Blizzard: Valve Shouldn't Trademark DotA

[bob1052]

Blizzard do not care about DotA being a free title for anyone to use. They only care about who gets to make money off it. They never supported DotA, ever. Now hopefully it will take off massively with Valve's support.

Which is why they updated the WC3 editor quite a few times to make DotA type games easier...

They are only saying that no-one should get the copyright because they have realised that they missed the boat. It's a PR ploy.

They have no principles. We are talking about the company that makes World Of Warcraft. Principles do not exist for this company.

Okay, nevermind. Now I just know you're being ridiculous and petty. "Principles do not exist for this company" because they made WoW? What a joke.

Hardly a huge amount of support. Blizzard could have taken DotA and made it massive. Now Valve is going to do it instead. Tough shit, Blizzard.

Not a joke at all. If they had any principles about this, they'd give Valve their blessing and tell them to go ahead with it. They've done nothing at all with DotA since it was created, why get into a fuss about it now? It's pretty obvious.

Never mind the whole mess between Guinsoo, Pendragon and Icefrog. Which is a whole other kettle of fish.

Ahahaha... ahahahaaaa... The company that charges people 30 bucks for an in-game mount now thinks it can dole out advice on business ethics. Too rich.

Odds are good this simply upset their own plans in some way.

the mount is just look differetn not like stronger or anything, and still need the training to ride it.

Valve on the other hand is selling power In TF2.

For people that plays TF2: yes, they are selling power. How long does it take you to farm a hat? then a hat you WANT. really it is near impossible within a few month. So it is basicly buying power that last like 3 month (or way more if you play less.) or so.

A hat gives you power? Uhmm... (Although I agree that the whole Mann Co thing is ridiculous in the extreme)

1. Blizzard are releasing a free version of DotA. Your blatantly biased anti Blizzard nonsense is completely wrong.

2. Hats in TF2 are the same as anything else in any other game. The result of a long time playing and working towards a goal. Reaching max level in an rpg, hitting the top of the scoreboard in a competitive game, or getting a hat in TF2 are all the exact same, except you can buy the hats.

 

[GiantRedButton]

Yeah and Icefrog is the only one left, and still worked on dota. He also was the one who worked the longest on it.
The rest stopped supporting Dota long ago and had their own projects (like LoL).

That doesn't change the issue, though, that DotA was created by a number of people in the WC3 community. Just because IceFrog may be the most well-known and the most influential doesn't mean that it was any less a community project. (And I used to be part of the DotA community; I submitted tons of ideas for heroes and items ... none of which were ever used, but I digress).

Quoted by John Funk yeah!
I agree that there is an issue, most mods have a lot of people that work on the game for short amounts of time.
But i wanted to make clear why Icefrog, who made 2/3s of the heroes and is currently the only member of the dota team (so the only one you can really negotiate for an tm) should be the only one with a claim to the trademark if anyone has.
Since blizzards press release seems pretty much motivated by them missing out on the opportunity to do the same. Also nobody complained when valve did the same with Counter strike, Team fortress 2, Alienswarm and day of defeat. They did exactly the same, they hired the current mod team and trademarked it.

 

[Delusibeta]

A hat gives you power? Uhmm... (Although I agree that the whole Mann Co thing is ridiculous in the extreme)

I think he was referring to the Polycount Packs where if you equip the whole set at the same time, you get a bonus. Since all these sets include a hat, there has been some grumbling. However, what many fail to realise is that the bonuses are balanced out by the disadvantages of the equipment. The often used example is the Sniper set getting immunity from headshot crits. The problem is a) the gun in the set can't get headshot crits and b) only Snipers and Spies can get headshot crits, thus it's fairly useless if you've got a Heavy in front of you.

 

[Sporky111]

I agree with them on this, Valve really doesn't have the right to own the name.

That being said, I'm finding myself offended that Blizzard has the balls to attack someone for not doing "the right thing" when they themselves are on the warpath to sue every person who has modded Starcraft II. And not just suing them, but for ridiculously large sums of money.

 

[Ghengis John]

What plans? To release a bunch of free mods to their community, with the stated goal that they'll be supporting Blizzard All-Stars with updates and patches (for free) here on out?

Wow, those are great plans.

They are. From a good-will standpoint fans love free stuff and good will is gold dust in the development world. Blizzard wanted to continue with DOTA gametypes and they've already put a lot of work and time(read money) into it. There's no reason to be so snarky. I agree those are great plans.

 

[Crasha]

@ Yosharian

I'd say something clever now to agree with you, but frankly I'm too tired now to write anything coherently, so I guess it'll have to wait.

 

[bob1052]

Your argument is soley based on the ridiculous anti-fanboy notion that Blizzard who supports community mods, who had the opportunity to trademark DotA a long time ago (and plenty of reasons to), are saying this because they apparently want the trademark for themselves.

When did I say that? I said nothing about their wanting a trademark in any of my posts. I welcome you to scan them. For being the alleged, sole origin of my argument you'll find it conspicuously absent from any of my posts. I'll get back to you once you simmer down and stop yelling at me for what other people have said.

From your very first post.

Odds are good this simply upset their own plans in some way.

The only reason a trademark from someone else would upset your plans is if you plan on using the trademark.

It's quite obvious you are an idiot or a troll.

 

[Ghengis John]

The only reason a trademark from someone else would upset your plans is if you plan on using the trademark.

It's quite obvious you are an idiot or a troll.

Well now you're just being insulting. I didn't say anything about a TRADEMARK did I? That's just what you and the voices in your head cooked up. I was referring to their plans to release a DOTA for SC2. Which, if you read the post above yours, you would have known. So once again, we come back to the fact you're getting mad at me over something you imagined. I haven't insulted you once have I? Hell of a great troll.

 

[Exort]

A hat gives you power? Uhmm... (Although I agree that the whole Mann Co thing is ridiculous in the extreme)

I remember some hat is part of a item set. For example http://tf2wiki.net/wiki/The_Attendant.

I hate Mann co.
When I bought TF2 I didn't sign up for micro transaction.

I remember I quit LoL as soon as I saw the price of things, because in early beta they told us in a interview, people should be able to get all the things in three month of farming, and it is not a grind fest. That made me lost faith in all form of micro-transaction that involve item with power, no matter if you can get it through other means.

 

[bob1052]

The only reason a trademark from someone else would upset your plans is if you plan on using the trademark.

It's quite obvious you are an idiot or a troll.

Well now you're just being insulting. I didn't say anything about a TRADEMARK did I? That's just what you and the voices in your head cooked up.

You are trying to argue the exact words of your post while the obvious meaning of what you are saying was between the lines.

In a thread about the trademark, you say that the trademark (without mentioning the word trademark) interferes with Blizzards plans.

You did say something about the trademark, just because you don't use the specific word doesn't mean you didn't say it.

 

[Vuljatar]

That's awesome.

I really appreciate Blizzard standing up for the community like this.

 

[JerrytheBullfrog]

I agree with them on this, Valve really doesn't have the right to own the name.

That being said, I'm finding myself offended that Blizzard has the balls to attack someone for not doing "the right thing" when they themselves are on the warpath to sue every person who has modded Starcraft II. And not just suing them, but for ridiculously large sums of money.

Suing every person who has modded SC2? Lol, what? They are suing the people developing the hacks, and if you think they ever expect to see more than a few dimes from that, you need to go back and read up on corporate law.

Yeah and Icefrog is the only one left, and still worked on dota. He also was the one who worked the longest on it.
The rest stopped supporting Dota long ago and had their own projects (like LoL).

That doesn't change the issue, though, that DotA was created by a number of people in the WC3 community. Just because IceFrog may be the most well-known and the most influential doesn't mean that it was any less a community project. (And I used to be part of the DotA community; I submitted tons of ideas for heroes and items ... none of which were ever used, but I digress).

Quoted by John Funk yeah!
I agree that there is an issue, most mods have a lot of people that work on the game for short amounts of time.
But i wanted to make clear why Icefrog, who made 2/3s of the heroes and is currently the only member of the dota team (so the only one you can really negotiate for an tm) should be the only one with a claim to the trademark if anyone has.
Since blizzards press release seems pretty much motivated by them missing out on the opportunity to do the same. Also nobody complained when valve did the same with Counter strike, Team fortress 2, Alienswarm and day of defeat. They did exactly the same, they hired the current mod team and trademarked it.

It isn't a press release. They were asked a question in an interview.

 

[JerrytheBullfrog]

What plans? To release a bunch of free mods to their community, with the stated goal that they'll be supporting Blizzard All-Stars with updates and patches (for free) here on out?

Wow, those are great plans.

They are. From a good-will standpoint fans love free stuff and good will is gold dust in the development world. Blizzard wanted to continue with DOTA gametypes and they've already put a lot of work and time(read money) into it. There's no reason to be so snarky. I agree those are great plans.

Sorry, was talking to the guy wh obolded your quote, not you.

 

[Exort]

You are trying to argue the exact words of your post while the obvious meaning of what you are saying was between the lines.

In a thread about the trademark, you say that the trademark (without mentioning the word trademark) interferes with Blizzards plans.

You did say something about the trademark, just because you don't use the specific word doesn't mean you didn't say it.

Thier plan is releasing a map for SC2 known as Blizzard DotA and it is free. if Valve got the trademark then they have to change name. I don't see how a company would take the time to trademark something that is for free.

 

[Ghengis John]

You did say something about the trademark, just because you don't use the specific word doesn't mean you didn't say it.

I'll quote myself here since you obviously missed it:

I was referring to their plans to release a DOTA for SC2. Which, if you read the post above yours, you would have known. So once again, we come back to the fact you're getting mad at me over something you imagined. I haven't insulted you once have I? Hell of a great troll.

I am not mad and I am not insulting you. I am not a troll. I can not help what you have imagined I have meant. I have only been complimentary towards you have I not? Is a troll not just trying to get a rise out of people? I am trying to reason with you. Do you not realize how difficult a proposition it is for me to accept that you are a reasonable human being when you are arguing with me now that you know what I meant even if I didn't say it? Meanwhile you persist in insulting me.

 

[The Random One]

Ideally, they should come up with some sort of mutually beneficial agreement, and file a trademark only to prevent anyone else from staking a claim into it, but also binding it to a contract that gives whoever doesn't hold the trademark free reins and a cut of the profits from it.

If Blizzard wasn't chained to Activision I'm pretty sure that's what would happen, in fact.

 

[Delusibeta]

A hat gives you power? Uhmm... (Although I agree that the whole Mann Co thing is ridiculous in the extreme)

I remember some hat is part of a item set. For example http://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/The_Attendant.

Fix'd link to point towards the TF2 Wiki That Isn't Abandoned. I'll respect your opinions about microtransactions, I'm not a great fan of them either.

Although, honestly? Buying the hat doesn't automatically give you the power, and even if you equip the set at the same time, the effect is negligible.

 

[bob1052]

I think WoW demonstrates a lack of principles because it is built from the ground up to be addictive with very little creative content. I mean all games are addictive but with WoW it is the most important design aspect. If you looked into game psychology you would learn why WoW demonstrates this. Well, that's what I suggest, anyway. Plus there is all the horrid micro-transaction shit coming in now.



Whaaat I'm not anti-Blizzard, heh. I love Starcraft 2, and I loved Warcraft 3 back in the day. I think Blizzard makes great games. But they have a dark side, and it's called WoW. And this whining about DotA is part of it.

And for the record I think the same of Valve, I think they are equally full of shit in some ways. But I'm damn happy that SOMEONE is doing something professionally with DotA, finally.

So your reasoning for why WoW is bad is because they have 5 (iirc) non-game changing cosmetic micro transactions (one that benefits charity) and things that allow you to change server, etc. for social reasons such as wanting to play with a friend. And because it is designed to be addicting like EVERY other MMO out there.

Your reasoning for hating Blizzard for standing up for the community in the case of DotA is because for some arbitrary reason known only to you it relates to a basic game development philosophy every MMO developer uses and for a very non-intrusive, well implemented micro transaction system.