Game Informer Threatens to Sue RPS Over Tomb Raider
Threatens PC blog for distribution of game's screenshots.
The image is somewhat related.
Tomb Raider is serious business to Game Informer - the magazine has sent a legal threat to PC blog Rock, Paper, Shotgun for distributing screenshots of the next Lara Croft adventure.
Apparently the US-based magazine - obviously fearing for its life in the dwindling magazine industry - has grabbed an exclusive on every single screenshot known to mankind regarding the latest Tomb Raider game and will do anything to protect it from evil. And apparently any outlet that isn't called Game Informer is evil.
Perhaps it was Rock, Paper, Shotgun's cheeky commentary on such asset exclusivity that riled up the trigger-happy lawyers. Or the fact that the writer, despite linking through several times to the Game Informer website, took the magazine's watermark off of four screens for use on its own report.
Whatever the reason, be sure to go to Game Informer for every single piece of gaming news in the future. Because clearly you shouldn't care about gaming news reported on your favourite outlet, you should just care that it's Game Informer.
Apparently the US-based magazine - obviously fearing for its life in the dwindling magazine industry - has grabbed an exclusive on every single screenshot known to mankind regarding the latest Tomb Raider game and will do anything to protect it from evil. And apparently any outlet that isn't called Game Informer is evil.
Perhaps it was Rock, Paper, Shotgun's cheeky commentary on such asset exclusivity that riled up the trigger-happy lawyers. Or the fact that the writer, despite linking through several times to the Game Informer website, took the magazine's watermark off of four screens for use on its own report.
Whatever the reason, be sure to go to Game Informer for every single piece of gaming news in the future. Because clearly you shouldn't care about gaming news reported on your favourite outlet, you should just care that it's Game Informer.
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Comments
Evil. 5 Jan 2011 17:17
1/14
What kind of biased article is this? If GI has the rights to it then it has legal basis to sue, and rightfully so.
Joe Bloggs 5 Jan 2011 17:42
2/14
This article is sh*te.
Sarcastic, amateurish, juvenile opinion soiling a news story.
Why don't you leave you name at the bottom of the page... it's because you are ashamed of being identified as the writer of that drivel.
Sarcastic, amateurish, juvenile opinion soiling a news story.
Why don't you leave you name at the bottom of the page... it's because you are ashamed of being identified as the writer of that drivel.
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TimSpong 5 Jan 2011 17:53
3/14
Joe Bloggs wrote:
This article is sh*te.
Sarcastic, amateurish, juvenile opinion soiling a news story.
Why don't you leave you name at the bottom of the page... it's because you are ashamed of being identified as the writer of that drivel.
Sarcastic, amateurish, juvenile opinion soiling a news story.
Why don't you leave you name at the bottom of the page... it's because you are ashamed of being identified as the writer of that drivel.
Neither of you sees the irony in the fact that something called 'Game Informer' is blocking information about a game?
You don't see the conflict in interest in a news and reviews outlet such as Game Informer having a vested interest in a game AND that it actively seeks to stop that game being written about?
Or how about the fact that GI does not own the rights to Tomb Raider?
Obviously not. I'd pop back to being spoon fed and then moan about how the games media is 'bias' and 'gets bribed'.
Tim Smith - EDITOR
Dreadknux 5 Jan 2011 18:07
4/14
I do like that RPS is able to get away with writing such "sarcastic, amateurish, juvenile opinion" into a news article but NOBODY ELSE IS. The irony is almost as delicious as the fact that GI claim to have copyright on a game's images.
News reports should tell you the news. That's what this piece did, to its credit. It should encourage readers to voice their opinions. That's what this piece did, to its credit. It shouldn't be absent-minded of the circumstances of the situation, nor bow down to spoon-fed PR-biased nonsense. That's what this piece did not do, to its credit.
But this is the internet, right? Everyone's gotta complain about something now.
News reports should tell you the news. That's what this piece did, to its credit. It should encourage readers to voice their opinions. That's what this piece did, to its credit. It shouldn't be absent-minded of the circumstances of the situation, nor bow down to spoon-fed PR-biased nonsense. That's what this piece did not do, to its credit.
But this is the internet, right? Everyone's gotta complain about something now.
Darryl 5 Jan 2011 18:24
5/14
@Tim Smith - Well don't you think game informer would prefer it if people visited their website or bought their mags, instead of going to other sources for information, if people visited Rock, Paper, Shotgun for the info. it would result in a direct loss of revenue for these guys.
Plus Stealing images off GI and removing watermarks is just plain wrong.What is the point of providing links if the images are available in the article.
Plus Stealing images off GI and removing watermarks is just plain wrong.What is the point of providing links if the images are available in the article.
you what? 5 Jan 2011 19:34
6/14
So..you highlighted the fact that the magazine industry is dwindling but yet you find it so difficult to understand their perspective? I'm afraid that what may be surprising to you is that its business and companies will do what they can to stand out from other gaming magazines. Sometimes its good for certain information to be withheld from gamers anyway, it creates suspense over titles which gamers look forward to. Also vested interests? Don't be so ridiculous.
... 5 Jan 2011 20:34
7/14
The exclusivity for GI's coverage on Tomb Raider ended awhile ago. GI threatens to sue at the drop of a hat for any kind of infringement. They even threatened to sue the Tomb Raider Forums for posting screens. While it WAS their exclusive when that occurred, they were WAY more gruff than they needed to be. Their exclusivity ended on the fourth with their TR coverage. I don't have anything against GI , but I'm sick of hearing them threatening to sue about everything.
nasty 5 Jan 2011 23:28
8/14
ur a idiot. Obviously if someone uses something without permission then the rightful owner has the right to sue. Ur just mad that ppl know about game informer and not this homo site
2real 5 Jan 2011 23:30
9/14
Hey smith, go eat a dick
Joji 6 Jan 2011 05:05
10/14
Joji's back. Yo!
My view is GI are saber rattling. If their exclusive has ended, they have nothing to complain about. On top of that, they should be aware that the gulf between print and online practices be they pro or con, is huge. The rise of the blog and amatuer website is why publishing big boys are bitching.
Seriously, GI, what are you going to do? Shut down an fan based game website, that could easily be resurrected, and turn the online gaming community against you? Stop bitching and, like a chicken head, it up, because while the net is global, GI is a U.S specifically magazine, without such reach. As for legality, you should know by now this means next to nothing online
My view is GI are saber rattling. If their exclusive has ended, they have nothing to complain about. On top of that, they should be aware that the gulf between print and online practices be they pro or con, is huge. The rise of the blog and amatuer website is why publishing big boys are bitching.
Seriously, GI, what are you going to do? Shut down an fan based game website, that could easily be resurrected, and turn the online gaming community against you? Stop bitching and, like a chicken head, it up, because while the net is global, GI is a U.S specifically magazine, without such reach. As for legality, you should know by now this means next to nothing online
D Wadd 6 Jan 2011 07:34
11/14
nasty wrote:
ur a idiot. Obviously if someone uses something without permission then the rightful owner has the right to sue. Ur just mad that ppl know about game informer and not this homo site
Game insider are not the "rightful owner" you dick. They are a rag that swapped some free advertising and a promise of a stellar review score for exclusivity.
nasty 6 Jan 2011 07:40
12/14
@D_Wadd
They are the rightful owner if they published the article u dumb nigger. Thats why sites like IGN put their watermark on all of their screenshots. Plus its Game Informer and not "Insider" Go suck a cock fag
They are the rightful owner if they published the article u dumb nigger. Thats why sites like IGN put their watermark on all of their screenshots. Plus its Game Informer and not "Insider" Go suck a cock fag
ObiCol 6 Jan 2011 09:32
13/14
Jesus, there are some gobby t**ts out there...
Regardless of who owns the copyright (naturally, I would assume it's the game's publishers, but then, what do I know), all this threatening to sue doesn't come across well and does reflect quite badly on Game Informer. I know they say all publicity is good publicity, but in this case they just come across as arrogant bullies.
The fact that the someone at Game Informer initially threatened to sue a twitter user who merely posted the link (without actually researching who the author is!), reflects the fact that they were quite eager to throw their legal weight around.
I don't blame them for defending their investment, but there are ways of doing it without coming off badly in the process.
Regardless of who owns the copyright (naturally, I would assume it's the game's publishers, but then, what do I know), all this threatening to sue doesn't come across well and does reflect quite badly on Game Informer. I know they say all publicity is good publicity, but in this case they just come across as arrogant bullies.
The fact that the someone at Game Informer initially threatened to sue a twitter user who merely posted the link (without actually researching who the author is!), reflects the fact that they were quite eager to throw their legal weight around.
I don't blame them for defending their investment, but there are ways of doing it without coming off badly in the process.
Felix 6 Jan 2011 13:19
14/14
We have new Tomb Raider images over on our site, do you think this likely to cause a problem?
Tomb Raider Screenshots
Tomb Raider Screenshots