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Blizzard is suing the fan devs behind Turtle WoW — and the “Mysteries of Azeroth” are now legal ones - Windows Central

Lau Chi Fung

— 2 min read

Blizzard Entertainment Files Lawsuit Against Turtle WoW

In a recent move, Blizzard Entertainment, the renowned developer of the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) World of Warcraft, has decided to take legal action against the owners of Turtle WoW, a group that is accused of copyright infringement and trademark abuse.

What is Turtle WoW?

Turtle WoW is a community-driven project that aims to create an open-source version of World of Warcraft. The project's founders claim that they are creating a free and modified version of the game, with the intention of providing players with an alternative to Blizzard's proprietary game.

However, according to Blizzard Entertainment, Turtle WoW's creators have been accused of using copyrighted materials, including game assets, character models, and other intellectual property, without permission or proper compensation. The lawsuit claims that the defendants are profiting from Blizzard's IP without making any meaningful contributions to the gaming community.

The Lawsuit

Blizzard Entertainment filed a complaint against the owners of Turtle WoW in federal court, alleging copyright infringement, trademark abuse, and false advertising. The lawsuit seeks damages for each of these alleged violations.

According to the complaint, Blizzard has been monitoring the activities of Turtle WoW and their affiliated companies since 2017. During this time, they noticed that the defendants were using copyrighted materials from World of Warcraft without permission or proper compensation.

The lawsuit also claims that the defendants have engaged in false advertising practices by implying that their project is an official version of World of Warcraft, which is not the case.

Defenders' Response

Turtle WoW's creators have responded to the lawsuit by stating that they are a "non-profit, community-driven" project that aims to create a free and open-source alternative to Blizzard's proprietary game. They claim that they obtained all necessary permissions and licenses to use copyrighted materials from World of Warcraft.

However, Blizzard Entertainment disputes this claim, arguing that Turtle WoW has not made any meaningful contributions to the gaming community and is profiting from their IP without permission or proper compensation.

Consequences for Defenders

If the court rules in favor of Blizzard Entertainment, the defendants could face significant consequences, including:

  • Monetary damages: The court may order the defendants to pay a substantial amount of money as compensation for Blizzard's losses.
  • Injunctions: The court may issue injunctions requiring the defendants to stop using copyrighted materials and to cease any false advertising practices.
  • Attorney's fees: The defendants may be required to pay Blizzard Entertainment's attorney's fees, which could add up to millions of dollars.

Industry Implications

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing tension between game developers and communities that create alternatives or modifications to their games. It also raises questions about intellectual property rights, fair use, and the boundaries between commercial and non-commercial gaming projects.

In recent years, there has been a growing trend towards open-source gaming, with many developers creating free and community-driven versions of popular games. However, this trend also raises concerns about copyright infringement and trademark abuse, as seen in the case against Turtle WoW.

Conclusion

The lawsuit filed by Blizzard Entertainment against the owners of Turtle WoW is a significant development in the ongoing debate between game developers and communities that create alternatives or modifications to their games. As the court proceedings unfold, it will be interesting to see how the defendants respond to the allegations and what consequences they may face for their actions.

In the meantime, fans of World of Warcraft can continue to enjoy the game while also keeping an eye on this developing story.

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