07-26-2017, 07:58 PM | #1 |
Join Date: May 2007
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Harmony Gold vs. BattleTech, Round N
First, here's a video explaining a bit about what's going on. I provided SidAlpha with a good deal of the backstory, so any errors are likely my own:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLtlynQrG6c Since that video was made, more information has become public, mainly Harmony Gold's amended complaint that added more artwork and roped in InMediaRes (the parent company of Catalyst Game Labs, current publishers of tabletop BattleTech), plus the responses from Piranha Games and Harebrained Schemes. Here's a link to the case documents: https://www.unitedstatescourts.org/federal/wawd/242820/ Of particular interest are items 25, 31, and 38, which are (respectively) Piranha's response, Harmony Gold's amended complaint, and Harebrained's response. I am not a lawyer, so I am posting this without commentary for public interest. Update 16 AUG 2017: Leonard French's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPou5WuE-Y4 Update 24 NOV 2017: SidAlpha's update video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3Z3...&feature=share Update 21 JUN 2018: The last filing, ending the case: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hIA...TMuwoIn3g/view Last edited by ColBosch; 06-21-2018 at 08:27 AM. |
08-03-2017, 02:21 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Lancaster, PA
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Re: Harmony Gold vs. BattleTech, Round N
I think I saw somewhere between the lines in one of the complaints or answers [did Leonard French do a piece on it yet? Surprised to see another SidAlpha viewer around these parts, good stuff!] that the only reason Jordan/et al haven't nailed HG to the wall for these repeated shenanigans is that their very first settlement included a "No raising a stink with the Japanese company that licensed to HG to get them to revoke the same on grounds of HG's misbehavior" clause.
Given the last time [HG vs S&T, over then-Mechwarrior 5, now-MWO] they got thrown out of court on grounds of "No, you cannot refuse an attempt to make them whole in order to sue for higher damages...take your licensing fees and GTFO of my courtroom", I look forward to this judge slapping some sense into them at the end of a gavel this time too.
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Andy Mull MIB Agent #0460 Ogre 134th Battalion Lancaster, PA Imgur: https://agent0460.imgur.com/ |
08-03-2017, 02:24 PM | #3 |
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: Harmony Gold vs. BattleTech, Round N
I always thought it was weird that FASA reused and renamed all those disparate anime mecha rather than just having original designs from the beginning.
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08-03-2017, 06:51 PM | #4 |
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Berkeley, CA
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Re: Harmony Gold vs. BattleTech, Round N
There's a decent chance FASA in 1984 wasn't all that sophisticated about that kind of stuff (looks like they were a two-man operation at that time).
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08-03-2017, 07:04 PM | #5 |
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: Harmony Gold vs. BattleTech, Round N
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08-03-2017, 09:23 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: May 2007
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Re: Harmony Gold vs. BattleTech, Round N
Quote:
As for Smith & Tinker's MechWarrior 5 project, all I have found on that was that HG hit IGN with a cease-and-desist to remove the tech demo video. S&T had really just meant that video to attract investors, and ultimately failed, setting the stage for Piranha Games to step in and develop MechWarrior Online. I don't think it ever went to court. If it did, I'd love a link to the actual court documents. |
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08-03-2017, 09:25 PM | #7 |
Join Date: May 2007
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Re: Harmony Gold vs. BattleTech, Round N
Oh, and I did email Leonard French about this, but he has not gotten back to me. I'll try again in a couple of days. I'd love to see insight from an actual copyright attorney on this matter.
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08-04-2017, 11:44 AM | #8 | |
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Lancaster, PA
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Re: Harmony Gold vs. BattleTech, Round N
Quote:
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Andy Mull MIB Agent #0460 Ogre 134th Battalion Lancaster, PA Imgur: https://agent0460.imgur.com/ |
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08-04-2017, 03:09 PM | #9 |
Join Date: May 2007
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Re: Harmony Gold vs. BattleTech, Round N
There is a lot of misinformation out there about these cases. That's why I'm trying to avoid speculation here and focusing on the facts as shown by the court documents.
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08-06-2017, 11:23 AM | #10 |
Join Date: May 2007
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Re: Harmony Gold vs. BattleTech, Round N
Leonard French mentioned in his Sunday (06 AUG 2017) live stream that he is aware of this case, but his research has turned up hundreds of pages of information. He wants to do a video on the case, but wants to be sure he has the facts straight first. He also doesn't want to merely duplicate SidAlpha's work.
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