Author Topic: Why Isn't SEGA Overprotective of its Intellectual Property?  (Read 9831 times)

Offline Mystic Monkey

  • *
  • Posts: 4759
  • Total Meseta: 0
Why Isn't SEGA Overprotective of its Intellectual Property?
« on: March 15, 2023, 05:10:09 pm »
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwTXCwqurNQ
A friend on another site made this video which I find very informative not on just Sega's reasons for their leniency on fan games but also their business practices. Just thought to share it.

Offline Berto

  • *
  • Posts: 33961
  • Total Meseta: 23
Re: Why Isn't SEGA Overprotective of its Intellectual Property?
« Reply #1 on: March 15, 2023, 08:54:51 pm »
Nice video.
Though SEGA of Japan and SEGA of America might not be overprotective, that's not the case with SEGA of Europe.

Greyfox Books Release Mega Drive Book For Free After Sega Issues "Cease And Desist"







Quote
Greyfox Books, the publisher behind Atari: a Visual History and Coin-Op: The Arcade Guide, had originally planned to fund a similar book to its previous efforts via a Kickstarter campaign in 2021, but Sega's lawyers ended up taking exception to the project and sent them a C&D to stop production of it immediately.
Rather than have all that work go to waste, however, Darren Doyle, the book's creator, has now decided to publish it on the Greyfox site as a free download, giving Sega fans access to the shelved release.

Article : https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/02/greyfox-books-release-mega-drive-book-for-free-after-sega-issues-cease-and-desist

Download link : https://www.greyfoxbooks.com/product/mega-book/

Offline Mystic Monkey

  • *
  • Posts: 4759
  • Total Meseta: 0
Re: Why Isn't SEGA Overprotective of its Intellectual Property?
« Reply #2 on: March 16, 2023, 01:47:46 pm »
Nice video.
Though SEGA of Japan and SEGA of America might not be overprotective, that's not the case with SEGA of Europe.

Greyfox Books Release Mega Drive Book For Free After Sega Issues "Cease And Desist"







Article : https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/02/greyfox-books-release-mega-drive-book-for-free-after-sega-issues-cease-and-desist

Download link : https://www.greyfoxbooks.com/product/mega-book/
The C&D was likely because they were planning to "sell" this book without legal consent from Sega. As far as I'm aware, Sega don't mind fan games as long as the fans aren't selling these games.

Offline Berto

  • *
  • Posts: 33961
  • Total Meseta: 23
Re: Why Isn't SEGA Overprotective of its Intellectual Property?
« Reply #3 on: March 17, 2023, 01:03:00 am »
The C&D was likely because they were planning to "sell" this book without legal consent from Sega. As far as I'm aware, Sega don't mind fan games as long as the fans aren't selling these games.

It's indeed an unofficial fan book, but Nintendo, Atari, Capcom, and other game companies usually don't care.
Only SEGA was actively sent C&D letters.









Also this is not the first time ...

Dreamcast Junkyard and Bitmap Book (who made official SMS book before) also got same treatment...

https://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/2015/12/cease-desist.html

https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/01/bitmap-books-pulls-mega-drive-genesis-visual-compendium-after-legal-threat-from-sega





"The SMS book was officially licensed.
We tried to do the same for a MD book but were not offered a license.
Therefore went down the unofficial route..."

"As of today, I must admit defeat.
I'm not prepared to risk everything I've worked for, and jeopardise the amazing projects we have in the works.
As a small business, we cannot fight something like this legally."

Source : https://twitter.com/bitmap_books/status/1612432421693100034

My point is ... when it came to books, SEGA is more protective than other game companies.

Offline Mystic Monkey

  • *
  • Posts: 4759
  • Total Meseta: 0
Re: Why Isn't SEGA Overprotective of its Intellectual Property?
« Reply #4 on: March 17, 2023, 08:40:39 pm »
It's indeed an unofficial fan book, but Nintendo, Atari, Capcom, and other game companies usually don't care.
Only SEGA was actively sent C&D letters.









Also this is not the first time ...

Dreamcast Junkyard and Bitmap Book (who made official SMS book before) also got same treatment...

https://www.thedreamcastjunkyard.co.uk/2015/12/cease-desist.html

https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/01/bitmap-books-pulls-mega-drive-genesis-visual-compendium-after-legal-threat-from-sega





"The SMS book was officially licensed.
We tried to do the same for a MD book but were not offered a license.
Therefore went down the unofficial route..."

"As of today, I must admit defeat.
I'm not prepared to risk everything I've worked for, and jeopardise the amazing projects we have in the works.
As a small business, we cannot fight something like this legally."

Source : https://twitter.com/bitmap_books/status/1612432421693100034

My point is ... when it came to books, SEGA is more protective than other game companies.
I see. After everything I learned from the video I posted, I wonder why a different stance with books?

Offline Berto

  • *
  • Posts: 33961
  • Total Meseta: 23
Re: Why Isn't SEGA Overprotective of its Intellectual Property?
« Reply #5 on: March 19, 2023, 11:14:46 pm »
I see. After everything I learned from the video I posted, I wonder why a different stance with books?

I wondered as well, and as far as I know no youtuber ever touch this subject deeply.
Why? Is it because youtuber rarely read SEGA related books?
But they did research before making video so they must have read lots of SEGA related books, right?
So why is that?

Offline Mystic Monkey

  • *
  • Posts: 4759
  • Total Meseta: 0
Re: Why Isn't SEGA Overprotective of its Intellectual Property?
« Reply #6 on: March 22, 2023, 08:48:58 am »
I wondered as well, and as far as I know no youtuber ever touch this subject deeply.
Why? Is it because youtuber rarely read SEGA related books?
But they did research before making video so they must have read lots of SEGA related books, right?
So why is that?
I don't know. Honestly it's a recent revelation to me the true reasons why Sonic Team are cool with fan game.