Legal problems

By Flengin, in Star Wars: Armada

Greetings all.

I just read the legal text on the bottom of an imperial squadron pack. The first 2 sentences read:

"© & TM Lucasfilm Ltd. No part of this product may be used without specific written permission."

​I can only assume that every Armada product has this same legal box.

I can also assume that NOBODY​ at Worlds had such written permission to use their products.

​Be glad FFG isn't GW or you all can expect an angry letter from their lawyers......

Edited by Flengin

nah, written permission wouldve been on the tickets!

Last weekend my 5 year old nephew spent 2 hours doing an unauthorised "Pew Pew" session with my ships & squadrons.

Where should I post George Lucas his cheque?

Last weekend my 5 year old nephew spent 2 hours doing an unauthorised "Pew Pew" session with my ships & squadrons.

Where should I post George Lucas his cheque?

You mean Disney as they own Star Wars - lock, stock and barrel!

Greetings all.

I just read the legal text on the bottom of an imperial squadron pack. The first 2 sentences read:

"© & TM Lucasfilm Ltd. No part of this product may be used without specific written permission."

​I can only assume that every Armada product has this same legal box.

I can also assume that NOBODY​ at Worlds had such written permission to use their products.

​Be glad FFG isn't GW or you all can expect an angry letter from their lawyers......

Just like certain national sports leagues in the USA like to assert that you can't do certain things with their broadcast, what they assert and the law aren't always in full agreement....

As a matter before the courts, you'll find that companies steer very very clear of things where the courts have previously ruled not to mention those actions which would be a disaster for public relations.

Case in point, DVRing the game ... totally "against" the National Football League rules. Reality? People do it all the time and you'll be hard pressed to find any court cases covering that use.

Really?

By buying it you have bought the rights to use the product. It's a catch all, kind of like what Tgall said. The ONLY time this would come into play is if Disney had you on something BIG, (industrial espionage?), they would use those little EULAs etc as cherries on top. To make sure you understood just how hard you got screwed, (two counts industrial espionage, one count theft of intellectual properties, FOUR BILLION counts of trademark and/or copyright infringement).

Or, (just thought of this, and seeing as it happened it is kind of relevant), if you start using them in a way that Disney doesn't like, (ie putting out an article that a certain Barbie doll is ugly or creating a website mocking certain Barbie dolls or write a song.... you get the point).

Greetings all.

I just read the legal text on the bottom of an imperial squadron pack. The first 2 sentences read:

"© & TM Lucasfilm Ltd. No part of this product may be used without specific written permission."

​I can only assume that every Armada product has this same legal box.

I can also assume that NOBODY​ at Worlds had such written permission to use their products.

​Be glad FFG isn't GW or you all can expect an angry letter from their lawyers......

I would argue that talking about what you saw and buying a product to use it constitutes Fair Use.

This is not legal advice.

As previously stated, what a company asserts and what is covered by law are two different things, an in general, "contracts" of this sort (e.g. we printed it on the box and you bought it therefore you agreed) are not going to be given favorable treatment in a US court when they are already walking all over established precedent (like fair use).

What it probably does is prevents people from using FFG models for their own money-generating production (e.g. recasting, using them in a for-profit film, etc.) without permission. Beyond that? Unlikely.

Really?

By buying it you have bought the rights to use the product. It's a catch all, kind of like what Tgall said. The ONLY time this would come into play is if Disney had you on something BIG, (industrial espionage?), they would use those little EULAs etc as cherries on top. To make sure you understood just how hard you got screwed, (two counts industrial espionage, one count theft of intellectual properties, FOUR BILLION counts of trademark and/or copyright infringement).

Or, (just thought of this, and seeing as it happened it is kind of relevant), if you start using them in a way that Disney doesn't like, (ie putting out an article that a certain Barbie doll is ugly or creating a website mocking certain Barbie dolls or write a song.... you get the point).

Is the part about Barbie actually happening? It seems as long as it wasn't generating money it would be covered by the first Amendment.

All three are actual case law by Matell. One of their, um, fan authors(?), someone who was publishing a fanzine, I think he said the Queen Elizabeth doll was the ugliest of the series. Taken to court. Another guy took dolls he had bought and "modified" them. Trashcan ***, Redneck ***, etc. Taken to court. That settled out of court and I believe his dolls are now called Barbi$. And I believe everyone has heard the song I'm a Barbie Girl by Aqua? Taken to court. I'm not 100% sure if the first two generated income or not, (pretty sure the first did not).

Last weekend my 5 year old nephew spent 2 hours doing an unauthorised "Pew Pew" session with my ships & squadrons.

Where should I post George Lucas his cheque?

Mad Cat! You sir, are in trouble sir!

Not only have you infringed IP with your nephews unauthorised "pew pew pewing" BUT if you read further through the legal stuff the last two sentences read:

"​THIS PRODUCT IS NOT A TOY. NOT INTENDED FOR USE BY PERSONS 13 YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER"

So that's two more counts on you and your family! Improper use and Supplying a minor!