Marvel comics hits a new low- warning, really geeky

The BBQ Pit
1

Marvel Comics is suing NCSoft

Um… yeah. Marvel’s suing NCSoft, saying that their engine allows players to make in-game characters that look like Marvel’s intellectual property, and that this somehow threatens their “existing and future business prospects”.

Never mind the fact that you can’t NAME the characters the same as a trademarked character, and if you do try to get around that namefilter, the GMs force you to change your name as soon as they see it.

Never mind the fact that you can get pretty close to a trademarked costume, but never all the way- there’s no spiderweb-covered costume, for example, or purple pants that are torn off at the bottom.

Never mind the fact that, while you can somewhat simulate Wolverine’s powers, you can’t get it completely right- for example, I don’t remember Woverine glowing bright green whenever he healed himself.

In other words, never mind the fact that you can’t, you know, actually MAKE the trademarked heroes.

I’d like to say I’m surprised at Marver’s suit, but unfortunately, I can’t- I know that Marvel has been wanting to make an MMORPG based on their universe, and I imagine one of their lawyers is seeing an opportunity for a) a quick buck, and b) some quick publicity (bad publicity being better than no publicity), but dammit, this angers me.

Here’s a No-Prize, you idiots. :wally

[SUB]This rant adheres to the Comics Code Authority[/SUB]

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Ex-sue-sior!

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Why doesn’t Marvel just try to patent “super heroes” and be done with it? It wouldn’t be too much more ridiculous than what they’re doing now.

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Comic book companies have always been pretty touchy about trademarks and copyrights. Just look at the long legal fight DC/National waged against the original Captain Marvel character.

I do not think Marvel has much of a case against NCSoft, but you never know…

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IMHO, the kids at CoH work very hard to prevent people from running around with characters that infringe on licensed characters. I’m willing to cut them some slack for not saying, “Okay, claw scrappers can’t be yellow, because someone might try to copy Wolverine.”

Still, lawyers will be lawyers.

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I would think this could be a pretty stick situation for Marvel even if they win. If they do, couldn’t any of their new characters be put to a similar copywrite standard if there are any characters within CoH that are similar? And with thousands upon thousands of characters, that could severely curtail their creative boundaries.

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Next up: Marvel sues General Pencil, Bic, and Crayola for manufacturing products which may be used to create images which resemble Marvel’s intellectual property and threaten their existing and future business prospects.

There isn’t a :rolleyes: big enough for this.

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I don’t harbor any illusions that this will have any effect, but here’s a copy an email fired off to Marvel.com.

I have been a big fan and supporter of Marvel comics and other Marvel enterprises for many,many years. I fondly remember reading Fantastic Four silver age comics as a child, and just last week read Astonishing X-men #5.
Recently, my lifelong enjoyment of your products was reinvigorated when I began playing NC Soft’s exceptional new game, City of Heroes. This new past time, lead me to spend in excess of $100 in new Marvel comics, back issues, and graphic novels for my son and I to enjoy.
Unfortunatley, this morning I read this article,
http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?flok=FF-APO-1333&idq=/ff/story/0001%2F20041111%2F2235482241.htm&sc=1333
detailing Marvel’s frivilous lawsuit against NC Soft. I assure this action will result in “disrupt[ing] its [Marvel’s] ``existing and future’’ business prospects”, as I will no longer purchase, rent, or view any products associated in any way with Marvel Comics. You have made the ridiculous decision to pursue legal action against your own customers.
Sincerely,
[Lao Tsu]

Worthless bitches!

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Yeah, I know. I messed up on “unfortunately”. See kids, don’t write in anger.

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I guess I don’t even understand, in the simplest terms, what Marvel has “lost” over this to consider litigation.

Can somebody explain Marvel’s POV as if you were explaining it to a 6 year-old?

Because try as I might, I cannot figure out what leg Marvel has to stand on regarding the creation of fictional characters, which may NOT be profited upon, used solely in an online gaming environment. Whose backyard can this POSSIBLY infringe upon?

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It can tangentially hurt Marvel’s backyard, if they were to pursue creating such a videogame world with their own characters.

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I think that’s their reasoning, Munch. I think it’s flawed, though- if someone wants to be in a world where Spiderman exists, wouldn’t they want to play with the REAL Spidey, and not the cheap knockoff named Webbhed (in the crappy “kinda looks like it if you squint real hard” costume)?

Seems to me they’ve got their heads up their collective butts.

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I asked a question about copyright in GQ about sometihng similar (but not involving Marvel characters) and apparently, you’re not allowed to do anything ever. Marvel could probably sue the Straight Dope for alllowing discussions of Marvel characters without their express written permission. Better watch it, boyos.

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Since I think Marvel Comics sucks Yak Ass, I really don’t care. :smiley:

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:smack: Damnit, Marvel.

Ever the optimist and defender of things I love, I have to assume that Marvel was talked into this by some slimeball lawyer and they will slowly and quietly back off when they realize how stupid it all is.

If you try to tell me differently I will stick my fingers in my ears and go like this: LALALALALALALALALALALALALLALALALALALALALALALA.

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I’m going to try to talk to a friendly professional or two, if I can find them, and try to get Marvel to back off. Waid, Quesada, the lot.

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This begs the question – are YOU a professional as well?

Just trying to figure out how you know these people, and what sort of pull you’ve got.