[Avaek]

http://www.gucomics.com/comic/?cdate=20090518

The comic illustrates a part of the terms of services which states:

For clarification, if you create any Content which is derived from any intellectual property or proprietary rights of LucasArts and/or BioWare (regardless of whether such Content is submitted to LucasArts and/or BioWare) such Content is owned by LucasArts and/or BioWare. You hereby assign all right, title and interest (if any) to such Content and waive any claims that you may have relating to such Content, including, but not limited to, claims for compensation, attribution or any moral rights with respect to such Content.

I'm of mixed reaction to this: on the one hand I can understand wanting to protect your IP, but the idea of something like fan art being able to be taken by them and used however they want without consent or even mention of your name is pretty grating. I guess that means even if we turn out to dislike the game (hypothetically) and they see an old mongbat comic which featured SWTOR they can take it and use it as pro-SWTOR material even if we didn't want to support the game.

[Dalqak]

I get it too, I mean I do understand how protective they are of the IP (and for good reason).  That being said, however...

At the same time though, I absolutely hate this.  Maybe it's not what it seems.  Maybe the only time they'd ever exercise this right is if someone was say, trying to make a profit off of it.  I tell you though, this makes me queasy. 

Compare this to Blizzard's stance:  http://www.blizzard.com/us/inblizz/fanart/ScreenShot.html

What's the point in fostering a community, when the artists in said community feel like they cannot create art?  This makes me extremely uneasy, almost to the point where I'm hesitant to pick up my Wacom and do anything remotely related to this game now...  Now, if someone was trying to sell their art, based on SW/BioWare properties, sure - I get that.  But, the way this is phrased, it just seems draconian. 

Take a look at this though - this is the phrase that bothers me the most: "regardless of whether such Content is submitted to LucasArts and/or BioWare."  If I make a signature, or an avatar, or I make something for the site, fan art and what not, apparently it's not mine.   

What happens if Penny Arcade runs a SW:ToR-themed strip?  Did they ever do this with KotOR?

[Avaek]

What happens if Penny Arcade runs a SW:ToR-themed strip?

The GU comic artist made the point that his webcomic content would "be protected as satire/parody under the Fair Use exceptions to copyright law" which means sites ike GU and PA can't be stopped from making strips based on SWTOR, but if they do the ToS policy means that their satirical work would be owned by Lucasarts/Bioware and they can do whatever they like with the strips without permission.

[Filth]

I agree that's a bit silly too. It goes against the inherant nature of a successful MMO, which is to build a thriving community.

However, my hope is that such text was "forced" into the TOS by higher-ups in the land which is Dr. Lucas Money Bags. My hope is that this will never be manifested and acted on by the project team at Bioware and Lucas Arts.

This is honestly my biggest fear over this game. Bioware definitely knows how to make a great game, no doubt. But, do they know how to create a community? Whether you hate Blizzard or not, you HAVE to give them credit that they know their playerbase and they know how to build and sustain a community.

Can Bioware/Lucas do this? We shall see.

[Slade-Khan]

i think it's just there so random people can't make money..  legally off the game.

If we make sigs, or something on the forum, etc-   they aren't going to give a shit..

but if we start selling SW:TOR t-shirts, then they have a right to the $.

Which, is nothing new...   all companies EVER have had a right to their own thing.

Sure..   Bioware and Lucas can say they OWN my forum avatar because it's Vader...   that really doesn't mean/change anything though.

[BlindShooter]

i think it's just there so random people can't make money..  legally off the game.

If we make sigs, or something on the forum, etc-   they aren't going to give a shit..

but if we start selling SW:TOR t-shirts, then they have a right to the $.

Which, is nothing new...   all companies EVER have had a right to their own thing.

Sure..   Bioware and Lucas can say they OWN my forum avatar because it's Vader...   that really doesn't mean/change anything though.

But if you do make a cool avatar yourself, they can take it and make a t-shirt and make money - and you get nada.
So if you make a miniature or a painting or anything really, they own it and can do whatever the hell they want with it.
"Oh, you drew a jedi? That looks awesome, we will do a t-shirt about it. No, you get nothing. Twat."
Shady :/

[Revolude]

This policy has been around since 1971 when pre-Gobbler Lucas got a patent right? Lawyers were/are drafting up these kinds of terms all over the place. Just as simple as what Blind was saying. If I get notoriety for drawing Darth Vader beating Phelps in a 100m freestyle race, Lucas Arts has the right to take it from me.

[Dalqak]

This policy has been around since 1971 when pre-Gobbler Lucas got a patent right? Lawyers were/are drafting up these kinds of terms all over the place. Just as simple as what Blind was saying. If I get notoriety for drawing Darth Vader beating Phelps in a 100m freestyle race, Lucas Arts has the right to take it from me.

Solution?

[Revolude]

[image...]
Solution?

Man where was that when it was time to select the recent Indiana Jones script?!

"Where's George? I would've thought he would be considering we make a script go live today?"

Harrison Ford: "He gave me his full-creative blessing, don't worry about it."      * Shines ear ring *

No but seriously, once that neck started expanding his decision making skills started decreasing.

[Onoku]

Yeah, that definitely rubs me the wrong way. Regardless if it is used or not. Way to be a bunch of fuck heads.

Still looking forward to the game though... Maybe I will send them a comic, that has darth vader flicking them off. "Own this, FUCK HEADS"

whatcha think!?! FUN!

[Grax]

In the end it's nothing to do with Bioware, it's an old rule.

[Dukault]

Grax, necrophilia is wrong.

[Jimmah]

Jimmah