I have received a takedown request from Games Workshop. It isn't hostile, and it is clear that much of this website it its current format is infringing on GW's copyright.
These include:
- use of GW art, images and text
- a donation link
- likeness in the logo
Before I retire this website, I'm going to take a pass at seeing if it is possible to exist without a full rewrite. This will include removing all images and creative text, such as lore. Text that are games rules may/may not be covered under copyright, depending on country.
If my attempt at removing copyright fails to appease, then I will be taking the website down. It was good while it lasted!
I've included the letter below.
- servo_scribe
Hello,
We are getting in touch today because your website NecroVox.org has been reported to us for infringing Games Workshop’s Intellectual Property rights. We appreciate your enthusiasm for the Necromunda game but we cannot allow the wholesale reproduction of our rules and text taken from our publications.
Games Workshop holds the exclusive right to reproduce copies of our creations. This covers our miniatures, artwork, books, logos, website images and text. It not only covers exact copies but also anything which copies a significant part, typically the most important and unique features.
Games Workshop has spent decades creating miniatures, books, merchandise and artwork for our creations. We own the copyright for these works, including (but not limited to) the books published for our Necromunda range.
I would like to take this opportunity to go through a few points in our Intellectual Property Guidelines and how they relate to your website. For ease of reference I will share below the relevant parts of the guidelines and explain how they relate to your project:
Individuals may write their own stories, hobby books and magazines based on our characters and settings, but these must:
- not include text, artwork or imagery copied from any official Games Workshop material
- be non-commercial, with no money being received or paid. This includes all forms of fundraising activity, and generation of any advertising revenue
- make it clear that they are unofficial, without using any Games Workshop logos, and include the word ‘unofficial’ prominently on the front cover
Regarding point one, we can see that much of the text on your website has been transcribed from our Necromunda books, which is admitted by you in the statement on your website that “rules are now added verbatim”. Additionally, a number of images including artwork have been taken from our Necromunda books without permission.
Point two relates to your fundraising activity on buymeacoffee.com: this contravenes the point in our intellectual property guidelines which states that no money should be received or paid, including all forms of fundraising.
While you have stated on your website that the rules published are “Unsanctioned”, your use of the Necromunda logo as your own with altered text, when taken in tandem with the copying of text and images as mentioned above, is likely to create confusion amongst hobbyists who may believe that your website is associated with our works.
We request that you remove all assets, be they text, image or any other type of asset, from your website. This will bring your project in line with both our intellectual property guidelines and comply with the intellectual property rights associated with Games Workshop property. We are available at this email address to discuss this further or to help provide clarification on any of the points we have raised.
I must mention that all rights are reserved.
Kind Regards,
Games Workshop Legal Team