Blizzard Sued by Unofficial Guide Author
Blizzard sued by WoW guide author
Basically, this is how it goes:
- Author collects techniques on how to make gold and level up quickly. He uses screenshots and other such things to provide visual aids. Author decides to sell it on eBay.
- Blizzard sees the auctions... requests eBay to terminate auctions citing copyright infringements.
- eBay terminates auctions, awaits Blizzard's further response.
- eBay reinstates auctions, since Blizzard didn't follow up.
- Blizzard finds out, once again requests to terminate auctions due to infringements.
- Author's eBay account is frozen due to amount of warnings by Blizzard and other companies. (Vivendi and Entertainment Software Association)
- Author creates new eBay account and continues to sell. (Major eBay no-no.)
- eBay freezes second account.
- Author claims his book is for "eductational purposes" and not commercial. Author decides to sue the Companies, seeking "monetary compensation to cover, among other things, profits lost from the halted sales; an injunction preventing the entities from interfering with Kopp's book sales; and a judgment that his book is protected by the First Amendment and doesn't interfere with intellectual-property rights."
The article quotes someone saying that if the Companies win, "then selling a how-to book about Microsoft Word would infringe Microsoft's copyright, especially if the book contained one or more screenshots of Word's user interface..."
I'm biased and I support Blizzard. But I will try to explain, in unbiased terms, why I think this guy really oughta stop actually selling this thing. For one... well... he's selling it. I think it would be okay to be non-profit, if he was selling it, but he's essentially making money off of World of Warcraft without their permission. I had thought that strategy guides had to ask for permission before they were sold. Is that not true?
I think both sides are a bit off base here... the "author" says it's for educational purposes, yet he's clearly making profits. A small profit, maybe, but a profit is a profit... and he's using someone elses work. I think his "educational" arguement is worthless... if it was for educating people and not as a means to make a small buck or two, then he'd just offer it to people for... well... nothing. But I think Blizzard is releasing their wrath on someone who really doesn't matter. (I think Blizzard is lawful with what they're doing... but being lawful doesn't always mean doing the best thing... if you know what I mean. But if Blizzard wants this stopped, then I think it should be.)
Strategy Guides are for educating people, yes... but you think that the companies who make them are only interested in that? Nah... it's a commercial endeavor. So I don't see a need to compare this guy with Strategy Guide companies. (Since they also ask for permission before selling.)
As for the fellow who says selling Word how-tos would be against the law... I'm still pretty sure that they would be if they didn't ask for permission. I think it's kind of a gray area here. The people who get away with doing it are technically breaking copyright, but sometimes companies just don't care. But I think if a company wants you to stop... then you should.
I dunno... that's just how I see it. Random guy making money using WoW, Blizzard says 'stop', guy says 'no', Blizzard tells eBay, eBay says 'stop', guy says 'no', eBay bans guy... guy sues Blizzard, citing, among other things the First Amendment. Like, er... how is writing a strategy guide freedom of speech or freedom of press? I think he's a bit confused and trying to grab onto whatever he thinks might give him a little edge. (Remember, kids, Freedom of Speech is knowing you can say whatever you want about whatever you want without the GOVERNMENT throwing you in prison. ...and with all freedoms comes responsibility. You shouldn't hide behind the First Amendment. Especially for something it doesn't even apply to.)
So yes... I was bored.
Waiting for WoW's servers to get back online.
Patch day! HOORAY!