GamesWorkshop Files Suit Against Curse

[DoranM]

We wanted to inform our community here on WarhammerAlliance.com that Games Workshop has filed lawsuit against Curse for operating and maintaining WarhammerAlliance.com. We feel this is a blatant disregard of the needs of Warhammer fans, and the community we've worked hard to set up. The lawsuit cites trademark infringement, cybersquatting (on the domain name), dilution and unfair competition. You can check out the full complaint here. It also states that GamesWorkshop was unable to contact anyone who was an administrator or decision makers at Curse (despite the numerous links on our site...).

We are shocked and surprised by this filing when this site, created in 2005, is well known for being one of the biggest Warhammer Online game fansite.

We thank you for reading this and welcome your continued support - see you in game!

[Garthilk]

Admin Note: This post has been copied up from further in the thread to clarify things. You can find the original here.




Heya Folks,

For those of you whom do not know me, my name is Shelby Cardozo and arguably I'm the founder of Warhammer Alliance. I figured I'd pop out of the shadows and clear up some misinformation about the site, it's history, and my dealings with Games Workshop.

Lets rewind to 2004 and remember the old Warhammer Online that was canceled by Climax Entertainment. Well in late 2004, there was a Warhammer community that refused to die (WarhammerOnlineForums.com). Unfortunately however, the site admin for the WOF was on hiatus and slowly the site was having problems and the community was on the rocks.

Enter 2005 and Mythic Entertainment. It was early 2005, soon after my Imperator fansite was sunk that I offered to help out the WOFs. Specifically, I'd relaunch the site as Warhammer Alliance. The site was relaunched around August 2005 and believe it or not, the site had ads on it back then. Specifically, I knew that the site was going to get big and I knew that in order to keep the servers running when the site got big, that ad revenue would be required. So, the site was launched (with ads) and we all looked forward to a new Warhammer Online.

Things went fantastic. The community, the developers, we were all so excited. The site was growing and the community was having a blast getting excited all over again. Fast forward to late 2005 and an interesting phone and email conversation I had with Sanya Weathers of Mythic Entertainment and Erik Mogensen, the Licensing Manager for Games Workshop.

The topic of discussion, we didn't have a proper disclaimer at the bottom of the site. So, I worked with Sanya and Erik to ensure we met standards that all parties would be happy with. We settled on the same footer you see today. "This web site is completely unofficial and in no way endorsed by Games Workshop Limited or Mythic Entertainment." And an added a link to a longer disclaimer.

This footer and disclaimer was agreed to by Games Workshop, the Licensing Manager and Mythic Entertainment.

Things seemed to be going great. In fact Erik even registered here at the site and granted us a some interviews. Read that again. Games Workshop was helping promote the site by doing interviews with us back in 2006. Here is a link to Eriks first interview.

Now, fast forward to today.

Games Workshop is suing Warhammer Alliance. Now, I'm not a Rocket Surgeon, but this lawsuit smells like Greenskin dung to me. In the suit they allege that they just became aware of the site. But they were promoting it in 2006, 4 years ago?

You see folks, Warhammer Alliance, even today is a news site. The staff here do Warhammer news reporting, original news and commentary. In the same way that AppleInsider.com covers apple products, WarhammerAlliance.com covers Warhammer Online. This lawsuit is really just a gross perversion of trademark law and I hope that Curse puts up a fight.

But hey, that's just me. You guys are free to form your own opinions.

[Spuxy]

Read through the lawsuit form, and I honestly cannot see what the reason might be behind this. Really, suing their fans?

Hope no one takes offense by me saying, but this could undoubtably be a good candidate towards the douche of the year awards.

[mourmadam]

edited: I do not like it and i will not speculate more about this. hopefully warhammeralliance will survive this.

But GW should work on their communication skills.

[IGetPwnedOften]

I have to be careful what I say here, but I will suffice it to say that as a long time player of Warhammer Online and an even longer time Warhammer gamer in general, I support this site as a leading source of news and info regarding WAR.

[Jestor]

This is Standard Operating Proceedure for GW. They like to protect thier intellectual properties as well as thier trademarks. They have allowed other sites to stay open as long as they recieve permission from GW legal AND they do not make any profit on the site.

[Anaerion]

I have always thought Games Workshop have been kinda low-key supporting the online game. You don't seem to see any big marketing/advertising from their side. Maybe they're scared the online game steals tabletop gamers. Regardless I think this makes it quite clear the regard GW has for the online game.

[Drachlox]

This just seems crazy to me. This has been a popular fan-site for years. What is going on at GW?

[Darayavahus]

Seriously.. What the hell?

Destroying only place with addons? Only unofficial forum?

[NoneSuch]

Whats going on? I'm really not understanding this at all, there's millions of Warhammer fan forums around the web. Why is curse breaching the rules more than they?

What's baffling me is that the developers have always supported this site, it's not like it's suddenly a new thing. To me this just proves how disconnected GW is from the guys who made WAR.

[Avien]

I realize that this is a topic that is sure to raise some strong emotions. Nonetheless, I urge you all to remember that derogative remarks in both directions - Warhammer Alliance or Games Workshop - in this thread will help neither side.

Whether or not you feel that this lawsuit is justified - something that will be up to the court to ultimately decide - you are free to voice either opinion as long as you stay constructive and civil.

Thank you very much.

- Avien

[Zakkwylde]

GW must be hurting for cash to file such a silly lawsuit.


Wouldn't it be funny if the Judge told GW "Lulz, you mad brah?"

[Salvos]

Its their own fault for the flash trash abominations that they call official forums.

To add insult to injury, the US and the EU forums are still "in beta".

They are the worst official forums in MMO gaming history and I will reference them as such forevermore.

Somebody finally got hold of and had a look at their internal records on how many views they get on the official forums, and in how many threads etc and nearly had a heart-attack at how low they are.

Witch-hunt for scapegoat ensues as the people responsible for the official forums on both continents try to pull their neck out of the nooses they have tied for themselves.

What they SHOULD be doing is presenting WHA with an award for good service above and beyond that required of a committed community fan site.

[Petaium]

22. Defendants? website at the URL warhammeralliance.com displays HTML links
featuring banner advertisements, and, upon information and belief, when Internet users click on
one or more of the displayed HTML advertisements at the warhammeralliance.com website,
Defendants receive payment from one or more advertisers, search engines, or affiliate programs.

Clear evidence of GW wanting in on the deal.

Not like they aren't making enough money on overpriced Models.

[Zangulus]

Well this is a stupid move on their part.

These forums are the only forums were you can actually share an opinion (Negative or Positive)about Warhammer Online without being monitored by the prissy mods on the official forums.

If GW shut down these forums I'd rather move onto a different game then play one were I can't form an opinion of my own.