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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]
Seriously? Do they have nothing better to do?
I feel like I've read this on GI before...
so is bethesda gonna start going after people with pip-boy tattoos now also?
Im pretty sure they were after the name and nothing more again they saw him as a easy target as they are a company with lawyers and they assume he will just listen being afraid of being sued
Dont get mad at the actual company Bethesda, get mad at the LAWYERS that work for Bethesda. And those who STILL complain about the bugs/glitches of their games needs to understand that with such depth of each game, there will ALWAYS be bugs/glitches no matter how much time and effort are put in to perfection.
I haven't read every post, but I don't understand Bethesda's thinking. They release Modding Tools so people can create "derivitive works" all day long. Works that are put up on numerous websites that run ad banners and even charge for "premium memberships".
This guy wasn't making a dime and they go after him? Dumb, really dumb.
Reasons why the system is screwed up with lawyers and how they think they can push people around.
i hope the people at bethesda read this comments to see what A-holes they're being. Why can't they be more like the games they put out(cool)
They really need to slow their roll and maybe learn how to deal with some PR. I'm sure their law department is scouring the internet for people who might even be infringing copyright just a little. I mean this poster guy wasn't even making any money off of this. The thing that pisses me off is the fact that they just attacked their fanbase at the throat with this one.
Can't disagree, necessarily. His proposed method allows everyone to 'win...'
Im actually surprised Bethesda didnt get worst company over EA theyve been faggots the past couple months.
It's a good thing he didn't name it Fallout-scrolls.com. Bethesda may have hired a hit squad.
They are being pretty heavy-handed with this. Surely a polite email would be the first step, rather than slapping a lawsuit on the guy outright.
I never saw the posters but the captions point me towards the idea that they were from the game(Despite Fan-art claims), but if the Bethesda Lawyers were threatening a lawsuit they must of had a pretty good claim, they may be annoying but they aren't stupid - they'd never go into a lawsuit knowing it'd only lead to a loss.
Well, the fact that the domain name was available means... well, that it's available. Anyone whatsoever can get whatever website they want, as long as it's available. I personally know someone that goes out and buys every website variation of hip-hop he can think of. So far he's made a bunch of money doing it. It's actually 100% legit for this fan to own that name, if Bethesda didn't go out and purchase it beforehand. And since it was available, they clearly didn't. Therefore, if they want the name back, they're gonna have to pay for it. Chances are if they would've handled this with a little decency this guy would've been glad to help out his favorite developer. He might have even given them this website, in exchange for some swag. But now that Bethesda came at him like they did, I'm sure they're gonna have to pay this guy a fortune if they want that name back. Hopefully Mr. Andersen bends them over tough. If I were him, I'd dedicate that website to anything anti-Bethesda I could. Serves them right for treating a fan like a felon.
Bethesda should start releasing their own merchandise then.. They barely have anything out there.
Wow... Yeah, not a good way to handle the situation at all.
I wouldn't hand them the website. They can buy it. If you can afford to threaten me with a lawsuit... You can afford to purchase the website I had the foresight to purchase well after the release of the game.
Just thinking out loud.
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The lawyers should get their ties stapled to their desks & a punch in the face to each of em. It's ridiculous to think what they do is "good work" in a story like this & I like all what the fan had to say as well. He deserves to get his site put back as it was & all his corrupt swag included.