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Erling Andersen loved Fallout so much he started his own website where he offered Fallout-style posters for fans to download for free. Bethesda did not appreciate this.
Andersen said he registered the domain name Fallout-posters.com last December, only to have Bethesda lawyers contact him weeks later asking for the website to be taken down and for the website name to be handed over.
"Now, I’m not out looking for trouble. I set up the website out of pure 'fandom', and the last thing I wanted – or expected – was to be threatened with a lawsuit by Bethesda," Andersen wrote. "What pisses me off isn’t the fact that they’re looking out for their trademark – as they have every right to do so. What I’m pissed about are large companies abusing their monetary power, hiring global law firms to go after a fan online, immediately threating with a lawsuit.
"Had they had the slighest bit of PR-savyness, they would have shot me a quick personal mail asking me to remove the (supposed) infringing content – and preferrably sent me some nice Fallout-swag as a nice gesture (yes, I am that corrupt)."
Andersen has removed the posters from his website, but still remains the owner of the website name.
Game Informer has contacted Bethesda for comment.
[Source]
Bethesda went a little overboard with this. I understand why they may be a little upset about this guy doing what he's doing but at the same time, he's just making fan-art. What's the big deal?
Yeah I love Bethesda but lately they seem to quick to lawyer up. They should chill a bit.
either way that's like an old man having a pissed off dog that barks whenever you walk near the yard. Sure it's the dog that's barking but the owner could at LEAST do something about it since they are after all "BETHESDA" lawyers.
Wow that's a sucky move Bethesda I mean it's a big fan of your stupid game and your gonna sue?!
Bethesda, Zenimax, whoever is on this suing spree, needs to pull that pole out their ass at some point. It would be one thing if the guy was selling them or Bethesda was selling posters, but they are going after him just for the hell of it, it seems.
What annoys me about what Bethesda did is that on the guys website, at the bottom is a section on fine print, where he mentions all the Fallout material is copyright and trademarks of Bethesda, and even goes on to mention trademarks/copyright of Interplay for Fallout 1/2, new Vegas.
"Fallout-Posters.com is a fansite and not affiliated with or endorsed by Bethesda Softworks. Please don't sue. (UPDATED: DAMN, too late!) All design reinterpretations are subject of Fair Use under the Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. § 107."
Even after this, i think this is just wrong. Bethesda, in my opinion, went too far with this. i dont see how its any different than any other fanart site. and OMG what do you know, NO ADVERTISING. so hes not even making money from that. Bethesda (lawyers) are just being p ricks.
Bethesda is some babies.
Hating Bethesda more and more with each new legal *** topic.
C'mon, really?
WAAH WAAAH! FANS APPRECIATE OUR GAMES BUT WERE NOT MAKING THE MONEY OFF THESE FAN MADE POSTERS,LETS SUE HIM SINCE THIS IS AMERICA.
Bethesda..I want you to die.
I guess EA and Bioware should sue Andrew Reiner and that girl who drew tha Mass Effect fan art featuring Garrus and GI for putting on their website!!
I really have no respect for Bethesda at this point.
that honestly is messed up but could be understandable. sorry for him having that hassle tho..
You're sh*tting me.
I have to say I agree with Andersen on this one. Not every situation requires the lawyer to call and say "Do this or else!" Sometimes a call from a marketing rep that says "Hey, that's copyrighted stuff, so we really can't let it be given away for free or we can't protect the copyright. How about we trade some swag for the domain, yes?" Or for pete's sake, just ask nicely? "Please take that down." Was that so difficult?
Good old Bethesda, Its about their time of the month.