32 replies to this topic

[BLOOD WOLF]

I just need to know, when i heard the dev blog they said that they are focusing on the classic battlemechs and that's gonna be the end point for new mechs. I heard because of legal issues but what company would be stingy enough to hold the rights when they know the fans want them. correct me if i'm wrong or i misheard. i just like to double check before i make assumptions

[Pyrrho]

Harmony *perpetually shaking my fist at* Gold

[FireSlade]

BLOOD WOLF, on 08 January 2014 - 06:36 PM, said:

I just need to know, when i heard the dev blog they said that they are focusing on the classic battlemechs and that's gonna be the end point for new mechs. I heard because of legal issues but what company would be stingy enough to hold the rights when they know the fans want them. correct me if i'm wrong or i misheard. i just like to double check before i make assumptions

We basically got all the unseen mechs that are possible to get. What Russ mentioned was that the only mechs that could be used of the unseen was the ones by Harmony Gold and because of that the risk to PGI was too great and not worth the income a redesigned Archer, Marauder, Rifleman, etc. could bring in. There are still plenty on non reseen/unseen mechs that PGI can implement for the Innersphere and even more ones that may need some bending of lore to create 3 variants. We just will not see anymore ones that have other companies hold the rights to, aka. Harmony Gold.

[Bartholomew bartholomew]

In other words. No wasp, pheonix hawk, marauder, crusader, warhammer, archer, rifleman, (or stinger?), and any of the osto-mechs

And for sure no LAMS.

However ther are plenty more too chose from. King crab, grasshopper, cyclops, etc....

So they can keep on making mechs from the game. Just not those few listed at top.

Edited by Bartholomew bartholomew, 08 January 2014 - 06:56 PM.

[BLOOD WOLF]

FireSlade, on 08 January 2014 - 06:48 PM, said:

We basically got all the unseen mechs that are possible to get. What Russ mentioned was that the only mechs that could be used of the unseen was the ones by Harmony Gold and because of that the risk to PGI was too great and not worth the income a redesigned Archer, Marauder, Rifleman, etc. could bring in. There are still plenty on non reseen/unseen mechs that PGI can implement for the Innersphere and even more ones that may need some bending of lore to create 3 variants. We just will not see anymore ones that have other companies hold the rights to, aka. Harmony Gold.

MY RIFLEMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CURSE YOU GOLD

why cant the play nice and give us some of our favorite mechs

and my warhammer:( wtf, gold

[BLOOD WOLF]

What could Gold possibly do with image rights to a mech that they arent gonna even do anything with.

Edited by BLOOD WOLF, 08 January 2014 - 07:04 PM.

[FireSlade]

BLOOD WOLF, on 08 January 2014 - 06:59 PM, said:

MY RIFLEMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CURSE YOU GOLD

why cant the play nice and give us some of our favorite mechs

and my warhammer:( wtf, gold

Cannot do much for your Warhammer but the Jagermech looks almost exactly like the unseen Rifleman and can pack bigger weapons.

[BLOOD WOLF]

FireSlade, on 08 January 2014 - 07:05 PM, said:

Cannot do much for your Warhammer but the Jagermech looks almost exactly like the unseen Rifleman and can pack bigger weapons.

yea, i can agree on that

[FireSlade]

BLOOD WOLF, on 08 January 2014 - 07:04 PM, said:

What could Gold possibly do with image rights to a mech that they arent gonna even do anything with.

They are holding onto the rights for the Japanese Anime call Macross and Robotech. Back in the day when Battletech was in its infancy the creators did not have much in terms of art talent so they went to the image holders for the anime of the time and used those images. Harmony Gold acquired the right for the American release of the anime and then went on a suing spree going after anyone that even remotely copied any design or concept from those animes. They even recently went after Hasbro over the Transformer toy of Starscream and it was settled out of court. You can do a search or even look at sarna about it all.

[BLOOD WOLF]

FireSlade, on 08 January 2014 - 07:10 PM, said:

They are holding onto the rights for the Japanese Anime call Macross and Robotech. Back in the day when Battletech was in its infancy the creators did not have much in terms of art talent so they went to the image holders for the anime of the time and used those images. Harmony Gold acquired the right for the American release of the anime and then went on a suing spree going after anyone that even remotely copied any design or concept from those animes. They even recently went after Hasbro over the Transformer toy of Starscream and it was settled out of court. You can do a search or even look at sarna about it all.

i know, and i still cant make sense of it. People we know what me must do, flood their email box!!!!!!!!

i just wanna know is all because the images were made for people to enjoy them, not for their greed

[BLOOD WOLF]

well no wonder, they are still going strong withe macross series, so it makes sense why they are guarding their treasure so much.

[Ted Wayz]

I shut my eyes and pretend I am piloting a Marauder. Don't believe me? Look at my KDR.

[BLOOD WOLF]

This is actually not complicated at all and more or less bull. The legal issues are a crutch for companies to make sure that somebody else isn't making a profit when there not. theirs nothing stopping these companies from coming to an agreement.

[Firemage]

The worst thing about Harmony Gold is they are also blocking the other Macross titles from coming state side, at least from the POV as an anime fan. These days they are little more than license trolls, the Japanese owners of macross would likely love to license the items state side, but no one is willing to fight Harmony gold in court, and try to get Japanese court rulings to fly here in the states(the courts in Japan have already noted that the rights belong to Studio Nue, which doesn't like Harmony gold much).

As a macross and mechwarrior fan, i'd love to see the Macrosswarrior mechs in game. But until someone stands up to HG, we won't see them here, nor will i be able to buy Macross 7, Zero, and F.

[Victor Morson]

Firemage, on 08 January 2014 - 09:58 PM, said:

The worst thing about Harmony Gold is they are also blocking the other Macross titles from coming state side, at least from the POV as an anime fan. These days they are little more than license trolls, the Japanese owners of macross would likely love to license the items state side, but no one is willing to fight Harmony gold in court, and try to get Japanese court rulings to fly here in the states(the courts in Japan have already noted that the rights belong to Studio Nue, which doesn't like Harmony gold much).

As a macross and mechwarrior fan, i'd love to see the Macrosswarrior mechs in game. But until someone stands up to HG, we won't see them here, nor will i be able to buy Macross 7, Zero, and F.

What he said; Harmony Gold are basically all about trolling copyright and that's all they really do these days.

[CycKath]

Very much doubt the Macross rights holders would be any more willing to allow the use of their stuff for BattleTech stuff even if Harmony Gold disappeared...

[Kjudoon]

Looks at his Robotech complete box set owned by Lionsgate... considers what that might mean... uh oh.

[Zack Esseth]

Victor Morson, on 08 January 2014 - 10:05 PM, said:

What he said; Harmony Gold are basically all about trolling copyright and that's all they really do these days.

And its made better by they don't do anything with licensing they own. But there is a part of this story that no one has brought up. Harmony Gold didn't go on a anti Mechwarrior suing spree till Mechwarrior/Battletech had its designs getting ripped of by small timers. The design of the Madcat and other signature mechs where getting bummed off by small time toy companies and Battletech stepped in to stop it, at which point Harmony came in and said hey, you did it to things we have the rights to too.

Edited by Zack Esseth, 08 January 2014 - 10:18 PM.

[Remnato]

well someone should find out the stock for harmony gold USA and then post it, i figure there are enough ppl here that if we buy majority stock for harmony gold usa. we can force the release of the unseens like the warhammer. Internet people unite and lets take down harmony gold.... 8)

[Firemage]

CycKath, on 08 January 2014 - 10:13 PM, said:

Very much doubt the Macross rights holders would be any more willing to allow the use of their stuff for BattleTech stuff even if Harmony Gold disappeared...

They would likely be far easier to license from than HG. Also if HG was gone they could market their wares state side for the first time in 30 years. (Ignoring macross plus which has a history all it's own)

Remnato, on 08 January 2014 - 10:40 PM, said:

well someone should find out the stock for harmony gold USA and then post it, i figure there are enough ppl here that if we buy majority stock for harmony gold usa. we can force the release of the unseens like the warhammer. Internet people unite and lets take down harmony gold....   8)

Checking the Wiki, HG is a private company, meaning no public stock.