Blizzard: Valve Shouldn't Trademark DotA

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Snip

You're missing the point... the trademark will not only allow Valve to secure their game, but it will allow them to stop future mods.

I don't care if Valve make a DotA and I'm pretty sure most of the people on Blizzards side don't.

We care about the trademark. If they trademark it then suddenly there is a whole bunch of rules on DotA mods.

People want it to be a free name so that anyone can make a mod. Blizzard don't want to own it, and they could have bought it over the last few years.

Why din't they?

So to keep the name free.

Now Valve are strolling over, with one guy from the original development team, and they're trying to take creative control of DotA. The other two developers both went to work on other DotA projects, they didn't abandon it.

Remember, it's the trademark we're pissed off about, not the game.

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Blizzard are crying because they didn't get the copyright early on, and now they never will. This is about making money. If you think there are principles involved, you are massively ignorant about the way Blizzard works.

They had like 3 years to pick up a copyright to DotA.

Really... why do you think they didn't?

Cause it should be damn obvious. They wanted DotA to be a free title for anyone who wanted to use the same idea.

If one person owns the trademark to DotA then suddenly it's no longer a free name and modders have to adhere to rules if they want to make a DotA mod.

 

[CaptainKoala]

Double standard much? Way to check your ethics at the door there Blizzard...

 

[BobisOnlyBob]

I reckon Valve should be able to trademark "DOTA2", just like they trademarked "Team Fortress 2", but anyone can make a game called "DOTA" or "Team Fortress" still. Just the specific usage of it to refer to Valve's version.

 

[Exort]

Blizzard are crying because they didn't get the copyright early on, and now they never will. This is about making money. If you think there are principles involved, you are massively ignorant about the way Blizzard works.

They said no one should get the copyright. Their princples is that DotA is fan made map, and it is community not IceFrog or Valve. Valve have nothing to do with DotA, and they don't have the copyright for it yet. Anyways Icefrog didn't made DotA or DotA: Allstar, I don't think Valve is going to get the copyright for it.

Also, how is the free map Blizzard DotA making money for them? You have no idea of how they works...

Im pretty sure those arent three different genres. Blizzard stick to the same formula. Im hoping when valve get DoTa they can mix it up a bit and improve on the experience the mod team originally made. Blizzard doesnt really have any force in the matter. Yes their mod tools helped created the original mod, but thats where it stopped.

Anyway, im not a fanboy for any of the companys, im just calling it how I see it.

It should be 4 beacuse WC2 and WC3 play nothing like each other.

 

[bob1052]

Double standard much? Way to check your ethics at the door there Blizzard...

How blizzard supports their community with the tools to make great community mods like DotA, and allow the community to keep what they make belonging to them instead of trying to muscle in on the DotA trademark over the years that it has been out? Their ethics regarding the treatment of community made content seems fine to me.

 

[Vhite]

Blizzard "Dammit, we didn't get the copyright first, hey Valve, not cool".

EXACTLY

...NOT
Have you read any of that?

Blizzard are crying because they didn't get the copyright early on, and now they never will. This is about making money. If you think there are principles involved, you are massively ignorant about the way Blizzard works.

They are treating it as freeware since it came out and they never attempted to get copyright for it. Only one who wants money from this is Valve because their are gonna sell it while Blizzard lets it free so Im not sure who of us two is being ignorant...

 

[Ghengis John]

Cause it should be damn obvious. They wanted DotA to be a free title for anyone who wanted to use the same idea.

If one person owns the trademark to DotA then suddenly it's no longer a free name and modders have to adhere to rules if they want to make a DotA mod.

They didn't "want it to be free". And the community owns nothing. That's just your idealism. They simply didn't care about it's existence so long as it propped up other blizzard properties, which made it a non-entity to them. They're cawing now because it's suddenly become a threat not because they care about you the player or any modder's rights.

Also, how is the free map Blizzard DotA making money for them? You have no idea of how they works...

So it's a stand-alone product then? I wouldn't say, need a copy of warcraft three to play? I wouldn't need to log onto battle.net and see their advertisers?

 

[Zero_ctrl]

Spoiler: I dunno, but I'm feeling a little bit of hypocrisy here.

[http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/104641-BlizzCon-2010-Hands-On-Blizzard-DotA-Left-2-Die-Starjeweled]

 

[bob1052]

Cause it should be damn obvious. They wanted DotA to be a free title for anyone who wanted to use the same idea.

If one person owns the trademark to DotA then suddenly it's no longer a free name and modders have to adhere to rules if they want to make a DotA mod.

They didn't "want it to be free". And the community owns nothing. That's just your idealism. They simply didn't care about it's existence so long as it propped up other blizzard properties, which made it a non-entity to them. They're cawing now because it's suddenly become a threat not because they care about you the player or any modder's rights.

If your argument was anything more than some angry anti-fanboyism towards Blizzard you would realize the DotA game type became huge before Valve made a push at it. If Blizzard only want DotA to be free if it is on a DotA game they would have copyrighted the DotA name as soon as HoN and LoL came out.

Spoiler: I dunno, but I'm feeling a little bit of hypocrisy here.

[http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/104641-BlizzCon-2010-Hands-On-Blizzard-DotA-Left-2-Die-Starjeweled]

Obvious joke games that are going to be free to the community is completely different than copyrighting the name to a community made game that Blizzard is very close to the community of.

If Blizzard named it Left 4 Dead 3, copyrighted the use of Left 4 Dead with 3 at the end, and then sold it for profit, your argument would make sense, otherwise it is just stupid.

 

[Vigormortis]

Snip

You're missing the point... the trademark will not only allow Valve to secure their game, but it will allow them to stop future mods.

I don't care if Valve make a DotA and I'm pretty sure most of the people on Blizzards side don't.

We care about the trademark. If they trademark it then suddenly there is a whole bunch of rules on DotA mods.

People want it to be a free name so that anyone can make a mod. Blizzard don't want to own it, and they could have bought it over the last few years.

Why din't they?

So to keep the name free.

Now Valve are strolling over, with one guy from the original development team, and they're trying to take creative control of DotA. The other two developers both went to work on other DotA projects, they didn't abandon it.

Remember, it's the trademark we're pissed off about, not the game.

I realize this. But I fear that most of the people complaining are themselves missing a few details. Just because a company owns the rights to a game's brand name does NOT mean they'll instantly put a stop to all mods for it. Take a look at Counter-Strike, Team Fortress, and Left 4 Dead. Valve not only allows mods to spring up but friggin' SUPPORTS them. Hell, they even add some of the better mods into official releases and updates. My point is, people are afraid that the "community" won't be able to contribute, add to, or mod DotA 2. If anyone had bothered to read Valve's announcement, they'd immediately realize that DotA 2 is being designed with contributing and modding in mind. The whole basis of Valve's version of the game is to create a friendlier, more open community for a game that desperately needs it. Let's face it, DotA at this point only really caters to those that are hardcore players of the game. New players really don't stand a chance and are often reviled and met with fervent hatred. Valve plans to rectify that. If that means they have to copyright the name, I'm all for it. I'd say the same if Blizzard had decided to do it. I just feel like it's better to have a professional company make the core product first, and have the community contribute and modify it afterward.

[edit] I'll be honest though. I'm not really concerned. I was never a big fan of Dota. Maybe it's because of the community, I don't know. All I know is, this whole thing is getting out of hand and misinformation is more abundant than the truth. From all parties involved. So, until this thing simmers down, I'm just not going to care.

 

[Crasha]

Also nobody apparently likes Icefrog from what I read; Tskr s look for yourself. http://icefrogtruth.blogspot.com/

Interesting and depressing read :/

I'll bet you that's a hoax of some sorts. Now I realize this might make me sound like a fanboy, and I won't contest that argument, however the author of the blog goes as far as straight up lying, when saying that DotA 2 is planning to simply port sounds and artwork from the original game over. Valve has stated on several occasions that they're making completely new assets, from all the artwork, to voice acting.

 

[Exort]

They didn't "want it to be free". And the community owns nothing. That's just your idealism. They simply didn't care about it's existence so long as it propped up other blizzard properties, which made it a non-entity to them. They're cawing now because it's suddenly become a threat not because they care about you the player or any modder's rights.

Are you Blizzard, or how are you speaking for them? I never recall they said things like "They didn't "want it to be free""

 

[tzimize]

I agree with Blizz on this, and frankly this is a bad sign for Valve to be doing this.
This is a mark against your coolness factor, Valve. Don't make me lose faith in you.

Agree. As the mod is the work of the community, I dont feel its morally right for Valve to trademark it. I mean, they could make a DOTA game without calling it dota? :|

Are there any laws in place to protect the creative work of communities without the funding of valve/blizz available?

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

I think the community who made the game what it is has more of a claim to DotA than either Valve or Blizzard. But Valve isn't doing anything illegal so I can't see what would change Valve's mind. DotA is immensely popular and will likely make Valve a ton of cash.

 

[binvjoh]

Blizzard "Dammit, we didn't get the copyright first, hey Valve, not cool".

That's the feeling I'm getting too.

OT: Bring some of the original creators on to the team and it would solve the entire PR problem.

 

[Exort]

Poor little indie developer Blizzard is outraged about Valve trying to trademark something that promises to bring a lot of money. How confusing this must all be to them.

And Blizzard is releasing their version for free? While Valve is not (Valve never said about pricing, but from them trademarking it, it means they want profit.)?

 

[bob1052]

Blizzard "Dammit, we didn't get the copyright first, hey Valve, not cool".

That's the feeling I'm getting too.

OT: Bring some of the original creators on to the team and it would solve the entire PR problem.

DotA is an old, successful game mode. If Blizzard wanted it, they would have it by now.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

fight fight fight

Who else has been begging for a Kotick/Newman match up?

 

[Exort]

Blizzard "Dammit, we didn't get the copyright first, hey Valve, not cool".

That's the feeling I'm getting too.

OT: Bring some of the original creators on to the team and it would solve the entire PR problem.

Well, blizzard version is free, so why would they want the trademark? The Original creator of DotA and AoS is inactive and no one knows where they are or who they are (except themself). The Creator of DotA: Allstar is working at Roit games for LoL, and Valve got IceFrog which didn't created anything but is the guy updating DotA: Allstar now.