Blizzard sends C&Ds to WoW iPhone programs
Posted by Eric on May 4, 2009Ahh, I love the smell of Cease and Desist notices in the morning. According to WoW Insider, Blizzard has started to send out notices to all WoW iPhone application makers that utilize Blizzard’s Armory website (a site that allows players to see stats and equipment from their characters, as well as any other), instructing them to take down their apps or else.
A couple of things to note on this action. First, these WoW apps have been on the store for a quite awhile now. With the first ones arguably coming right after the introduction of the App Store 10 months ago. Second, Blizzard’s actions come on the heels of a recent video floating around the web showing that the WoW maker may have an official app coming soon on the iPhone that will allow gamers to actually play the MMO on their phone. Finally, Blizzard already has one official iPhone app in the store, so they could just be trying to uphold their IP rights and clear out any confusion.
In any case, it’s always a little sad having to report on the strong hammer of business taking out small developers not really intruding on the market of the big guy (yet). We’ll keep you posted on further developments.
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So Blizzard is trying to get people to remove apps that just interface with a site that is freely available to receive updates and information that is freely available, all because they want to make a similar app. Sounds like fun.
Well, the sad thing is it’s not even that definite. They are removing apps that just interface with a site that is freely available and honestly have no clue why they’re doing it outside of rumors.
Yes, it’s ridiculous.
Well it’s easy for Blizzard to send out C&Ds. They don’t need to have any legal argument behind it. They can pretty much just threaten whatever they want and use the threat of epic litigation to get their way.
Pretty standard stuff, tbh. I’d love to see someone fight Blizzard. I wonder what the actual claim would take the shape of….trademark?
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