GW vs. DBG, the final word
WarpEyes
settlement terms in the case of Games Workshop vs. Heatherstone
Development regarding intellectual property rights surrounding certain
miniature figurines. Note that Heatherstone Development, Inc. is the
main corporate name of DemonBlade Games, Inc., a trade name. The
substance of that settlement and the rationale behind it is as follows:
DemonBlade Games has not, does not, and will not acknowledge that Games
Workshop holds any intellectual property rights in its games or
miniature figurines, whether considered in dispute in this case or not.
However, Games Workshop has shown an a certain willingness to pursue
alleged property rights, especially as pertains to their line of 'Ork'
figures that they intend for use with their 'Warhammer 40,000' tabletop
miniature wargame.
The legal preparations surrounding this disagreement resulted in an
incredible amount of paperwork, legal motions, meetings with attorneys,
depositions of sculptors, painters, designers and company officers, and
so on. The expenditures of time, energy and money in this exercise have
been almost overwhelming. The highest estimates in actual dollars I
have seen bandied about on these newsgroups are fairly accurate.
DemonBlade Games has therefore come to a business decision to accept a
settlement offered by Games Workshop that includes the replacement of
certain miniature figurines in its Shock Force product line. The figures
listed below are no longer advertised or available directly from
DemonBlade and haven't been since May 31, 1998. Distributors and
retailers are welcome to continue sales of these products as they see
fit to clear their current inventory. The discontinued items are:
10001 Org Warlord
10002 CybOrg #1
10003 CybOrg #2
10004 Org Hog
10005 Org Atrocitor
10101 Org Bouncers
10201 Org Slashers
10202 Org Slammers
DemonBlade has already begun replacing the items listed above with new
items already in development. The new products are largely based on
drawings by artists such as James Rios and Kevin Gordon and have been
and continue to be sculpted by Dave Summers and Bobby Jackson. The
first replacements were released in July. Additional models will
continue to build the new line in the coming months and into the
foreseeable future. All new additions to line labeled 'The
Organization' will use five-digit product numbers begin with '11'.
Some readers may have followed closely the progress of this case and may
be specifically interested in the fate of two other figurines in our
product line, specifically the Shock Force Commandant and the Shock
Force Stalker, both of which were in dispute in the case. Prior to
settling the case, DemonBlade discontinued the original Commandant
figure and replaced it with the new Commandant II as the first step in
an ongoing effort to bring up the overall quality level of our product
line.
The Shock Force Stalker was removed from the dispute entirely and will
continue to be available in its present form for quite some time.
Additional changes may be made in our product line going forward. This
is being done in an effort to make the Shock Force line an exceptional
one. We would like collectors to be able to know that a new model
coming out is going to be a great one and that the line as a whole will
set a standard for excellence. These changes have nothing to do with
the now settled lawsuit.
Hopefully, with this source of distraction removed, DemonBlade's
commitment to the gaming hobby will gain even greater focus and
responsiveness. We look forward to providing enjoyable, high-quality,
and reasonably priced games and game accessories developed for gamers by
gamers for many long years to come. There is much fun to be had in our
future and we invite you to join us.
Warm Regards,
-WarpEyes
--
Aaron 'WarpEyes' Overton, President, DemonBlade Games
warp...@demonblade.com http://www.demonblade.com
Forged in the Fires of Battle
Skuzzy
It's nice to see someone lock up with those cruel bastards and not get
squashed. I do have to say for the record that you did ask for it with those
"Orgg" figures. I'm a diehard ork 40k player and when I saw those figures
(as well as a few others) I new you were in for trouble. I'm all for people
"stickin it to the man" so to speak, especially when GW is the target, but I
just wanted it to be clear that it's only right that something happen when
someones intellectual/conceptual ideas are copied without permission. Even
if it is the evil GW empire. (sigh) =)
utt.onramp.net
WarpEyes <warp...@demonblade.com> writes:
>
> The figures
> listed below are no longer advertised or available directly from
> DemonBlade and haven't been since May 31, 1998. Distributors and
> retailers are welcome to continue sales of these products as they see
> fit to clear their current inventory. The discontinued items are:
>
> 10001 Org Warlord
> 10002 CybOrg #1
> 10003 CybOrg #2
> 10004 Org Hog
> 10005 Org Atrocitor
> 10101 Org Bouncers
> 10201 Org Slashers
> 10202 Org Slammers
It's too bad Games Workshop doesn't sell them anymore, either!!
Clay
Yes, I *AM* leaving the newsgroup on September 1st.
For the record.
For the rest of you.... (_!_)
Syndie Taylor
Those figures were originally made for Grenadier. They did not make
them originally.
Floyd
Skuzzy
Syndie Taylor wrote in message <35DB3149...@sprynet.com>...
>Dude!!! Those figures were originally made for Grenadier. They did not
make them originally.
>Floyd
My apologies then. All I know is that 'whoever' designed those miniatures
was obviously trying to mimic 40k orks.
Skuzzy