In the Future, All Space Marines Will Be Warhammer 40K Space Marines

[Psychosplodge]

It is ironic that the guy predicted the reaction.

....why is everything considered Racist now days? Then again some people think the Iron Cross is a Racist symbol......

Ha i would have an Ironcross avatar if i didn't think someone would spaz

Anyhow....i would say put up the flag and ignore the people who get pissy.

Ironic? Something like that...

[Pendragon38]

GW is shooting in the dark with there light beam las gun. I read a hell of a lot books and there's a book from 1982 and then it's a movie called battlefield earth from L. Ron Hubbard, and yes I know he's the creator of.... I won't go there. Or has anyone read the old scifi digest in the 70's. they talk about space marines in there books to.

[Psychosplodge]

I think the distinction is between space marines and Space Marines.

ie the difference between coca-cola, and cola...

[miteyheroes]

I agree, GW has to do this to protect themselves.

BUT, look at [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_marine#Appearances_in_fiction[/url]
Bob Olsen in 1932 wrote "Captain Brink of the Space Marines". Clearly predating GW and making their claim to the term stupid. So if it got to court, GW shouldn't win. But it won't get to court, as the author has caved in - which the author has to do, not having the money to take it to court.

[Caitsidhe]

I think the distinction is between space marines and Space Marines.

Perhaps and perhaps not. I think it is an overreach personally. They have specific names they have created for their setting without trying to claim rights to what is essentially a generic term which has been around since the birth of the modern SciFi in the 1950s. While it is perfectly acceptable for the creators of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" to claim rights to "BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER" they can't claim the term "Vampire Slayer" anymore than someone could claim "Dragon Slayer" or should be able to claim "Space Marine."

[Pendragon38]

I think the distinction is between space marines and Space Marines.

Now if this indi writer went with Adeptus Astartes or Imperial Space Marines then that would be a problem then. But not Space Marines for say.

[Psychosplodge]

The last time this came up didn't somebody suggest that hasbro or whoever merchandisers Alien includes a "Space Marine is a trademark GW" in the small print on the box, and that covered it?

[Caitsidhe]

The last time this came up didn't somebody suggest that hasbro or whoever merchandisers Alien includes a "Space Marine is a trademark GW" in the small print on the box, and that covered it?

I don't know. I wasn't privy to that thread. I would be surprised though since the Alien's franchise uses the term Colonial Marine.

[Renegade]

Seriously, though, this whole 'GW is the devil!!' shtick has to stop. 'Cus if GW is the devil, well then most of youse are a bunch of heathen satanists. :P

And what is wrong with being a Satanist? Is that some kind of hate speech towards a religious minority?

Oi, TDA! You have a responsibility to monitor this kind of thing!

Seriously though, no one can take you IP off you (at least under UK law) so your copy right is protected whether you fight others off it or no. I think GW are just trying to create some clear blue water between their stuff and knock off's, and who can really blame them.

So while this is a bit of an extreme case, the author and GW should come to some arrangement, where GW actually read the content before issuing demands and jump up and down.

[Psychosplodge]

I don't know. I wasn't privy to that thread. I would be surprised though since the Alien's franchise uses the term Colonial Marine.

That's what I thought. I could be mistaken, it happens rarely

@Renegade, my understanding was under English (not UK there's at least 3 separate legal systems English/Scottish/N.Irish) you had to protect your IP in all cases not just some.


Whether their IP stretches that far is a different point entirely...