Subject:
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Re: Use of the LEGO(r) name/trademark in game instructions
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.gaming
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Date:
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Sat, 10 May 2003 03:38:36 GMT
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Viewed:
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3122 times
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> http://www.brikwars.com/rules/2000/0.htm#1
>
> "We have to use this term to avoid using the copyrighted name of any
> specific company's plastic building brick; we wouldn't want to make the
> lawyers angry."
>
> I'm wondering if someone can provide me with a bit more detail. Please
> forgive my ignorance if this has been a previous topic of discussion
> somewhere. But I'm wondering if this was based on a particular indident, or
> if it was simply a pro-active measure to avoid any possible infringement? I
> know there is a mention in the legal disclaimer of the problems caused by
> 'LEGO Wars', but I didn't quite understand why the LEGO name couldn't be
> used in association with BrikWars.
It probably could nowadays; LEGO Legal's attitude towards fan web pages has
definitely lightened up quite a bit since BrikWars first came out. It used
to seem like the barest mention of the word "LEGO" in a website resulted in
immediate threats of legal action. Now they've got their Fair Play policy
in place, so it's a lot easier to know what does and doesn't incite their
wrath, but we've continued to keep BrikWars "LEGO-free" for two reasons:
1. BrikWars owes its conception to LEGO's attack on Lego Wars, and as such,
a kind of mock-antagonism towards the LEGO company and traditional LEGO
values has become a defining feature of BrikWars' character. In order to
retain that critical 'counter-culture' edge, it's best to maintain the
illusion that the antagonism is still reciprocated.
2. Just because LEGO Legal is tolerant of LEGO webfans nowadays, doesn't
mean that their policies won't change next year or even next week. A lot of
work by a lot of people has gone into BrikWars over the years, and I want to
limit the risks that someday LEGO will try to shut us down. (Just in case
open hostilites break out, I've managed to sneak a pro-BrikWars 'mole' into
their company posing as a regular employee. Boy are they in for a surprise!)
> Is there any reason not to use the LEGO(r) brand name, if I am going to
> release a set of instructions for a game that people can play at home with
> their own bricks?
As long as you don't offend the Fair Play policy, everything should be fine.
- Mike.
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Use of the LEGO(r) name/trademark in game instructions
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| (...) Certainly seems to be true. The length to which they have embraced the community in the last couple years is an improvement, if you ask me. (...) Yes, that makes sense. It will be 100% non-violent, and if anything... aimed a bit more at kids (...) (21 years ago, 11-May-03, to lugnet.gaming)
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