Thanks Ryan, that sounds familiar, what i've read from several sources.
-TM the DM
--
On Wed, 19 Apr 2000 18:59:47 Ryan S. Dancey wrote:
>This is an interesting story. Here's what I know about it.
>
>FASA wanted to do 'Mech toys and they worked a deal with a company (I
>believe the company was Playmates). They sent over copies of 'Mech
>miniatures and artwork and other things including the Mad Cat and a few
>other designs they had created internally.
>
>Playmates eventually decided not to pursue that deal and the toys didn't get
>produced. Then, a year or two later, Playmates announces a line of giant
>fighting robots that, surprisingly, looked just like the models that FASA
>had sent them.
>
>So FASA sued, claiming that they had a copyright infringement claim.
>
>In court, Playmates used a defense based from the proliferation of mecha in
>Japan to suggest that giant fighting robot designs were not copyrightable.
>A lot of industry people were involved at this point - I believe that
>someone from Palladium was even called to testify.
>
>Anyway, Playmates got worried that they might lose on this claim. So they
>dug around, and found out that some of the original BattleTech 'Mechs were
>actually based on the Robotech creations. Then, they tracked down those
>rights, and either sub-licensed them or bought the company that held them.
>
>Next thing you know, Playmates is telling FASA: Look, if we're right, you
>lose. And if you're right, we're going to countersue over these other 'mech
>designs and we'll use this case as precedent - meaning we'll beat you in
>Round 2. And since we haven't actualy done anything yet, you are going to
>get statutory damages of $3,000, but we're going to sue for actual damages
>and claim hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. So you can settle
>now, pay our attorney's fees, and hand us a nice check, or you can lose
>later and your whole company will end up in our hands.
>
>Needless to say, FASA settled.
>
>And that is the story I've heard second and third hand...
>
>Ryan
>
>-------------
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>
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