49 replies to this topic

[Valdarion Silarius]

Another thing I wanted to point out. If this doesn't get settled to an agreement, can PGI go to Microsoft and inform them of this lawsuit and get their backing? If there is one giant corporation with an army of lawyers to back up PGI in their defense I think it would be no better than Microsoft.

[ScrapIron Prime]

Arnold The Governator, on 24 July 2017 - 10:46 AM, said:

Another thing I wanted to point out. If this doesn't get settled to an agreement, can PGI go to Microsoft and inform them of this lawsuit and get their backing? If there is one giant corporation with an army of lawyers to back up PGI in their defense I think it would be no better than Microsoft.

And Microsoft will pat them on the head and send them to bed with a glass of milk. It's not Microsoft's battle if they have no stake in the process.

I just found it amusing that Microsoft was the only IP owner that Harmony Gold was unwilling to sue. They scuttled back under their rock until it was safe to come out again.

[Wildstreak]

Big Tin Man, on 24 July 2017 - 06:55 AM, said:

and a warhorn of a gavel slamming down.

Remember the Law & Order sound is copyrighted and not a gavel anyway.

You could always just fly the Italy flag as support for now.

[Znail]

Sjorpha, on 24 July 2017 - 10:38 AM, said:

I don't know much about US law, but in Sweden copyright infringement hinges a lot on recognisability and intent, not on minor details like the shape of a leg or whatnot.

That is not how copyright law works in either US nor Sweden. For it to be a copyright law case so must it be a copy, not something that looks remotely similar. The law that is more fuzzy is the Trademark law and this is the one companies mostly use in these kind of cases. But this case is based on copyright law and the use of those specific images. Quite frankly, HG should lose this case. The only problem for PGI is the costs involved in defending themselves.

[jonfett]

Any legal battle against HG is a waste of time. They have proven that they continue to abuse the US court systems for their own gain. How about we get Antifa to actually do something useful for once and have them raid HG's HQ?

[DANKnuggz]

I hate lawsuits like this.... Nothing in human society is created in a vacuum... EVERYTHING is derivative of SOMETHING... Humans build off of old ideas CONSTANTLY and there is very little we create that is completely "new" rather than just an extension or next step of some preexisting idea.

I'm no artist but I can obviously see the differences between ALL of the contested designs and I believe it comes down to the overall % of change between the "original" and the "infringing" designs.

[KodiakGW]

Save PGI? They fix ONE thing, and I'll spend money. Otherwise, no,

[Carl Vickers]

They should rename themselves from Harmony Gold (a rather ironic name) to Litigation Gold as thats all they seem to do now a days.

Know why USA hasnt seen any new Macross ect for 20 years, cause noone in Japan wants to deal with HG.

[jss78]

I just bought a couple more heroes from the sale than I otherwise might've. I figure it doesn't matter through which avenue I support PGI.

[Chiasson Brinker]

Formosa The God, on 24 July 2017 - 10:29 AM, said:

looking at the complaint, without bias, PGI are infringing copyright on several mechs, quite cleary, without knowing more though its hard to tell if they are guilty of the offence, or they actually changed the designs to be covered by parody and fair use laws (UK)

Via the precedent set in the Playmates v FASA case, as long as there exists more than a 15% difference, it's kosher. It would tickle me pink to see our TPTB use a ruling against them in a previous case to nail these repugnant, vacuous, soul sucking, oxygen pirates to the legal wall.

[Kyrie]

Was curious when this particular shoe would drop. ;-) Some of the images look problematic to my untrained eye...

[chucklesMuch]

Cool new bling opportunity:

The gavel (animation bangs down on a kill)
And or as a warhorn that sounds like a gavel banging down and says "motion denied!" Or some such.
The wig (hanging item)

[Wil McCullough]

ScrapIron Prime, on 24 July 2017 - 06:58 AM, said:

How about selling a new item... the Harmonious Golden Horn. It's a war horn that plays a trombone going "Wah wah waaaaaah." =P

I would drop $100 just to get as many copies of this as i can.

[Aggravated Assault Mech]

Wildstreak, on 24 July 2017 - 11:28 AM, said:

You could always just fly the Italy flag as support for now.

Bahahaha

good idea!

[Mar-X-maN]

Just a thought. Imo HGs case is pretty strong when it comes to the unseen, so maybe this could turn ugly for PGI and BattleTech.
So for the love of BT I guess supporting PGI is in my best interest.

Supposed this case cannot be won legally, how about a player petition?

I wouldn't have heard of Harmony Gold or Macross if it wasn't for Battletech. Irrc in my youth I saw the Robotech movie on the
shelf at the video rental. But back then it looked so outdated that I never picked it up.

I mean if Harmony Gold would finally make the new RoboTech movie that supposedly has a director now, I would watch it or play a Robotech game if it was good. So basically they would get derivative revenue from me because of BattleTech. Thus they do not suffer any damages from BattleTechs copyright infringement.
I mean I can love BattleTech and Transformers, or Ghost in the Shell and Appleseed. Or EDM and metal. See where I am going with this?

[Kaptain]

ScrapIron Prime, on 24 July 2017 - 06:58 AM, said:

How about selling a new item... the Harmonious Golden Horn. It's a war horn that plays a trombone going "Wah wah waaaaaah." =P

Yes! Wants! so long as the sales go to fighting HG.

[Jingseng]

there's already a C-bill icon hanging item.

and Gold mechs.

Harmony Gold mechs.

Gold PHX special edition mech?

[Kin3ticX]

i doubt PGI will say anything about the lawsuit but I would support HG dying as a company

[johnwolf]

I would like to point out, If PGI wins this, HG will have to A. most likely drop their "copy right" and B. No longer be able to stop Future Battletech and Mechwarrior games from being created. So, WE NEED to support PGI on this, If you love BATTLETECH and MECHWARRIOR you HAVE to support PGI on this case.

FYI, Battletech is owned by TOPPS....so...why aren't they going after them? PGI could LITTERALLY use that to win the case, as well as the fact of RELEVENCY!

[King Kahuna]

I'm in. Have money to spend.