Comments on Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life
TypePad
2009-04-09T08:33:49Z
SLHamlet
https://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/
tag:typepad.com,2003:https://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2009/04/enforcers-of-dune/comments/atom.xml/
Marc Mielke commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef0133ed69eeae970b
2010-05-09T04:27:05Z
2010-05-09T04:27:05Z
Marc Mielke
Umm...Mariner; I think John Norman's still alive, so his heirs might find speaking up a tad presumptious ;-). IFAIK, Herbert...
<p>Umm...Mariner; I think John Norman's still alive, so his heirs might find speaking up a tad presumptious ;-). </p>
<p>IFAIK, Herbert was pretty much like this when he was alive. He was contacted by the heavy metal band Iron Maiden when they wanted to do a song titled 'Dune', and was kind of a prick about it. They still did the song, mind you -- 'To Tame A Land' off the 'Piece of Mind' album. </p>
Spooky Caligari commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01287615bb58970c
2009-12-04T23:43:57Z
2009-12-04T23:43:57Z
Spooky Caligari
Honestly, it's Trident's intellectual property, they have a right to do with they want with it. I don't understand where...
<p>Honestly, it's Trident's intellectual property, they have a right to do with they want with it. I don't understand where all this indignation is coming from. This isn't like a fansite or text-based MU* or something being shut down. This sim is a place in an actual economy that has the potential to make real money (even if it isn't currently) using intellectual property that isn't theirs. Trident is looking after their own financial interests and I can't fault them for that.</p>
Vooper Werribee commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef0115703250e7970b
2009-04-20T22:21:24Z
2009-04-20T22:21:24Z
Vooper Werribee
It's very heartening to read the expressions of support for the Dune roleplay community in Second Life and in particular...
<p>It's very heartening to read the expressions of support for the Dune roleplay community in Second Life and in particular thank you to Professor Stallman for his comments on intellectual property.</p>
<p>I'd like to re-iterate that the sim is still open and the community there is still playing more or less as they were before we received the notices from Linden Lab. We don't use certain terms in our roleplay any more, not because we're afraid of being sued, but because we don't want to encourage others to name objects, groups or land parcels in such a way that they may get a notice from Linden Lab in future requiring them to rename said objects, groups or parcels within 48 hours. Personlly, I found the notice from Linden Lab much more worrying than any threatening letter from lawyers would have been, because I know that the Lindens have the power to 'pull the plug' at short notice on something I and many others have invested a lot of time, money and energy in creating.</p>
<p>After reading the comments expressed here my feeling is that the various laws that are designed to defend copyright, trademarks and the amorphous 'intellectual property' are increasingly looking like a product of the 20th Century that are 'not fit for purpose' in the 21st. My plan is for Splintered Rock roleplay community to still be around when the laws catch up with the sort of things that people are doing in the metaverse (and elsewhere on the net). Let's see! :)</p>
Hamlet Au commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01156f2e857b970c
2009-04-17T08:59:34Z
2009-04-17T08:59:34Z
Hamlet Au
Thanks for commenting, Richard. For clarity's sake, I updated this post with the text of the notice sent to the...
<p>Thanks for commenting, Richard. For clarity's sake, I updated this post with the text of the notice sent to the Dune RPers, which complains of "Trademark and Copyright Infringement". You're right that the latter term "intellectual property" is too broad to be bandied about so readily, but then, that term was also used in the notice. I assume the Dune-related proper names the RPers were using have been trademarked for games and other ancillary products. If you happen to drop by the blog again, I wonder, what alternatives would you advise the Lindens to practice?</p>
Crap Mariner commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01157022d284970b
2009-04-16T13:16:38Z
2009-04-16T13:16:38Z
Crap Mariner
http://firstlife.isfullofcrap.com/
PONDERING: "The second is the more intriguing idea that the Herbert Estate may be looking to creating its own MMORPG...
<p>PONDERING: "The second is the more intriguing idea that the Herbert Estate may be looking to creating its own MMORPG in the future. Despite the ubiquitous predictions of pundits that virtual worlds are over, I suggest there is a significant potential for an enterprising company to create and sell a Dune(R)-based world. In this scenario, the "why" is "because we are going to do something ourselves" and , as has been mentioned, "we want to minimize competition." "</p>
<p>Is Dune's following big enough to sustain such a thing?</p>
<p>If so, I'd think Gor has a bigger appeal online and John Norman's heirs might take a page from Brian "Prequel Whore" Herbert's playbook.</p>
<p>-ls/cm</p>
<p>PS: Okay, fine. I like the prequels. But there's a point at which you get tired of the "let's take a step back again" - Harkonnen amoeba fighting the Atriedes amoeba for supremacy in the Pond Of Corrino.</p>
Richard Stallman commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef011570211174970b
2009-04-15T18:34:12Z
2009-04-15T18:34:12Z
Richard Stallman
When I read about how the heirs of the Dune fortune attacked Second Life users, my first thought was about...
<p>When I read about how the heirs of the Dune fortune attacked Second<br />
Life users, my first thought was about how nasty and foolish they were<br />
being. My second thought was that the article serves its readers<br />
poorly, when it uses the vague term "intellectual property" to<br />
describe the legal issue at stake here.</p>
<p>The term "intellectual property" is an incoherent muddle: it lumps<br />
together various unrelated laws that do different things. (See<br />
<a href="http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html.)" rel="nofollow">http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html.)</a> A few of those that use<br />
the term know this, and use it to to spread confusion. The rest think<br />
the term has a concrete meaning, and are just passing along their own<br />
confusion.</p>
<p>The lawyers for Frank Herbert's greedy and foolish heirs are using the<br />
term for malicious effect. Which law do they claim these users are<br />
violating? What does that law actually allow? Which of the users'<br />
practices really violate that law, and which are lawful? The lawyers<br />
hope these questions will never be asked, so they use the term<br />
"intellectual property" to mask them.</p>
<p>When Vooper Werribee and other roleplayers use the term, however, they<br />
put themselves at a disadvantage. It looks like they never demanded<br />
answers to those questions, but rather took for granted that they were<br />
violating some unidentified law. People who believe -- mistakenly --<br />
that there is a law of "intellectual property", which prohibits all<br />
sorts of imitation in a broad sense, are likely to be intimidated out<br />
of their legal rights. I wish I had been in time to urge them to<br />
break out of the harmful mode of thinking which "intellectual<br />
property" encourages.</p>
<p>When Linden Lab uses the term "intellectual property", it is a<br />
cop-out. The requirements of copyright law and trademark law are<br />
totally different, and both are totally different from patent law --<br />
to name three out of at least a dozen. To treat them the same makes<br />
no sense. Linden should discard its one-shape-fits-all policy about<br />
"intellectual property", and replace it with thoughtfully design<br />
policies appropriate to these various laws.</p>
<p>When the article uses the term, it becomes uninformative. Good<br />
journalism should answer the question "what", as well as "who, when,<br />
where and why". if all you "know" about some issue is that it<br />
concerns some "intellectual property" law, you don't really know<br />
what's going on. The first step in writing about the issue is to find<br />
out what.<br />
</p>
Peimike Priestman commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01157014906f970b
2009-04-11T22:05:38Z
2009-04-11T22:05:38Z
Peimike Priestman
This is one person's opinion. There are a couple of simple truths in this tale. Neither of them is particularly...
<p>This is one person's opinion. There are a couple of simple truths in this tale. Neither of them is particularly edifying. </p>
<p>The Herbert estate and its agents are legally entitled to take action. Frank Herbert's original creation is their property. If the family is as nice personally as has been mentioned above, then I suggest they are ill served by Trident. </p>
<p>Trident Media Group are not required to demonstrate any of the enlightenment of their competitors who manage IP and fan bases, and there is no law against stupidity. Trident Media Group has demonstrated a lack of commercial understanding and disregard for the Herbert family's DUNE fan base compared to its peers operating the Star Wars, Star Trek and Gor properties to name a few. There is also a D'ni world happily existing in here from the Myst games. Perhaps Herbert's estate should be put in touch with an enlightened IP management arm.</p>
<p>The Linden Lab quote in the piece sounds lame. I wanted to say it sounded little better than Pontius Pilate washing his hands just before the flogging and crucifixion, but that would be a tad sTrident. </p>
<p>The amateur enthusiasts have sustained, grown and built this place, and its significant economy to the point of being a multi-million dollar cottage industry of artisans and consumers. Linden now speaks frequently of commercial content providers. The amateurs, regardless of the content they create (sci-fi, fantasy, adult, mature) will become progressively marginalized to allow the more profitable commerical content providers unfettered access. Structure and form will be created where once there was spontaneity and free form. It's already underway.</p>
<p>This is a personal observation on well documented new market development tipping points. Early adopters are ground breakers. The corporate scale client whether a corporate user account or a commercial content provider, is extremely risk averse. It is a second entrant preferring to leverage an initially proven concept or market.</p>
<p>Sci-Fi and fantasy fan sims abound in here. They are created by amateurs; amateur programmers/builders and amateurs of the law. Linden is happy to take the tier for as long as it is being paid. The sim owner was poorly served when Linden did no more than relay the legal message, appending their own 48 hour compliance limit. </p>
<p>Linden is failing to see its own enlightened self interest in this as well, presumably because this decision track is being run by their lawyers and not their marketing department. However, Linden is trying to market Second Life commercial opportunities to the real world. </p>
<p>At the same time as Linden spends significant sums trying to create and sell their virtual world value proposition for the IBM's and other global corporations of this world, it then misses a golden opportunity to step in and create the same business opportunity for viral marketing to an already established GLOBAL fan base. </p>
<p>The media production companies are perfect candidates to become early adopters of Linden's value proposition. What about connecting directly with global fan bases one on one via their fans' SL sim networks? Market your movies in SL! Let me reiterate. I said GLOBAL fan base. Splintered Rock's denizens are from all over Europe, North America and elsewhere. They have social networks across sci-fi sims in SL as well as friends whose opinions they influence and go to movies with in RL, and they have good memories. That is the norm in SL sims.</p>
<p>Ultimately, I believe SL will be packaged for sale to a media conglomerate so the inventors can achive their deserved payouts. This creation of theirs is a beautiful thing. If they miss this experiential marketing opportunity, they will have left a significant component of their real value undeveloped. (My opinion about the end game.) Instead Linden Labs prattles on in their quote about supporting creativity as they throw the sim owner to the sTrident corporate suits and add a draconian (my opinion) 48 hour compliance order of their own. </p>
<p>In rl, the sci-fi media producing community encourages (financially and verbally) everything to sustain fan base activities down to and including making amateur copies of weapons, uniforms insignia and makeup. They support or sponsor "conventions" with actor appearances and commercial content and language classes (Klingon & D'ni to name but two) Why? It's well established that this amateur activity sells even more merchandise and sustains the franchise by keeping the enthusiasts engaged. It's called experiential marketing. </p>
<p>Vooper merely copied what a layman would regard as current best practice in sl for creating a fan based sim when one looks around at other examples. In point of fact, his is the only remaining sim of four DUNE-themed sims. He has responded to the nastygram by eliminating all reference to DUNE. (Don't carp about should have known, etc. It's experiences like this that one learns from, and IP rights isn't the only lesson being taught, by the way.) The most farcical aspect of this silliness is that Vooper could keep all the DUNE references and use them under a fair use doctine if he wanted to make the sim a parody of DUNE. He doesn't want that. (Neither do most of us, I believe. </p>
<p>The media company is within its rights. Linden is within its rights. But they both have a bad case of dead from the neck up dumbass.</p>
<p>I'm a Fremen on Splintered Rock. The unenlightened can go pound sand (or kiss a worm).</p>
Sigmund Leominster commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef011570146d3a970b
2009-04-11T21:06:00Z
2009-04-11T21:06:00Z
Sigmund Leominster
http://sigmundleominster.blogspot.com
It is interesting to speculate on the "why" of this case. I guess the first is that Trident are employed...
<p>It is interesting to speculate on the "why" of this case. I guess the first is that Trident are employed by the Herbert Estate to protect the Herbert IP. A cease-and-desist against a sim of 130 people, while seeming pointless, will be worth a chunk of change to Trident. So long as they can show the Estate that they are actively pursuing IP protection, then they will be paid. So the "why" in this scenario is "because we're paid to do it."</p>
<p>The second is the more intriguing idea that the Herbert Estate may be looking to creating its own MMORPG in the future. Despite the ubiquitous predictions of pundits that virtual worlds are over, I suggest there is a significant potential for an enterprising company to create and sell a Dune(R)-based world. In this scenario, the "why" is "because we are going to do something ourselves" and , as has been mentioned, "we want to minimize competition."</p>
<p>It is, of course, possible that the folks who run the Herbert Estate do not know of this, but they could easily grant permission if they wanted, without having any significant impact on their IP. Provided the sim owners stick to a few rules, they could easily carry on with the SL game.</p>
<p>In truth, the sad thing is that it is the sim owners who are breaking the law and Trident who are in the right. It's a classic example of where "Law" and "Justice" have no relationship. Legally, Trident are the good guys - but to the average man, this all stinks of injustice and pettiness. </p>
<p>But then life - both real and Second - sucks, and then you die.</p>
BJ Tunwarm commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef011570119ca2970b
2009-04-10T19:33:46Z
2009-04-10T19:33:46Z
BJ Tunwarm
Sounds Trident's lawyers are justifying their fees, doesn't it? It's pretty hard to see how a RP group with a...
<p>Sounds Trident's lawyers are justifying their fees, doesn't it? It's pretty hard to see how a RP group with a dozen individuals undercuts a copyright and it is free publicity for the franchise. Going after SL is probably more of sign of how little interest there is in Dune right now more than anything else. </p>
Sasara Klaar commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01156f1a5554970c
2009-04-10T17:02:39Z
2009-04-10T17:02:39Z
Sasara Klaar
Sadly, I am going to add another much loved creation to my list of IP that will never generate another...
<p>Sadly, I am going to add another much loved creation to my list of IP that will never generate another centavo from me. The bitten hand no longer feeds.</p>
<p>When will they learn?</p>
dandellion Kimban commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01157010a3ad970b
2009-04-10T11:51:27Z
2009-04-10T11:51:27Z
dandellion Kimban
http://metaverse.acidzen.org
and there is another film of the first novel in the series due out in 2010. Speculation suggests that Trident...
<blockquote>and there is another film of the first novel in the series due out in 2010. Speculation suggests that Trident intends to open a sim in SL and doesn't want any virtual competition for eyes</blockquote>
<p>Wise man would enjoy formed group of fans and organized sims, find a way to pump a bit of money in the existing infrastructure, get into the game and enjoy the fruits. Fool will annoy the fans and try to put a lot of money in another empty sim. Why all those marketing people never learn to use common sense?</p>
chris commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef0115700f654c970b
2009-04-09T22:36:26Z
2009-04-09T22:36:26Z
chris
http://dzc.com
They will soon, CBS Viacom will want the JJ version of Trek to rule for new MMO licenses, And they...
<p>They will soon, CBS Viacom will want the JJ version of Trek to rule for new MMO licenses, And they will have to crack down on SL to get a higher value for it. </p>
<p>Lucas, well they are basically retarded online and just live off Lego and Hasbro. But when another MMO on Star Wars tanks(sony's sucked) and even Bioware cant save the "old Republic", they will also finally notice the money made, and the deluted market value on their IP, and that Linden has profited from it for 6 years.</p>
<p>Linden hiding behind the DCMA, while selling DUNE/TREK/Wars items on the SLX for USD?</p>
<p>Sue em all!lol</p>
Iggy O commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef0115700ef628970b
2009-04-09T20:02:46Z
2009-04-09T20:02:46Z
Iggy O
http://iggyo.blogspot.com/
I am personally upset that the first Dune film did not--as I once read--feature Salvador Dali as the Emperor....I thought...
<p>I am personally upset that the first Dune film did not--as I once read--feature Salvador Dali as the Emperor....I thought that memory no more than an errant neuron at play until I poked about in Google and lifted this from Wikipedia:</p>
<p>"In December 1974, a French consortium led by Jean-Paul Gibon purchased the film rights...[and] planned to film the story as a ten hour feature, in collaboration with Orson Welles, Dan O'Bannon, Salvador DalĂ, Gloria Swanson, HervĂ© Villechaize and others (whom he nicknamed his "seven samurais"). The music would be composed by Pink Floyd. Jodorowsky set up a pre-production unit in Paris consisting of Chris Foss, a British artist who designed covers for science fiction periodicals, Jean Giraud (Moebius), a French illustrator who created and also wrote and drew for Metal Hurlant magazine, and H. R. Giger."</p>
<p>Damn, that would have been a head-trip. Dali, Pink Floyd, Orson Wells as the Baron, Moebius and Giger?? Who'd need SL? I'd hook myself into a Barcalounger before a huge screen, arrange for sequential deliveries of pizza and Thai food, and and never return until my money ran out.</p>
YP commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01156f17b147970c
2009-04-09T19:20:04Z
2009-04-09T19:20:04Z
YP
There seems to be a lawyer for everything nowadays. It's a wonder there is any content at all in SL....
<p>There seems to be a lawyer for everything nowadays. </p>
<p>It's a wonder there is any content at all in SL.</p>
<p>I'm just waiting for someone to say they patented the prim. </p>
<p>'You have two days to get rid of them all!'...Oh dear...</p>
Hamlet Au commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01156f17ae49970c
2009-04-09T19:15:09Z
2009-04-09T19:15:09Z
Hamlet Au
"a quick search online reveals that Trident licensed the movie rights and there is another film of the first novel...
<p>"a quick search online reveals that Trident licensed the movie rights and there is another film of the first novel in the series due out in 2010. Speculation suggests that Trident intends to open a sim in SL and doesn't want any virtual competition for eyes"</p>
<p>Others have suggested that as well, GC. On the other side, a big new Star Trek movie is coming out next month, and a Trek MMORPG is expected later this year. Same with Star Wars, which is getting another MMORPG from BioWare, probably later this year. As far as I know, though, neither franchises have sent their reps after SL roleplay.</p>
cube inada commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01156f179fb5970c
2009-04-09T18:49:15Z
2009-04-09T18:49:15Z
cube inada
http://c3.com
There is original scifi in SL... and it allows for profit by its viewers under licenses much better than the...
<p>There is original scifi in SL... and it allows for profit by its viewers under licenses much better than the falicies of CC or the not undertstanding old media lawyers;).</p>
<p>Cube Inada</p>
Ann Otoole commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01156f178a8d970c
2009-04-09T18:13:42Z
2009-04-09T18:13:42Z
Ann Otoole
http://annotoole.wordpress.com/
It isn't necessary to use exact reproductions and words to get to role play. Everyone interested will know what is...
<p>It isn't necessary to use exact reproductions and words to get to role play. Everyone interested will know what is what anyway. You will never get to a good excuse for IP infringement.</p>
<p>That being said it is sad to see Dune has officially made it into the membership of dying entities that must resort to attacking fan sites with lawyers. You can always tell when something is in it's wriggling near death phase. It is when they no longer have any revenue streams left so they turn to lawyers.<br />
</p>
Nexus Burbclave commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef0115700ea1b6970b
2009-04-09T17:53:15Z
2009-04-09T17:53:15Z
Nexus Burbclave
I suppose one solution would be to convert the build into a fair-use protected parody, complete with greedy IP lawyers....
<p>I suppose one solution would be to convert the build into a fair-use protected parody, complete with greedy IP lawyers. :)</p>
BB commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01156f1779f2970c
2009-04-09T17:46:33Z
2009-04-09T17:46:33Z
BB
I do know several members of the Herbert estate and they are very nice, kind, friendly people! I doubt they...
<p>I do know several members of the Herbert estate and they are very nice, kind, friendly people! I doubt they are even aware this has happened! BUT how is this different from the content theft violations we all scream about in SL. Is it ok if we do it but not if they do? Just curious...</p>
GC commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01156f175b19970c
2009-04-09T16:55:03Z
2009-04-09T16:55:03Z
GC
I'd begun RPing sporadically in Splintered Rock about a month or so ago, and I never thought it was big...
<p>I'd begun RPing sporadically in Splintered Rock about a month or so ago, and I never thought it was big enough with enough of a following to warrant this kind of cease-and-desist. I'm frankly appalled that something that is so obviously a nod to the original creator's vision could be deemed such a grand violation of trust or IP. John Norman doesn't do this, and the Goreans even go so far as to use place names straight out of his books.</p>
<p>Why not Dune? Well, a quick search online reveals that Trident licensed the movie rights and there is another film of the first novel in the series due out in 2010. Speculation suggests that Trident intends to open a sim in SL and doesn't want any virtual competition for eyes. My guess is that if there were no film, no one would ever have come inworld to look at the Dune sims. There are only two associated with Splintered Rock and Vooper can barely afford to keep just those two running, so why else would Trident give a crap?</p>
<p>From what I hear, this is not the first time that Trident has filed complaints about Dune-related items. RPers out there might recall Last Unicorn Games. Last Unicorn had licensed the Dune moniker for gaming purposes long ago under reasonable terms. When they brought out a Dune-based RPG, WotC (aka TSR) bought Last Unicorn to gain those rights and distribute the game themselves. Trident raised the licensing fees to the point where it was grossly unprofitable to release it. Even GURPS Dune lives on only in fleeting online posts and the full rules can only be gathered from multiple sources.</p>
<p>Simply put, Trident is killing their own market. No Dune items produced by those with a passion for it means no way of passing that passion on. Putting out bad movie after bad movie is the road to hell for the franchise. If I were the Herbert estate (I am of course not), I'd fire Trident and go with a company more accommodating to the fans. No fans = no business.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'm angry about it. I was a fan and I would have seen the new movie. Now, maybe not. Not if they're going to continue to treat the fans the way their track record shows.</p>
<p>My $0.02.<br />
</p>
Joelle Tardis commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01156f175853970c
2009-04-09T16:49:52Z
2009-04-09T16:49:52Z
Joelle Tardis
I personally think it might behoove them to remember that those people RPing in these Sims are their Fan Base!...
<p>I personally think it might behoove them to remember that those people RPing in these Sims are their Fan Base!<br />
They are the ones who pay to watch the Movies, Buy the Posters, The Books, the figurines.....</p>
<p> Perhaps the fans should vote with their feet and their Wallets.My family will not be seeing the next Dune Movie.</p>
<p>I remember when Lucas Arts and Sony were much the same about Star-Wars.It did not seem to take them long to realize this was their fan base they were alienanting and to back up and reconsider their position.<br />
<br />
Perhaps Dune Fans will be so lucky or perhaps the next great trilogy is lurking in the mind of one of these fans. Lets Hope so and that they are wise enough to remember this expierence and learn from it...</p>
Foobar Merlin commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef0115700e29aa970b
2009-04-09T14:34:23Z
2009-04-09T14:34:23Z
Foobar Merlin
I agree with dandellion and Jura. I'm no expert but to me this just seems like a marketing failure of...
<p>I agree with dandellion and Jura. I'm no expert but to me this just seems like a marketing failure of Trident. Shouldn't they be happy someone puts effort and money into spreading their ideas? A kind of partnership would have been much more constructive in this case. They'd have less advertising costs and sl-users who like the Dune-universe would have a nice playground/meeting place.</p>
<p>Hey I'd like to see a sim wide randomly acting sandworm that eats a noob from time to time! :D</p>
Arcadia Codesmith commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01156f1705a8970c
2009-04-09T14:27:22Z
2009-04-09T14:27:22Z
Arcadia Codesmith
I was once commissioned to create a motif for a SL club based on an illustration that the owner liked....
<p>I was once commissioned to create a motif for a SL club based on an illustration that the owner liked. A few minutes of research on the web revealed the source of the illustration. There were licensing terms listed with the image, but they were way out of my price range. So I emailed the rights holder directly, explained clearly and concisely my proposed non-commercial use, and asked for a more limited license. They were a little bemused at the novelty of licensing for a virtual world, and readily agreed to a much more reasonable fee.</p>
<p>If you're going to spend thousands out of pocket to build and maintain a location based on sombody else's intellectual property, it might be worth a little extra time and effort at the beginning to contact and negotiate with the rights holders. Sometimes they just want proper credit and copyright notice. Sometimes they want a token fee so the creators get a little something. And sometimes they'll just say no. "No" before you begin is better than "no" after you've put in weeks or months of effort into a project.</p>
<p>And if you think you won't get caught... remember, it only takes one resident with an axe to grind to report you to the copyright holder. In my experience, there are many, many residents out there with dull axes.</p>
Iggy O commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef0115700e0e0f970b
2009-04-09T13:34:10Z
2009-04-09T13:34:10Z
Iggy O
http://iggyo.blogspot.com/
Old-Media dinosaurs lash out in their death-throes. /me sighs. I wish we had so many IP violations that they'd just...
<p>Old-Media dinosaurs lash out in their death-throes.</p>
<p>/me sighs. I wish we had so many IP violations that they'd just have to give up.</p>
<p>Send a Sandworm after the lawyers...</p>
paypabak writer commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01156f16eae5970c
2009-04-09T13:33:44Z
2009-04-09T13:33:45Z
paypabak writer
I certainly hope that any publicity I've given Vooper's sim hasn't inadvertantly called the Herbert wolves out! It's disappointing that...
<p>I certainly hope that any publicity I've given Vooper's sim hasn't inadvertantly called the Herbert wolves out! It's disappointing that his estate feels this way. BTW, my father told me when he first saw Star Wars, he was amazed by all the connections with Dune in ideas and places and admired George Lucas for his source of inspiration although the words he used were "ripped off," I believe. </p>
Nexus Burbclave commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef0115700e0d03970b
2009-04-09T13:31:26Z
2009-04-09T13:31:26Z
Nexus Burbclave
Chilling effects has a pretty solid FAQ explaining how the rights of copyright holders and fan fiction creators interact. Might...
<p>Chilling effects has a pretty solid FAQ explaining how the rights of copyright holders and fan fiction creators interact. Might be a good read for anyone running or thinking about running a fan RP sim.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.chillingeffects.org/fanfic/faq.cgi" rel="nofollow">http://www.chillingeffects.org/fanfic/faq.cgi</a></p>
Jura Shepherd commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01156f16d785970c
2009-04-09T12:44:42Z
2009-04-09T12:44:42Z
Jura Shepherd
I hope Trident responds because I'm interested in what they think SL actually is. They see a threat where little...
<p>I hope Trident responds because I'm interested in what they think SL actually is. They see a threat where little ol' me sees opportunity. *shrugs*</p>
dandellion Kimban commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef0115700debb3970b
2009-04-09T12:06:56Z
2009-04-09T12:06:56Z
dandellion Kimban
http://metaverse.acidzen.org
Some of those IP-protecting-people are just plain idiots. What does it take for them to realize that existence of RP...
<p>Some of those IP-protecting-people are just plain idiots. What does it take for them to realize that existence of RP group and themed sims iSL (or wherever) is actually sign of popularity, praise of their work and maybe even profitable?<br />
</p>
Chenin Anabuki commented on 'Enforcers of Dune: Frank Herbert Estate Targets Dune Roleplayers In Second Life'
tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341bf74053ef01156f16b5c8970c
2009-04-09T11:33:30Z
2009-04-09T11:33:31Z
Chenin Anabuki
http://www.avatrian.com
"Spice mining base" for Star Wars role playing? The Dune sim now turned generic desert planet should really be used...
<p>"Spice mining base" for Star Wars role playing? The Dune sim now turned generic desert planet should really be used as a proxy for Tatooine instead. </p>