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It just seems to me that GW would be seething right now. They've got to be looking/considering a way to shut this down just like they did damnatus. "might not be for profit, but its a violation of our IP..." or whatever.

I'm looking at it seeing a wonderful tool for me to game occasionally with enstranged friends in other states. I'm worried that GW will somehow begin to shut the whole thing down....at least shut down the ability to get the 40k module.

Will it be possible for them to do so? You know they're looking into it, they've gotta be.

There's always going to be a way to get the module, just like there's always a way to get a PDF or always a way to get a crack for your favorite game.

And Vassal is?

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/205670.page

I should think there is enough copyright violation in the use of the images and points values to give GW a case.

It depends if they think the module is a serious threat to their business.

They stomped on an online Space Hulk game a short while back. I would expect that the Vassal mod will no doubt receive similar treatment sooner or later.

WotC and Lucasarts don't seem to have any problems with the Star Wars mod... but then, Lucas has traditionally been a lot more easy-going about IP where there's no profit involved.

Depends.

IP *has* to be defended by a company, otherwise they resign all rights to it, IIRC.

The trouble with Damnatus was German Law, which prevented the Damnatus boys signing over the rights to GW for some reason.

This? I honestly don't know. If the Mod is fan made, Vassal have nowt to worry about, as strictly speaking, they had no input barring the open source. The peeps that made it though are likely to get a stern letter.

I believe almost all the modules are fan made actually.

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:Depends.

IP *has* to be defended by a company, otherwise they resign all rights to it, IIRC.

...

...

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GW could issue a limited licence which protected their IP rights while allowing the Vassal mod to continue. Whether they want to is a different matter.

If that's possible then it's possible.

I know tremendously little about law, particularly where IP and that comes into it. Pretty much all I know is what you quoted!

Lormax wrote:I believe almost all the modules are fan made actually.

If this is the case and its just being distributed as essentially freeware, then the only thing GW can do is try and force websites to remove the file and links. In other words its much like trying to remove thousands of needles from thousands of haystacks. Generally speaking GW probably won't waste any time on it.

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:The trouble with Damnatus was German Law, which prevented the Damnatus boys signing over the rights to GW for some reason.

And yet hasn't been a problem for Lucasarts, which these days not only allows but encourages fan made movies.

Wizards of the Coast doesn't stop free programs that you can play magic the gathering on. They do call one such program the "forbidden program" and any mention of it on their web forums is banned, but that's about it.

As I thought, GW just put the axe to this....

the module is being taken off of the site and no more updates will be allowed.

Leave it to GW to f*** up a good thing. They dont deserve a dime of any of our money, they really dont. If it wasnt for all my good friends being involved in the game I'd give it up in a heartbeat and go play some other system.

Another example of GW's cold attitude towards customers. I was thinking what a lovely tool this was for planning new armies.

I should'nt be so angry though, I knew it was coming.

Download the mod now. They can stop updates, but not you playing it.

Well, Gamesworkshop has actually released their IP as long as the thing in question is not run for profit in any way. (including advertising) And the game is a so called "Total Conversion," as in you must do it justice or they will pull your cord.

and i was so much enjoying vassal

Gotta love the site in your sig Twister

Thanks for the heads up on the C&D. I'll have to make sure that the modules are kept for safekeeping...

Just incase you guys didn't know a lot of board game publishers actually support Vassal, and have officially approved Vassal mods for their games that are continually updated as new material/expansions come out.

I mostly familiar with official vassal modules for traditional hex and counter wargames.

Some of the modules are quite nice.