Blizzard Prepares to Sue Over Illegal StarCraft TV Broadcasts

[bob1052]

Uh no.

If you develop the perfect vacuum and I buy it, I can use the vacuum as I see fit but i can't reverse engineer it and manufacture exact replicas.

I own the vacuum that I bought (the physical copy of a game) but I don't own the design (the IP).

Uh no.

You don't own the game. There isn't even a physical copy of a game. It may come on a physical disc but the game is software.

Furthermore you don't own one copy of the software either. You own a license to play the game.

Also, let's not forget that when people watch matches on TV. They aren't watching Starcraft as much as they are watching professionals play Starcraft. If they just wanted to watch Starcraft, they are other sources. It's like watching professional football over high school football, it isn't "football" that you really want to see but rather professionals playing it.

So if a bunch of football stars are going to sit around doing nothing for 90 minutes it should get the same tv ratings as an actual game of football? That's retarded. The game is just as, if not more important than the professionals.

 

[bob1052]

You dont own video game when you buy it. You've bought a license to play it in a very specific setting on very specific terms. Like it or not, that's how it is. KeSPA knowingly violated the terms and are getting sued for it, justly.

No, that is how they want you to think it is but in reality when you buy a product, it is yours to do with as you see fit. DRM is taking away those rights but in the console used market you can see that what I am saying is correct. The publishers would like to destroy the used market but they can't do it via legal means because they would lose. They are doing it with DRM and you are letting them.

No, that is how you think. Read up on the purchases you are making. The product you are buying that "is yours to do with as you see fit" is nothing more than a license.

 

[ark123]

What about gameplay videos on YouTube?

Videos on youtube aren't live broadcasts from events. They're recordings of replays. Obviously Blizzard isn't going to sue people over using something THEY made available

I doubt live or recorded makes any difference.

Right, that's why the rights to show the Superbowl live and the rights to show the 1984 Superbowl cost the same.
In Korea a game between Boxer and Fruit Dealer might as well be the superbowl. They sell commercial spots for a fortune between name matches.

 

[jono793]

To be fair, Blizzard know better than most what happens when you don't protect your IP.

Also, this discussion is somewhat pointless. The question raised is whether Starcraft can be considered public domain *UNDER SOUTH KOREAN LAW*.

Would any of you happen to be South Korean lawyers?

 

[Fearzone]

Blizzard is gone. It's Activision now.

Also, it's a game, not a sport.

You can say football is just a game, not a sport, too.

A sport is nothing more than a game with a following. Starcraft is a sport.

Chess has a following. It's a game, not a sport.

Poker has a following. It too is a game and not a sport. As are videogames.

 

[bob1052]

Blizzard is gone. It's Activision now.

Also, it's a game, not a sport.

You can say football is just a game, not a sport, too.

A sport is nothing more than a game with a following. Starcraft is a sport.

Chess has a following. It's a game, not a sport.

The International Olympic Comittee recognizes chess as a sport.

 

[Delusibeta]

I can't help but feel that it's going to blow up in Blizzard's face.

(Also, by strict dictionary definition, bob1052 is correct. You don't buy a copy of a game, you buy a license to said game. It's only recently that the companies can enforce their license agreement)

 

[InsanityRequiem]

No, this is what the game publishers would LIKE to happen but when I look at my SNES games, I know I own them.

What has happened is that as the industry has grown they have convinced you (and many others) that they are not selling games, but rather licenses to play a game. It may be true to you if you believe it but a trip to Gamestop or a look at your retro games should show you a different reality.

So you're saying that you do not believe Intellectual Property Rights?

Because that's established by Law. That companies who makes something, be it the software of a videogame, the brand of clothing, type of Television set, etc.

Gamestop sells the physical copies. That's what retailers do. They sell the physical copies of games containing the Developer's software. Software that is legally theirs. By law. And by law, we are not allowed to copy that coded software and sell/alter/use it in any means that will deny the company their profits.

That is Capitalism.

 

[Warforger]

Ok, so this is weird man. Why would you want to watch people play starcraft on tv???? I knew there was some crazy shit over there but jeez.

That's how I view normal sports, sure people who are better then you you get to watch playing, but its not like thats funner then actually playing the sport. Honestly I can't watch any sport besides Badminton without getting extremely bored and tired.

 

[ZephrC]

No, this is what the game publishers would LIKE to happen but when I look at my SNES games, I know I own them.

What has happened is that as the industry has grown they have convinced you (and many others) that they are not selling games, but rather licenses to play a game. It may be true to you if you believe it but a trip to Gamestop or a look at your retro games should show you a different reality.

So you're saying that you do not believe Intellectual Property Rights?

Because that's established by Law. That companies who makes something, be it the software of a videogame, the brand of clothing, type of Television set, etc.

Gamestop sells the physical copies. That's what retailers do. They sell the physical copies of games containing the Developer's software. Software that is legally theirs. By law. And by law, we are not allowed to copy that coded software and sell/alter/use it in any means that will deny the company their profits.

That is Capitalism.

Is it really capitalism? Do you even know what capitalism is? Sorry, I just get kind of sick of people attacking capitalism in the name of our byzantine mess of idiocy that we like to call capitalism.

Anyway, you might especially want to analyze that line about use it in means that will deny the company "their" profits. How exactly is it that you're so sure that this professional league is Blizzard's? There's no real precedent for that even in the US with our loony copyright laws, let alone in Korea.

I get that we want developers to make money here. I'm totally in agreement with that, but not to the extent of making our already insane copyright laws even worse. I just don't like video games enough to sacrifice a functional society for them. Sorry.

 

[Jodah]

Good for them. It would be one thing if Blizz didn't allow it at all but they are allowing it if the station asks nicely (and likely pays royalties). Honestly, its no different then pirating, except the people that are pirating are then using the pirated video to make money.

 

[AcacianLeaves]

Blizzard doesn't necessarily care about profit in this case, and only wants to protect its IP just as the NFL, MLB, and other organizations vehemently do.

You kidding? Their CEOs see the amount of money they could be squeezing out of Korea and they get very, very excited. This is ALL about profit. Blizzard doesn't get this upset about DotA because DotA isn't a national freaking sport. Most places get away with broadcasting IPs by clearly labeling who owns the IP. Blizzard is treading in dangerous territory here. They've made a lot of money in Korea, if they push too hard they may lose their bankroll.

 

[Requx]

Ok, so this is weird man. Why would you want to watch people play starcraft on tv???? I knew there was some crazy shit over there but jeez.

How is watching hockey or golf any more interesting? I think SC is at least ten times more interesting than all the international sports tournaments.

It's actually really intense. Watching the best people at anything is why do you think guinnes book of world records sells? Just listen to the doctor.

 

[Firetaffer]

I'm with Blizzard on this one, it clearly states you have to sign the tournament paper or whatever on the site, which for some reason these people did not do. If they had just done this little thing they wouldn't be sued..