Its the most sensible way out. If it came down to it ENWorld is legally OK, but it would cost a fucking bomb to get to that judgement
Its not their game, and not their problem

>>40929928
The saddest part of this whole affair seems to be EW being a complete weakling when it comes to freedom of speech and quality journalism.

>>40929928
I think a few people in this thread (myself included) wanted a copy of this for themselves before it gets scarce and are now sticking around to debate the ethics of the decision

>>40929916
IP laws are not the issue. EA didn't even send them a letter. The integrity of the award was the issue.

>>40929336
>What the fuck is wrong with people that a non-profit RPG needs permission to exist, exactly?
Competition and brand dilution are the main issues. Moral rights (the right of the author to control the content of something they created, that is to say preventing others from modifying it) can also come up.

>>40929971
>freedom of speech

Kill yourself fuckhead.

>>40929971
That's a massive overstatement. If this was EW backing down and retracting a negative review under threat from the publisher I'd agree, but this is EA legally notifying them that EW was about to promote a game that violated EA intellectual property. Dropping from the list isn't a problem for EW

>>40929928
Being mad at EA is practically a hobby on 4chan

>>40930035
It's actually making me nostalgic, these days all the shitposting is Ubisoft themed

>>40929995
Exactly. Now that a nominee is disqualified, the integrity of the award has taken a hit.

>Unveil vaugely legal product before release
>Surprised when the IP's owner goes after you before you release it
I'm glad this is happening, if only to show the team how fucking stupid they are

>>40930101
>vaguely legal
How so?

>>40930016
Why? You don't like freedom of speech?

>>40930143
Using someone else's IP in your product without their permission?
I think he meant "probably not legal", if that's what's confusing you.

>>40930183
"product"
You keep saying that word.

https://www.google.com.br/search?q=product+definition&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=ubuntu&channel=fs&gfe_rd=cr&ei=uQGTVdYw7qnzB_PigYAL&gws_rd=ssl

>>40930019
I find it very hard to believe that EW had anything to worry about in this case. But you might be right because in the US of A court rulings can be bought with money and EA has lots of it.

>>40930156
This isn't a freedom of speech issue, and never was. Trying to make it one is just stupid and detracts from the actual problem.
>>40930077
I don't see it. It wasn't disqualified because of complaints against it as a game but because its very existence is in a, at best, legal grey area

>>40930156
It isn't an issue of freedom of speech. In any way.

>>40930077
>pretending to be retarded.

Classic.

>>40930243
The court would rule in EW's favour, after 6 months of stalling and legal double backing from EA's lawyers, after which EW would have spunked a gigantic amount of cash up the wall to defend something they have literally no reason to try and defend
Its not their game, nor is it their responsibility to try and defend it

>>40930214
noun
1.
a thing produced by labor:
products of farm and factory; the product of his thought.
2.
a person or thing produced by or resulting from a process, as a natural, social, or historical one; result:
He is a product of his time.
3.
the totality of goods or services that a company makes available; output:
a decrease in product during the past year.

But you can use a different word if you prefer, it doesn't make a difference whether the object is 'for sale' or not (although, along with the nature of the violation, that can affect the penalty applied if it were taken to court).

>>40930214
>a substance produced during a natural, chemical, or manufacturing process.

>a thing or person that is the result of an action or process.

With the exception of the fair use doctrine, using an IP without permission means you are at the legal mercy of the IP holder, whether or not it is for-profit.

>>40930183

Its actually legal so long as you follow a few simple rules.

It cannot be in competition with an already existing or planned legitimate product. Making a Ghostbusters RPG is a no-go because there already IS a Ghostbusters RPG, but making lets say a Cabin in the Woods RPG is fine because that doesn't exist (I don't think).

It cannot be in any way damaging to the IP. So that means it cannot shit talk the source material, and it can't be so amazing bad that it taints the source material by association.

It cannot make money. 0 dollars. Making money off of an IP you have not be liscensed is a big no no.

You have to be up front and unambiguous about the fact that you do not own the IP, and give proper credit to the legitimate owners.

If you follow the above four guidelines, you are pretty much in the clear. That doesn't mean that a company cannot come after you or issue a cease and desist, but its generally not worth it for them to do so and you have enough legal protection not to get the pants sued off you.

>>40930245
How is it not a freedom of speech issue? If an organization can't nominate an existing game for an award just because the creator might have violated some IP is clearly an issue. The game might be the best game in the whole world for all we know.

>>40930341

Freedom of speech protects you from censorship by the government in a public forum or medium. That's all. It doesn't protect you from censorship by any other power or person, and it doesn't protect you from any legal or personal repercussions of your choice of speech.

>>40930245
>but because its very existence is in a, at best, legal grey area
And that shouldn't be a reason for disqualification. It's a gaming award and it's supposed hand awards to games for being good. The game exists and if it's good enough, it should be awarded for what it is. It should not be disqualified just because a giant corporation says the game does not have a right to exist.

>>40930341
It's an issue but not a freedom of speech one
The issue is EW doesn't want to be seen to be promoting a product that is a) illegal and b) will probably be getting scrubbed off the net in the time between now and their awards ceremony, essentially giving away an award to a game that is so obscure it may as well be dead
Also, its a fucking FATE splat, its not even an original system or anything, just using pre-made rules and bolting Mass Effect on top.

>>40930341
For starters, the First Amendment only covers the relationship between the state and its citizens. Secondly, EN World isn't being forced to withdraw the game, they're doing so voluntarily.

>>40930421
>they're doing so voluntarily.
And that's why I think it's lame.

>>40930341
They weren't forced to remove it, they chose to.
> Our initial position was that publishers and creators are responsible for managing their own legal affairs, and that it was not appropriate for us to assume or interfere other than to hold a basic assumption that entrants had covered their own legal bases and were in compliance with anything they needed to be.
>We believe that IP issues are important, and while we are not lawyers, we believe that this product is in violation of basic IP law.
>This is not something we are comfortable endorsing, and we wish we had realised it earlier in the process; however we can make changes now to ensure that we do so in future.
etc

>>40930452
>Freedom of Speech means that you should say what I want you to

>>40930457
Do you really think they voluntarily chose to do so? It's an obvious reaction to EA's actions against them.

>>40930387
Yeah, it should. If I just changed the author of a game that already won the award would that be fine for you? Freedom of speech, right?

>>40929052
Of course you fucking do. What the fuck?

>>40930497
Except EA has taken no action against them you fucking retard.

>>40930497
It sounds more like it was EA that brought the violation to their attention.
Generally speaking people putting things forward for an award would have their legal ducks in a row and be aware of their legal standing. This FATE hack project was clearly operating under the assumption "they haven't said anything so its probably fine" when the truth was EA probably didn't know about this until it turned up as a nominee

>>40930497
Yes. There are different actions they could have taken and that is the one they chose.

>>40930510
That's a pretty bad example because there's no dispute over the author of this particular game. Sure you could lie about the name of the author but it doesn't change reality.

>>40930612
He took large passages directly from the game, so there are questions about the authorship.

So on further reading, this doesn't even seem like a very good Fate hack of Mass Effect. I feel like you'd be way better served using the Modes option from the System Toolkit like Atomic robo does. Make Tech, Biotics and Prowess three of them, have a couple of others for more general purpose stuff, and then you make your ME class by picking your modes and rating them where you want them.

>>40930512
That's kind of stupid, just saying. What evil do I infringe upon you by using your image on say, some shitty fanart or a ftp flash game.
Unless it's something that will associate you with something negative then really..

>>40930673
He nominated himself.

>>40930723
>>40930673
" The judges nominated this product in good faith, and judged it solely on its quality. Below we detail how we intend to change that process to avoid similar errors in future."

guys...

>>40930750
Judges can be wrong about quality.

>>40930778
Sure but lying doesn't make the person saying it sucks seem trustworthy.

>>40930750
wat

>>40930804
He submitted it himself, so he was trying to profit from it even though it was illegal. Profit doesn't just mean money.

>>40929070
Oh hello, specious argument man

>>40930337
I don't think that's true. Copyright law gives the copyright holder exclusive rights to derivative works, regardless of competition, profit, or dilution. There are exceptions for fair use but I don't see how this would qualify for that.

>>40930804
Are you really impying there's an EA shill in this thread? Seriously, that's shit paranoid even on fucking /v/
Anyway, it's more a case of pointing to a game doing something similar that used a better way of hacking FATE

>>40929213
Well i often don't notice specifically that I'm NOT being annoyed

>>40930836
He was the one who took it down actually, he didn't get a C&D and took the files down, he was apparently going to withdraw the nomination himself but let EN do it.

>>40930874
What? What the fuck where did I say any of that

>>40930851
When you remember that it actually happens, call me.
(or go watch videos where reviewers talk about it)

>>40930889
He put it up too.

>>40930711
Possibly none. But the artist is the person with exclusive rights to the work, and you are not allowed to reproduce it without express permission or fair use exception.

>>40930870
Copyright law does not give the copyright holder exclusive rights to derivative works, but I doubt this splat would qualify as a derivative work.

>>40929213
This does of course prove once and for all that the populace of /mlp/ are much better people than /pol/ who cannot possibly stop fucking up every other board they go to.

/mlp/ folks seem to understand how to keep that interest to its relevant board rather than dragging it everywhere with them.

>>40930921
True, but he a gud boy, he dindu nuffin.
Actually I was saying that after talking to him he just agreed that it was infringing on it and took it down.
So victory for diplomacy, I think?

>>40930889
The argument is specious because it doesn't apply to this situation, not because what you described doesn't happen.

>>40930950
>bringing up /pol/ for no reason

I guess /mlp/ is better than tumblr too.

>>40930968
Both have the use of IP without permission and the alledged right to take it down if they feel like it. The difference is one would be way more asinine, and the one with the RPG would be more understandable due to "competition".
But again, there are companies that think showing footage of their games will stop people from playing them because there's no reason to play if you watched it, right guys???

>>40930998
I see people arguing sometimes about who is worse. I say the one that can't stop bothering other people.

>>40931055
So tumblr.

>>40930948
Why do you think that?

>Subject to sections 107 through 122, the owner of copyright under this title has the exclusive rights to do and to authorize any of the following:
>(1) to reproduce the copyrighted work in copies or phonorecords;
>(2) to prepare derivative works based upon the copyrighted work;
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#103

>>40931115
Basically but I was talking about the worst 4chan board.

/b/ is also horrible but keeps its horribleness contained, /pol/ is like tumblr because it can't stop bothering other people with its issues.

I suppose I feel a slight sympathy for /mlp/, they have a hobby they enjoy and other people like to make fun of and claim makes them mentally and emotionally damaged wastes of life, which is a kind of mindset all too common about what we enjoy here.

I in no way like their show but I know what it's like to have assholes hate on something you enjoy. So in the choice between rampant dicks to whom being the most annoying assholes is their life choice, philosophy and religion, and some people quietly enjoying their hobby off to themselves...

Wait what were we talking about?

>>40931029
The difference is, in a lot of cases, video takedowns are horse shit because people are talking over the game and either using the footage to make a point or are adding something to the game you wouldn't get otherwise (be it just riffing on the game or doing walkthroughs)
This RPG isn't derivative, it flat out copies section from the in game encyclopaedia and bolts that onto a game system expressly designed to be modified. Really, the only problem is that he tried to make it 'legit' using the award without properly checking his legal protection

>>40931029
The difference is that a review is covered under fair use. I hope I don't have to explain why something like a review would qualify for that but something like an RPG would not.

>>40930948
As to whether it would qualify as a derivative work:
>A derivative work is a work based on or derived from one or more already existing works.
>A motion picture based on a play or novel.
>A drama about John Doe based on the letters and journal entries of John Doe
>An adaptation of a dramatic work
http://copyright.gov/circs/circ14.pdf

It doesn't specifically refer to games but I feel it's clear a court would see it as derivative.

>>40931198
To be fair I haven't seen /pol/ spill all that much.

It's mostly when someone talks about a political matter and anyone with a less-than-progressive view perks up they get a few dozen replies with /pol/ pls go.
Which while understandable in some cases is a bit... ridiculous. You don't tell people to go away for defending the Manifesto or somesuch.

>>40931479
I don't think I've ever seen anyone defending the manifesto.
In any case, /pol/ isn't just the 'political matters' board, it's the libertarian/bigot/conspiracy board (or at least that's how it's perceived), which is why those specific people get the /pol/ response.

>>40931640
Thats only how its perceived by SJW tourists who can't handle people disagreeing with them.

>>40930711
>>40930922

Even if it's for non profit, it's kinda a shit thing to do, because you're bringing in someone elses creative product to back your own.

Just ask the damn artist. If they say yes, then it's fine, if they say no, that's their right.

Paying them to do custom art is always best though

>>40930948

It fucks with them ever being able to release an "official one" even if they're not going to - basically it'd function as a competitor and thus in court EA could easily claim damages.

>>40932804
Even if you can't claim damages you can get a cease and desist as well as an order for the destruction of all offending property.

One question remains....

If the big deal is because of the art, why doesn't he just remove the pics and upload an imageless version?

>>40934852
Because large portions of the text are from the in-game encyclopedia, and even with all the images and text removed it still isn't official.

>>40934917
So by that logic, half the D&D fanstuff ENWorld puts up should also be removed.

http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?760003-ENnie-Awards-IP-thief-nominated-for-three-awards

So now fan = thief.

Lovely.

>>40927475
Was there not enough gay stuff in it? Did the EA SJWs have a fit?

>>40934852
In addition to >>40934917, 'Mass Effect' is a trademark so simply using that would be an IP violation. Even if he changed the name but kept the setting they would probably have cause for a copyright violation lawsuit, although in that case they would have to (reasonably) prove that the setting was substantially derived from their material.

>>40934966
Not if WotC doesn't have a problem with it, and they actually encourage that sort of thing.

>>40934982
A fan that tries to profit off of what he is a fan of without getting permission from the creators is a thief, yes. You aren't really confused by this, are you?

>>40935695
>profit off
But how is he proffiting you fucking moron.

Why does he have to take the files off his site if they were available for FREE, NON FUCKING PROFIT.

>>40935771
He submitted it for an ENnie, you idiot. Thats what this whole thing is about, and he didn't even have to take the files off his site. He chose to.

Maybe you should actually try to know what you're talking about before spouting shit.

>>40935771
Despite what the previous anon said, whether he profits or not doesn't determine whether he's a thief. He's an IP thief because he used someone's IP without their permission. What he gets out of it, if anything, is irrelevant.

>>40935077
>'Mass Effect' is a trademark

And, there we have it folks - that actually legally requires EA to slap people down if they spot them using the term.

Though Mass Effect is so Star Wars with a bit of star trek thrown in that trying to slap someone down for using a genericised version of the setting wouldn't work - it's like using a Forgotten Realms-esque setting in a pathfinder module without any mention of Beholders or Illithids or "the underdark", WotC can't really touch you because the setting is itself fairly generic in a lot of ways so you have to violate specifics about the setting for them to have a case.

>>40935854
>you can't get an award for doing something over another's IP
Yes, you actually can and it's not profiting.
And being nominated =/= nominating.

Also I know he took it down because he willed so, but you do realize that he could've gotten a C&D because of retards like you right? Which I assume must be why he took it down.

It's fucking non-profit motherfucker, he can be shot down for using IP without permission, but certainly not for profiting off it (and yes there's a distinction).

>>40935934
>>40935854
And by this I mean as long as said award isn't monetary or equivalent.

Hence why you can have cosplay contests or fanart/fanfiction contests.

>>40935934
Apparently you can't considering he was disqualified.

>>40935934
>because of retards like you
What?

>>40935924
If you just changed the names of everything but kept the powers/aliens/tech/whatever the same they could probably still get you if they wanted to. Although if you weren't calling it ME I doubt they'd actually care enough to try.

>>40936021
Considering he was nominated and only got disqualified after dispute over parts of the work arose, I'd say yes, you can.
Specially when considering one specific case is not representative of a whole.

>>40936131
EN says that they thought he had all his ducks in order, and have implemented a policy to prevent this sort of thing in the future.

>>40928378
No it doesn't. Copyright is yours regardless of whether you defend it or not. Trademarks are what need to be defended.

>>40935934

It's that tricky area of Copy Right Law that fanworks like fanfiction usually trip over (with the primary defence being that IP holders don't look too closely for fanfiction and fanficcers don't bring their shit to IP holders attention) - I'm honestly baffled why fans are being so mean to the creators of the fate thingie for IP violation when using artwork without consent is the greater "immorality" of the work.

>>40936224
I don't think people here are being mean at all, if that's who you're talking about.

>>40931640
Former /pol/fag here.

I have noticed that several /pol/ memes have crossed into general 4chan culture (le jows), and as such it opens the floodgates for actual /pol/tards to come in and spew their garbage.

Those that use /pol/ as a memeing board only have the issue of bringing their memes crossboard, so there is a chance that they aren't actually autistic.

File: laughing quarians.jpg (80 KB, 446x400)

80 KB JPG

Literally nothing has happened here, they just didn't let a fate hack go in the running for their dumb competition cuz they scared themselves out of it. They contacted EA, not the other way around, so there's a hot tip: don't contact companies about fan works because legally they can't endorse or allow it. The creator even said they have not been contacted by EA. This will be probably the fifth Mass Effect themed rpg I've heard of and I'm sure it'll go right on to the same "nobody gives a shit" pile

>>40936481
Does /pol/fag and /pol/tard refer to different sets of people? Or is it just two words for the same thing?

>>40936541

A lot of companies go with 'If you don't bring it to our direct attention we'll just quietly ignore it'. At this point though they don't have any amount of plausible deniability if it DOES go to court for 'So why didn't you defend it?'

>>40936541
Yeah, it wasn't an issue at all until he submitted it for an ENnie.

>>40927876
>>40927475
>PDF
Here you go. Wayback.
https://web.archive.org/web/20150629183534/http://masseffectrpg.org/wp/?page_id=51

>>40928557
>>40936215
>>40928378
Losing a trademark is worse than losing a copyright, because copyright only defends the specific work. The trademark, Mass Effect, applies to the entire franchise, but the franchise as a whole is not copyrighted. Only individual works within the franchise are.

Essentially, US Law forces you to defend your trademark, meaning you sue anyone and everyone who infringes on it. If even one person manages to egregiously and publicly use your trademark, you lose it.

It's a stupid system that just creates more work and money for lawyers, but hey, unless Congress (who are virtually all lawyers) change the law, it's the system that we have. Alternatively, 5+ Supreme Court Justices can decide it's a stupid situation that somehow violates the 14th Amendment and blow everything up in one go.

>>40936129

It'd be an uphill struggle for them to prove that a setting REALLY HEAVILY based off of Ur-Quan Masters (complete with race of blue skinned all female sexy aliens with powerful psionic powers no less) is sufficiently unique that a setting that is in-turn heavily based off of Mass Effect is violating EA's intellectual property without EA in turn violating Accolade's IP.

>>40936382

Oh no, I meant the RPG.net people, seem crazy upset because of an IP violation, ffs.

>>40929213
>If anything, humanity has accomplished much for you.

>implying it's not reasonable to be pissed that /mlp/ didn't turn out to be a trap-and-purge board like /fur/

>>40936733
What it boils down to is "uniqueness," an indefinable quality that judges know when thehy see it.

That said, why keep everything the same if you're filing the serial numbers off? There were some parts of Mass Effect that I'd totally redo, like the lack of really interesting drones that fluff stated were used in ground combat but that don't have game rules.

>>40936588
Basically the same thing, though different connotation. /pol/fag is usually used for the non-serious or sane posters, while /pol/tard is used for, well..

>Nazis

And others that wail about SJW.

>>40936826
I think the point of it was to be a Mass Effect RPG. Making a different setting which happens to borrow heavily from ME would miss the point, even though it might actually be a better game.

>>40927722
All the good little goys patting themselves on the back for defending someone else's intellectual property is just another reason to avoid rpg sites like these. That one poster praising the blatant rip off ponyfinder is a bit odd though, maybe ponies just get a pass from their expert scrutiny.