So, apparently people are boycotting GW

[StepwisePilot]

So, across various online Warhammer communities, people are calling for others to boycott all GW products. Why you may ask? Because of copy right law. Apparently if if don't defend your IP, you risk losing it, and many fans are angry with GW protecting their IP.

Ok, that is making it overly simple, but it is the basic core of the issue.

I don't have links, but I'm sure if you guys care enough, you can find more info easily enough.

[StepwisePilot]

So, it occurs to me that this may be a good time to buy second hand armies on ebay or something. I'm certain that there will be people rage quitting, so it could be a way to get cheap stuff, hahaha

[Jack Shrapnel]

There's always people on the internet raging about GW... I find it best to just ignore them lol... Internet rage lol

[redshirt2375]

It's a times like this I think back on the nutjob who torched his rather large Dark Elf army to protest AoS

[Frosty the Pirate]

Nothing to see here, this is internet outrage at it's finest. In two weeks people will have forgotten.

[Khalai]

This is probably the most animated I've seen the community about GW being very controlling with their IP.

On one hand it really sucks because you can see what happens in other communities in gaming when they have free reign, some amazing stuff gets made.

On the other hand they've ALWAYS been way more protective of their IP than most other gaming companies, and this really should have been expected.

But if you're quitting, I don't want you stuff. I have too much already.

[raceygaming]

I mean I'm not thrilled with some of GWs policies or decisions but the models are really nice and I'm happy to spend money on them.

But for example GW switched Deffkoptas base size AGAIN and want almost 100$ to re-base... nope I'm going else where with locals if I can. GW isnt taking my money on stupid things like that.


I also understand peoples frustration with thier publishing cycle...$45 for what should be a free PDF that updates mission, secondary and point adjustment. That's pretty trash to treat you game base like that when 90% of those players would spend that 45$ on new models instead, you weren't really losing those hobby dollars.

I do understand that IP is important but some times it does feel like GW is more focused on squeezing cents out of current players rather than growing the hobby community to increase revenues. I think a softer approach to some of the IP stuff could have been used but I'm not a share holder so I guess I don't get a say, and that's fine.

I think some people are started to feel like some of GWs good will is starting to wane, but ya this is a very vocal minority that are screaming bloody murder.

[dave]

I'd have put money on this happening as soon as warhammer+ was announced. GW isn't netflix. They wont be able to offer the quantity, or the production budget, for their platform to operate on that level.

To convince everyone that they are THE place to go for warhammer related media they need to chase off all the free competition. Especially when the quality of that competition is so close to their own. They can only offer so much, so one of the ways they have chosen to make their product more appealing, is to make the alternative less so.

Not saying I love their aggressive approach, but I get it. Their target audience is small, so they want to squeeze what they can out of it. That said, I've never seen any of the content created by those affected, so I've got no stake in any of this.

My only real issue with GW is their pricing model. But again, they know their market is small, so they squeeze us for what they can. Whether they would end up ahead if they lowered prices to attract more customers is a question I could only speculate about. However, knowing that local stores choose not to offer lower than MSRP prices, makes me think they (and GW) know that making a few extra sales wouldn't outweigh the profit lost from those who buy it all anyway.

[Jack Shrapnel]

I mean... try ripping off Disney's IP and see what happens.

I see nothing unreasonable about GW wanting to protect it's IP and NOT wanting people to be making movies, 3D printing their models etc.

If someone were to make an animated Mickey Mouse movie and upload it to Youtube, I don't see Disney saying "awww, our fans are awesome"

[voodoo]

I have to agree with Shannon here. Being 501st member, Disney is VEHEMENT about protecting their IP. To a fairly ridiculous degree in some cases.

But, if you think GW or Disney are bad, they both pale in comparison to Studio Ghibli. They fire a single "24 hour to comply" warning shot before litigation.

[Khalai]

Ghibli is like that because Japan is like that. There is no fair use clause in their copyright laws there like there is in most western countries, so they will all definitely go after you.

[nekekami]

And more to the point, GW isn't unfairly going after people for making content based on their IP, more that they're shutting down people monetizing GWs IPs. They've gone as far as to offer jobs to some of the creators instead of slapping them out of hand.

What a lot of the community is choosing to be outraged about, is creators who've monetized on GW's IPs preemptively shutting down before any of that happens, as was the case with Alfabusa's 'If The Emperor Had a Text-To-Speech Device' which was the catalyst of the most recent outrage. Even with fair use laws on such things like parody, it doesn't necessarily cover using trademarked names and places, though I'm obviously not 100% sure on the legalese behind it all.

On the other hand, if you've not seen anything from the Chaos Rising guys on youtube, who are literally making a movie based on the old world setting, I suggest you check it out. They just recently released a video explaining how they're specially not stopping and that they're in total compliance of all the laws behind it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNSQvzrb_UQ

[raceygaming]

www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer40k/comments/pgob9y/da_fuck_is_going_on/



so it begins. Looks like a review for Warhammer + by Midwinter Minis ( pretty well know UK youtuber) was it with a Copyright claim. It is yet to be seen if it was an automated bot that flagged it or if it was a person. This feel like the slippery slope.

You can read for yourself but it looks like GW might be pushing hard than even DISNEY does if this is true since disney allows footage for reviews and such.

I'm hoping GW comes forward and says it was an over Zealous bot that picked up enough to trigger, but if this is what is happening its not good either way.

[raceygaming]

Link to Original Midwinter Mini video that got the Copyright ding

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpZc0CZTUKQ

It seems like a pretty fair review

[raceygaming]

Link to Original Midwinter Mini video that got the Copyright ding

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpZc0CZTUKQ

It seems like a pretty fair review