Hi all. All my legal problems probably started when I sent my resume to Wizards of the Coast. I thought the phone interview when well but then later SourceForge takes down my program. You can read about my interview with Wizards here.Supposedly the abbreviation MTG is copyrighted so I need to rename my project. I got e-mail from SourceForge asking me what the new name should be so I suggested "Card Wariors". I know it is a very generic name but so is MTG Forge, lol.
To clear up some things. First, the legal letter show here was sent to SourceForge. SourceForge would be in the wrong if they didn't take my program down off of their site. SourceForge forwarded this e-mail me to. The e-mail doesn't mention anything specific other than changing the name. I responded to SourceForge that I will make any necessary changes, so they will send me a copy of the original DCMA notice that lists the specific infringment.
Personally I think if I renamed all of the card names and didn't download the card pictures that Wizards would be OK with my program. I have already written a text file with all of the renamed cards, although the new card names aren't as good as the originals. Wrath of God becomes Peaceful Solution, Ancestral Recall becomes Ancient Knowledge and Briarhorn turns into Thornwood.
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7 comments:
Its good that your getting the renaming out of the way, but I can't possibly see how WotC could have copyrighted all their cardnames, letalone enforced it like this. If that was the case, then half of all fantasy authors would be in chains right now.
Also, why not 'Magic Forge'?
I hope these legal issues don't slow you down. MTG Forge is great and only helps to generate more interest in Magic: The Gathering. WotC should be thanking you for making it!
I agree with Chojiro, I don't think you will have to rename the cards (hopefully).
I don't know are the card names similar the situation with Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribean. Even though Jack Sparrow isn't copyrighted the movie says "All rights reserved," but I don't really know. Changing all the card names isn't a big deal from a programming point of view. And I am still tickering with MTG Forge :)
And why not the name "Magic Forge", supposedly the initials MTG and words like Magic are copyrighted by Wizards according to the e-mail I got. Whether that is try or not, who knows.
Wizard copyrighting the word Magic?! I dont know what you're on Forge, but it must be pretty heavy if you think they could pull that off.
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