Space Marines 'trademarked' by Games Workshop?!

[Cody]

Another El Reg article... outrageous!

[Zieman]

Oh good grief!!!

I used to think that Games Workshop games are cool.

Well, if they really are as stupid as the article claims, they're on my boycott list effective immediately.

Apple syndrome, ARGH!

[Rorschachhamster]

INAL, but... isn't that claim so ludicrous that they can't win?
Makes me quite mad.

[Smivs]

I must admit when I first saw this, I laughed. It is so ludicrous.

[Cody]

I do hope the novel (ebook) in question is good - its author may find a large audience if/when it goes back on sale.

[Gimi]

INAL, but... isn't that claim so ludicrous that they can't win?
Makes me quite mad.

I doubt that they can win, but the problem is, unless someone challenges them they won't loose either. Over time that will create precedence which can mean something in the judicial system at a later date.

[Selezen]

GW have done this for YEARS. It's the very reason I stopped buying their stuff - they think they own the rights to EVERY WORD used in their things. If you use the word WARHAMMER, for example, they will hit you with a law suit. Same with Eldar, Space Marine, Imperial Guard...and so on.

I hate them. They are assholes. I know I don't swear much on here, but they are. Money-grabbing egomaniacs to a man. And you are right, they always pick on small independent people rather than the ones who fight back.

I hope that the register's article gets to someone who can help the author tell them to sod off.

OOOOOH. I'll be annoyed all night now.

[Tricky]

I hope that the register's article gets to someone who can help the author tell them to sod off.

I believe the author is in talks with the EFF.

[Disembodied]

Woah!

Amazon decide to respond to a claim of copyright infringement, and this is the one they pick?

This is the situation with the law, though: if you don't have the money to fight your case, you get stepped on all the time. There's more on this in the Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/fe ... -copyright

Although you'd think there was enough prior art: are GW going to sue Wikipedia, too?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_marine

[Edit: I see the case is now referred to on the Wikipedia article ...]

[maaarcooose]

This is just hideous.

Picking on an indie writer over something like this is lower than low.
It's down to whoever approved them to have the trademark in the first place. I guess at the time it was given, knowledge the name was probably not widespread.

This whole thing just makes me feel like writing a book called "What's your name Space Marine?" where the protagonist (a space marine) gets ordered to change his name because the company execs that run the military tell him it's a copyright. He then goes mad, orchestrating the downfall of the company, killing everyone in his way and blowing everything up until he gets to the board or directors.

There's people in the comments on her website telling here to put up a kickstarter to generate funds to fight them.
Kickstarter is everywhere, but does create an interesting idea. Could you use kickstarter to fund something to challenge bigger issues?


UPDATE:
Apparently the book is back up on Amazon now.

!m!

[Commander McLane]

In a just world making such an obviously ridiculous copyright claim would be a punishable offence.

[Disembodied]

You can see all the categories of things you're not allowed to call "Space Marines" here:

http://www.ipo.gov.uk/ohim?ohimnum=E392886

and here:

http://www.ipo.gov.uk/domestic?domesticnum=1461715

I propose we oppose this nonsense by singing the Space Marines' anthem, from the (non-GW) 2000AD story "DR and Quinch Get Drafted":

We're Space Marines! We're glorious
We're steadfast, brave and true!
So don't you dirtbags mess with us,
Or this is what we'll do:
We'll nick your dogs,
We'll nuke your schools,
We'll stretch you on a rack!
We'll borrow all your garden tools
And never give them back!

We are the bold marines of space
We wade through gore and grue
And if we do not like your face
Then this is what we'll do:
We'll sneer and spit and call you names
Tip napalm down your shirt
Your vest will be consumed by flames
And that will really hurt.

[maaarcooose]

How do you file objections to a copyright?

Surely a quick link to some previous work would make that be dropped like a shot.

!m!

[Disembodied]

How do you file objections to a copyright?

Surely a quick link to some previous work would make that be dropped like a shot.

!m!

http://www.ipo.gov.uk/pro-types/pro-tm/ ... nvalid.htm

You will need to send:

* a form TM26(I) 'Application to declare invalid a registration or a protected international trade mark (UK)' and statement of grounds by fax or post; and
* a fee of £200 (and FS2 fee sheet)

to

Intellectual Property Office
Concept House
Cardiff Road
Newport
South Wales
NP10 8QQ
United Kingdom

[cim]

In a just world making such an obviously ridiculous copyright claim would be a punishable offence.

It should be that if you claim that an obviously generic use of the phrase infringes your trademark, you are submitting evidence that your trademark has become generic and should therefore be revoked. Sadly that sort of thing generally requires an expensive lawyer to fight off their expensive lawyer.

...so, I've got this idea for a litigation-based space game, where you fly to planets and sue them.