(OT ) Litigation: Sony vs. White Wolf

[Baron Munchausen]

Skimming through the brief once, I'd say that White Wolf has a good case. There are many, many similarities in both general theme and character details. I agree with Geo though, that Sony was probably unaware that they had been sold a 'stolen' property. Unfortunately for them, the law doesn't recognize 'good faith' in this respect, and they are the 'deep pockets' anyway, not the screen writers who probably did know what they were stealing. The only question is whether WW can purse to the end, or whether Sony can just wear WW down with legal maneuvers until they can't afford to pursue the case. Given the relative difference in size between the plaintiff and defendant it seems quite possible that Sony will just stonewall them.

[Fyron]

Can't help Sony's public image any though. This killed the Last shred of respect I had for the company.

[QuarianRex]

Anyone else notice that Underworld seems to be Romeo & Juliet with monsters? Anyone think that the estate of Bill Shakespere will get in on this?

[General Woundwort]

Originally posted by QuarianRex:
Anyone else notice that Underworld seems to be Romeo & Juliet with monsters? Anyone think that the estate of Bill Shakespere will get in on this?

They're busy trying to prove to the deconstructionists in modern Lit studies that it was Bill Shakespeare who actually wrote the plays attributed to him...

[Loser]

Not only that, but I believe the "lovers from waring factions" concept was done before Romeo & Juliet.

Wasn't it the Greek play in Midsummer's Night Dream?

[Baron Munchausen]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
Can't help Sony's public image any though. This killed the Last shred of respect I had for the company.

Well then, here's something to send the account into the red -- while not bothering to check if it's stepping on anyone else's toes, Sony through the RIAA is simultaneously 'defending its intellectual property rights' like the proverbial bull in the china shop:

RIAA sues 71-year-old grandfather for downloads by his teenager grandchildren
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3092854.stm

RIAA sues 12-year-old girl
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,96797,00.html

But this is not new, or even the worst example. Corporations have been on the copyright warpath for many years now.

1996: ASCAP threatens to sue girlscouts for singing without paying

http://www.s-t.com/daily/08-96/08-23-96/b02li056.htm

Quote:
"They buy paper, twine and glue for their crafts - they can pay for the music, too," says John Lo Frumento, ASCAP's chief operating officer. If offenders keep singing without paying, he says, we will sue them if necessary."

Yep, gotta stop those thieving girlscouts from damaging those corporate profits.

[Fyron]

Originally posted by QuarianRex:
Anyone else notice that Underworld seems to be Romeo & Juliet with monsters? Anyone think that the estate of Bill Shakespere will get in on this?

Actually, all of Shakespeare's works are in the public domain. Copyright only Lasts some 70 years (depending on country and what exactly is copyrighted of course).