Blizzard: Valve Shouldn't Trademark DotA

[bpm195]

I'm confused, was the WC3 version of DOTA created by the community at large or the a few (maybe even one) developers within the community. There is an important difference.

For example Alien Swarm was created by a development team within the Unreal Tournament 2004 community, but the Community Bonus Packs were built by independent contributors within the community.

Another example: Counter-Strike was developed by a couple guys in the Half Life community and although it was a popular as hell within the community, but that doesn't mean the community owns it.

I couldn't care less about WC3 if I tried, so I maybe a bit misinformed. However I thought DOTA was the sweat of IceFrog's brow and though he lets the community play it, it belongs to him. Now that he's moved on to valve, its perfectly reasonable that he either lets them have the IP and they in turn make moves to protect it, or that he keeps the IP and Valve still wants to protect it.

If they don't get the trademark then the Blizzard could release DOTA Too so logically Valve would want to prevent that.

 

[Spectre4802]

Personally: no, they shouldn't trademark it.

The name and game style "DotA" should belong to the- hell, any community that wants to make a game like DotA. Valve makes good games, yes, but at the same time, it's a huge dickmove on their part to trademark something the community has had for god knows how long.

Don't do it is what I say. Find another way to keep the DotA title.

 

[teisjm]

Well, couldn't valve just give it another name?

I mean, Heroes of Newerth made remake of Dota and gave it a new name, and i don't think you can find many DotA players who at least doesn't know about HoN, if they haven't tried it (by default they know, cause it's more or less the same game) I can't imagine how valve wouldn't be able to make themselves noticed liek that.

I think it'll be a bit weird though, to have both DotA, Hon and Dota2 around when they're all the same game. same hereos and items +/- some, same map, identical gameplay/objectives etc.

 

[subject_87]

Really though, Valve aren't the sort of copyright whores who will sue everyone who modifies it at all.

 

[MaxFF7]

A trademark is a word, name, symbol, or device or any combination thereof adopted and used by a seller to identify his goods and distinguish them from those sold by another. People seem to be afraid that Valve will shut down everyone who makes a DoTA mod, but if they are free, and not being sold they aren't infringing on the trademark. Trademarks only serve to distinguish the origin of commercial products and services and has nothing at all to do with free stuff.

 

[Digitaldreamer7]

If Valve doesn't Blizzard will. I would let Valve handle DoTA before Blizzard any day. Valve will make free stuff for it, Blizzard would make you pay for everything. Valve just has a better community. Maybe it's not the right thing to do if you concentrate on the moment. But it's the best thing and future will show that Valve is right to do this.

Really?? This will end up as something you have to buy that has nothing but VAC written all over it. It has nothing to do with any valve game. If ANYTHING I'd hope blizzard would trademark and copyright it, then allow the community to use the name as long as there is no profit made form it.

Just because blizzard now has activision in front of it, doesn't make it a bad company, blizzard has done nothing but listen to and support it's community. I promise you that if valve gets a hold of that name dota will change from what the community has created to something that ruins it.

Oh and I expect that episode 3 is going to end up like Duke Nukem... 10+ years down the line

 

[Madshire]

What this boils down to is that Valve is trade marking an already existing game. They think that they should get money for their effort when all the other mod developers shouldn't. And seriously guys, if Blizzard wanted to trademark DotA THEY ALREADY FUCKING WOULD OF! Blizzard have had a lot of time to Trademark it, but they didn't because they think it belongs to the community. And if you bring up the spectral steed when the mann. co store or whatever exists, you have no reason to be in a discussion.

 

[RaikuFA]

just shut up blizzard. you just want it for yourself

 

[illas]

I feel like Blizzard is saying this because they're afraid that Valve will take DotA and do something amazing that they couldn't do w/ it. This is Valve, btw. Sure they run on their own time schedual and have been making gamers wait for Episode 3 forever. But this is a company that released a sequel to a game a year later, and is updating both. A company that gives it's fav. crowd (PC) of gamers free DLC and amazing deals when the DLC comes out.

I feel like no matter what Valve does, they do everything to make up for it. If DotA is what it sounds like, Blizz might be scared that Valve makes a competetor to WoW and takes away from their millions of dollars of money

QFT.

Given Valve's success with Team Fortress 2 (originally a Quake mod) I can imagine Blizzard being concerned by any game that might take away some of their revenue; particularly if the original IP was developed in their product.

Valve's Left for Dead games with their small-scale co-op scenarios are already undermining WoW's originally unique 5-man instance structure. Furthermore TF2's recent focus on gear/items would appear to be another step towards a pervasive experience. Valve are probably the only PC game studio on the planet who can boast superior talent and resources to Blizzard, so any steps that they take into Blizzard's market will be met with hostility.

 

[Jackpot]

acti blizzard dont think its the right thing to do? hahahahahahhahahahaha christ..

you have my sword...

 

[Computer-Noob]

Somehow I can't see myself believing Blizzards mentioning this out of love for the community. Feels like an attempt at a "be the good guy" stunt to me.

... though I was a little curious about Valve and the whole trademarking DotA, all things considered (community focused project, etc...)

By "the community", it more likely means its own. You probably wouldnt know about that.

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

That makes sense. Its not like Blizzard has been aware of the existence of DotA all this time. Its not like they've hosted DotA tournaments at Blizzcon and other events. Its not like they had no intention of trademarking it in the first place. /sarcasm

I feel like Blizzard is saying this because they're afraid that Valve will take DotA and do something amazing that they couldn't do w/ it. This is Valve, btw.

...Except Blizz didnt DO anything to it. Its a community map. They had no intention of doing anything to it in the first place. Thats kind of the whole point of this.

Sure they run on their own time schedual and have been making gamers wait for Episode 3 forever.

You know the EXACT SAME THING can be said of Starcraft two from the perspective of a blizzard fanboy. And in THEIR minds its justified, the same way it is in yours about Episode 3.

But this is a company that released a sequel to a game a year later, and is updating both. A company that gives it's fav. crowd (PC) of gamers free DLC and amazing deals when the DLC comes out.

Once again, same can be said about any developer. Valve retains no uniqueness in that regard.
....and Blizzard updates all of their games since WC3.

Also, imagine if patches in WoW were optional, but you had to pay for them. Lets say a couple bucks for each MAJOR one, and maybe one for the smaller ones. Patches that are bug fixes are totally free. Suddenly the perspecive about blizzard being "money hungry" shifts a bit, doesnt it?

I feel like no matter what Valve does, they do everything to make up for it.

*cough* Fanboy alert

If DotA is what it sounds like, Blizz might be scared that Valve makes a competetor to WoW and takes away from their millions of dollars of money

HAH. Yeah right. Do you honestly think Blizzard is even remotely concerned about WoW competitors? They've been punting them left and right since before WoW even came out.

 

[Computer-Noob]

just shut up blizzard. you just want it for yourself

Yes yes, of course. They want something that they've been perfectly capable of taking for years now but just sat lazily around doing nothing. Flame off, please.

 

[Computer-Noob]

You just killed your own argument with your argument. If it is not CREATED on WC3's editor it does not get umbrellaed in the EULA. DoTA 2 is a COMPLETELY stand alone NOT created on the editor therefore that part that you are quoting is just a meaningless wall of text.

Do you know DotA 2 is called DotA by Valve?
and have the same heros in the WC3 DotA.
Those Hero was created in WC3 editor.
DotA by Valve is not a new DotA game, it is WC3 DotA with matchmaking and better graphics.
It is said that the 100+ heros in WC3 DotA is in the Valve DotA.
So how is that not created by WC3 editor.

I would like this question to be answered as well. Silence seems to be the best as the arguement that it was created in the editor is entirely valid.

 

[Torrasque]

I suppose if Valve got the developers of Evolves or some Tower defence variant, Blizzard would contest that too huh?

It seems inherently wrong for Valve to try and copyright the name of DotA, but the name doesn't really mean that much.
SC2 DotA-variant creators have already come up with better more applicable names, so the copyright would only affect the WC3 games still being played? ?

I am not too worried about this tbh.
Even if Valve is successful in copyrighting the name and making their DotA game.
What next?
Well? the DotA variants on SC2 would still be made, aaaaand? nothing really changes.

Copying Blizzard's units however, that isn't cool Valve =/

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Whilst I'm sure Valve can mace something excellent out of it, I don't think they should. If anyone other than the community made it, it should really be Blizzard, and they're right to call them out over it. Bit of a dick move if you ask me.

 

[Tinneh]

Can somebody tell me what DOTA is? I have never played a Blizzard game before.

 

[Dioxide20]

Somehow I can't see myself believing Blizzards mentioning this out of love for the community. Feels like an attempt at a "be the good guy" stunt to me.

... though I was a little curious about Valve and the whole trademarking DotA, all things considered (community focused project, etc...)

By "the community", it more likely means its own. You probably wouldnt know about that.

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

That makes sense. Its not like Blizzard has been aware of the existence of DotA all this time. Its not like they've hosted DotA tournaments at Blizzcon and other events. Its not like they had no intention of trademarking it in the first place. /sarcasm

I feel like Blizzard is saying this because they're afraid that Valve will take DotA and do something amazing that they couldn't do w/ it. This is Valve, btw.

...Except Blizz didnt DO anything to it. Its a community map. They had no intention of doing anything to it in the first place. Thats kind of the whole point of this.

Sure they run on their own time schedual and have been making gamers wait for Episode 3 forever.

You know the EXACT SAME THING can be said of Starcraft two from the perspective of a blizzard fanboy. And in THEIR minds its justified, the same way it is in yours about Episode 3.

But this is a company that released a sequel to a game a year later, and is updating both. A company that gives it's fav. crowd (PC) of gamers free DLC and amazing deals when the DLC comes out.

Once again, same can be said about any developer. Valve retains no uniqueness in that regard.
....and Blizzard updates all of their games since WC3.

Also, imagine if patches in WoW were optional, but you had to pay for them. Lets say a couple bucks for each MAJOR one, and maybe one for the smaller ones. Patches that are bug fixes are totally free. Suddenly the perspecive about blizzard being "money hungry" shifts a bit, doesnt it?

I feel like no matter what Valve does, they do everything to make up for it.

*cough* Fanboy alert

If DotA is what it sounds like, Blizz might be scared that Valve makes a competetor to WoW and takes away from their millions of dollars of money

HAH. Yeah right. Do you honestly think Blizzard is even remotely concerned about WoW competitors? They've been punting them left and right since before WoW even came out.

*cough* Blizzard fan boy alert

 

[Koganesaga]

Setting aside my personal HATRED for DotA (mostly it's community), some type of joint trademark seems the best choice if it comes down too it, though the perfered situation should be to leave it in public domain, after all nobody forced Value to take on DotA as a game, they ultimately made the choice to take on the project, knowing of the strong pre-existing community. If neither of those are viable, as a last resort, leave the call up to the original creator of DotA (though considering he ripped off the idea from the starcraft one game Aeon of Strife (may have spelled that wrong) it should be up to whoever made that).

 

[LitleWaffle]

Why does Blizzard get a say in this?
Nobody from blizzard made it, it was just people making it on War Craft 3, so they really don't have the right to ownership or anything.

Seems pretty obvious at this point that they want it.

 

[TwilightSnail]

DotA is a great game, just takes a lot of time patience and dedication. As well as a willingness to work with people.