Hasbro Forces Closure of MLP: Online

[Andy Chalk]

Hasbro Forces Closure of MLP: Online

A trademark infringement claim has brought the My Little Pony MMO to a quick halt.

I'm not a Brony and I know nothing about My Little Pony except that it's about brightly-colored cartoon animals who learn important lessons about friendship and sharing and crap like that. I don't get the appeal, but it's powerful enough that the property was made into an unauthorized MMO entitled MLP: Online, the first episode of which was released just a month ago. But now it seems that the game's creators have learned another important lesson: making an MMO based on someone else's IP isn't very smart.

Shortly after the launch of the first episode, the developers received a trademark infringement complaint, which they at first assumed was a troll. After some investigation, however, they learned that the complaint was real, leading them to pull the download link and halt development. "Discussions continued through the month, but it came down to one fact: MLP: Online had come to an end," MLP: Online forum administrator ToastyJustice explained.

"Hasbro is not to be blamed here. As per U.S. Trademark law, as soon as an infringement comes to light, they are obligated to defend the trademark, or they will lose it," he continued. "They had no choice in the matter, regardless of what they thought of the project or how it benefited them."

The good news for all the Bronies out there is that roughly 75 percent of the development team is sticking together, with a new name - Starlight Studios - and a new project. "It is pony related, but otherwise we're keeping most of the details secret," ToastyJustice wrote. "It is our goal to have it completed by Bronycon 2013, though this may be ambitious."

More information about the new project are expected to be unveiled this summer and in the meantime, anyone who wants to help bring the new project to fruition can find out how to join up right here [http://www.mlponline.net/threads/how-to-help-with-the-new-project.1528/].

Source: MLP: Online [http://www.mlponline.net/threads/its-been-a-good-run.1520/]



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[Scars Unseen]

And this is why Street Fighter X Megaman is awesome. Because Capcom could have done this instead.

 

[Tyranicus]

Prepare for the Brony rage!!!

 

[Kavonde]

Hmm, which MLP MMO was this? The top-down one with the turn-based battles, or the 3D WoW-style one?

(Yes, there's more than one. This fandom's got more than its fair share of creative types.)

Either way, that's a real shame. Hopefully, no one forces Hasbro to look into Fighting is Magic or My Little Investigations.

 

[Sealpower]

Their first mistake was picking an obviously copyright infringing name... Then, the list goes on.

 

[Easton Dark]

As long as they're not closing down Fighting is Magic, I'm cool with Hasbro closing down games.

 

[Aaron Sylvester]

Indeed, I'm seriously looking forward to Fighting Is Magic

 

[XMark]

Well, they have an official paid mobile MLP game now, so this was inevitable. In fact, Hasbro had no choice due to the requirements of trademark law.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Hm, Hired by Hasbro perhaps?

Interested to see where they were going and what they will do now.

If Hasbro has even a half brainy staff member among them.

Ready made MMO, no initial investment, no development costs, established user base, perfect. With any luck they won't turn down a chance for income, licensed being better than destroyed and so on...

 

[fix-the-spade]

Either way, that's a real shame. Hopefully, no one forces Hasbro to look into Fighting is Magic or My Little Investigations.

US law forces them, if they don't enforce their copyright, they lose it. Not just for MMO's, but the merchandising, knock off cartoons, you name it, a precedent will be set and that will be that.

 

[ohnoitsabear]

I think we need to bring up how bullshit copyright law is again.
Jim if you will.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/5268-Piracy-Episode-One-Copyright

Actually, in this case, copyright law seems to have served its purpose, at least if the game was generating revenue (if it wasn't, then it's a whole lot more ambiguous and I really don't want to get into that discussion). Simply put, you shouldn't be able to profit off of someone else's intellectual property, especially if they're still using it.

Don't get me wrong, the current copyright laws can go burn in a fire, but I really have a hard time feeling sympathetic in this case.

 

[Quaxar]

I hope that this is the thing where you pay tens of dollars for costum ponies. That was ridiculous.

As long as they're not closing down Fighting is Magic, I'm cool with Hasbro closing down games.

Exactly, I think they'd actually invade Hasbro headquarters. Although I wouldn't think so since they aren't expecting to make any money from it.

 

[TJC]

Indeed, I'm seriously looking forward to Fighting Is Magic

This. Looks. AMAZING! D:
My bronymeter just blew up in excitement.

OT: So we had the precedent with Capcom which took a fangame and gave it official support. I don't know if that qualifies as "enforcing one's IP". Makes me wonder if Hasbro could do the same. If so, they'd be stupid not to.