Star Wars Combine Legal issues facing a noncommercial

Star Wars Combine Legal issues facing a non-commercial online game or Never tell me the odds Part II: The Lucas. Arts Affair By Jehan Snyers d’Attenhoven (Belgium, Sim Master, Star Wars Combine) http: //www. swcombine. com

Table of Contents q Definition q Ambiguous Situation q Star Wars™ - Property of G. Lucas q The Lucas. Arts Affair q The Lucas. Arts Menace q A new Hope q Lucas. Arts Strikes Back q The Return of Lucas. Arts q Legal Entity - Impossible Quest q Conclusions

Definition § What is the Star Wars Combine ? Free massively multi-player online role-playing simulation game, Based on the Star Wars universe, Developed by amateurs during their spare time. § Where ? § When ? § How many ? www. swcombine. com In perpetual development since 1998 16, 000+ registered players 10% playing very actively

Table of Contents q Definition q Ambiguous Situation q Star Wars™ - Property of G. Lucas q The Lucas. Arts Affair q The Lucas. Arts Menace q A new Hope q Lucas. Arts Strikes Back q The Return of Lucas. Arts q Legal Entity - Impossible Quest q Conclusions

Ambiguous Situation § Star Wars Game: § Star Wars gaming copyrights owned by Lucas. Arts. § Developers like Star Wars and do not want something else. § World Wide Team: § Volunteers from all around the world come and leave. § Needs a legal entity to manage the project. § Free Game: § No profit is generated. § Money is needed to cover charges.

Table of Contents q Definition q Ambiguous Situation q Star Wars™ - Property of G. Lucas q The Lucas. Arts Affair q The Lucas. Arts Menace q A new Hope q Lucas. Arts Strikes Back q The Return of Lucas. Arts q Legal Entity - Impossible Quest q Conclusions

Star Wars™ Property of G. Lucas § Star Wars is under strict copyright. § Policy to tolerate and/or encourage fan activities § Fan clubs (501 st Legion…) § Private fan website (The. Force. Net…) As long as it remains descriptive. § And what about games ? Lucas. Arts Area

Table of Contents q Definition q Ambiguous Situation q Star Wars™ - Property of G. Lucas q The Lucas. Arts Affair q The Lucas. Arts Menace q A new Hope q Lucas. Arts Strikes Back q The Return of Lucas. Arts q Legal Entity - Impossible Quest q Conclusions

January 2002 (1) The Lucas. Arts Menace § Email from Anti. Piracy@lucasfilm. com VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL fizzban@gmx. net / jsnyers@skynet. be Mr. Frederic Weymann and Mr. Jehan Snyers RE: Unauthorized Use of STAR WARS Properties: www. swcombine. com (…) We therefore must request that you (…) immediately and permanently discontinue the use of any and all STAR WARS Copyrights and Trademarks including, without limitation, the online STAR WARS simulation game conducted on your website, www. swcombine. com entitled, "The STAR WARS Combine". (…)

January 2002 (2) The Lucas. Arts Menace 2. SWC Team reaction: § Website is shutdown § Exchange of phone calls and emails with LA/LF. 1. Why us and not the others ? 2. Why us, we’re non-profit ? 3. Where did we break the law, exactly ? 4. What can be done to continue ? § Secretly alerting media: SW Fan clubs, Game Mags, Press…

January 2002 (3) The Lucas. Arts Menace 3. The 1 st round § Lucas. Arts was behind this, not Lucas. Film. § Long phone call with Business and PR Directors. § SWC can re-open for undefined amount of time. § No written agreement. 4. Conclusions: § They respected our attitude and dedication. § They cannot make their fans angry.

Table of Contents q Definition q Ambiguous Situation q Star Wars™ - Property of G. Lucas q The Lucas. Arts Affair q The Lucas. Arts Menace q A new Hope q Lucas. Arts Strikes Back q The Return of Lucas. Arts q Legal Entity - Impossible Quest q Conclusions

September 2002 A New Hope Conference Call § Lucas. Arts looked for information: § SWC financial system § Possible confusion/concurrency with Galaxies § Game mechanisms details § SW Combine authorized to continue. § Free Star Wars license could be possible.

Table of Contents q Definition q Ambiguous Situation q Star Wars™ - Property of G. Lucas q The Lucas. Arts Affair q The Lucas. Arts Menace q A new Hope q Lucas. Arts Strikes Back q The Return of Lucas. Arts q Legal Entity - Impossible Quest q Conclusions

Oct 02 – Dec 03 Lucas. Arts Strikes Back Patience, you must learn patience.

Table of Contents q Definition q Ambiguous Situation q Star Wars™ - Property of G. Lucas q The Lucas. Arts Affair q The Lucas. Arts Menace q A new Hope q Lucas. Arts Strikes Back q The Return of Lucas. Arts q Legal Entity - Impossible Quest q Conclusions

January 2004 (1) The Return of Lucas. Arts Toward an agreement § Back on tracks VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL veynom@swcombine. com To: Jehan Snyers d’Attenhoven RE: SWCombine-Lucas. Arts Agreement (…) My name is XXXX, and I work in the Business Affairs group at Lucas. Arts. I was asked to work with you on an agreement between our organizations which will allow the continued progress and development of SWCombine. I spent a little time on your website today and was very impressed with the work so far. (…) § Talks lead to 1 st draft of agreement (2004 -02 -06)

January 2004 (2) The Return of Lucas. Arts Discussing the agreement § Agreement contained mistakes. § Did not fit the SWC needs. § Counter-proposal was sent. § Counter-proposal was judged acceptable by LA. § Technical problem: SWC source code !!! § Still waiting for the final version of the agreement.

Table of Contents q Definition q Ambiguous Situation q Star Wars™ - Property of G. Lucas q The Lucas. Arts Affair q The Lucas. Arts Menace q A new Hope q Lucas. Arts Strikes Back q The Return of Lucas. Arts q Legal Entity - Impossible Quest q Conclusions

Legal Entity Impossible Quest Why a legal Entity for the SW Combine ? § Easier management of resources and assets § Protection of the team § Protection of the work: source & game engine Problems: § What country laws ? US, Belgium, other ? § What kind ? “De Facto” Entity …. Nothing more, nothing less

Conclusions Copyright Issues § Star Wars materials Lucas, Lucas. Arts … Waiting for the agreement … § Source code, website, other materials “us” But who are “us” ? Legal Entity: § We’re in a juridical hole. § “us” represented by the Sim Master, by default …

Special Thanks To Electronic Frontiers Forum & Scott Jones For welcoming us in 2003 and 2004.

Questions ? We feel much curiosity in you …