Blizzard taking legal action vs. the creator of "Glider"

Deris · 11-19-2006, 06:45 AM

On October 25th, Blizzard/Vivendi payed a personal visit to Michael Donnelly, creator of WoW Glider and accused him of violating the DMCA. Their demands were unclear, but come in the wake of recent player bannings for using bots in the popular MMORPG. It looks like he's going to fight it, but I think it'll be an interesting case if it ever reaches the courts."

From the post: "The visitors from Vivendi / Blizzard made demands of Michael and stated that if the demands were not met that they would file a complaint in court if he did not meet them. I asked Michael what the demands were. He was unable to comment at the time to the exact details. But I do know they handed him a copy to very briefly 'Look at'. He was not given a copy. I think I could make a good guess and say that they asked for Glider to be shut down and if they feel that they have been harmed they may have asked for a financial settlement."

http://forums.wowglider.com/viewforum.28

Some comedy gold in there.

Discuss!!!

Quineloe · 11-19-2006, 07:01 AM

I thought Glider guy is already filing a lawsuit back for harassment? ;P

Deris · 11-19-2006, 07:03 AM

Not for harassment - he's filing a suit before Blizzard does just to get the high ground in his favor. I hope he gets his balls busted and spends a few years in jail personally.

Kildace · 11-19-2006, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deris

Not for harassment - he's filing a suit before Blizzard does just to get the high ground in his favor. I hope he gets his balls busted and spends a few years in jail personally.

Definitly, spending years in jail alongside real criminals and being marked all his life as an ex-con is definitly what he deserves for making a program that allows people to cheat at a video game.

Quineloe · 11-19-2006, 07:40 AM

Given he has made millions violating the WOW EULA and the DMCA, yes.

Grooverider · 11-19-2006, 07:43 AM

Quineloe, you're completely ridiculous.

xilsharn · 11-19-2006, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quineloe

Given he has made millions violating the WOW EULA and the DMCA, yes.

Uh, millions?

ArkturusMaximus · 11-19-2006, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quineloe

Given he has made millions violating the WOW EULA and the DMCA, yes.

Thats what civil lawsuits are for buddy

Tuco · 11-19-2006, 07:52 AM

Has blizzard said anything to this matter?

I remember a few years ago one of the really big torrent site's owners faked being investigated by the FBI / ICE and asked for donations, got several hundred thousand and shut down his website never to be heard from again. Turns out it was all fake and he got out with a load of donation cash. The warez community thinks they can win a fight if they only had someone with enough money to fight the 'man', so they championed this guy with their money, but there is no honor among thieves

Rotanee · 11-19-2006, 08:14 AM

LOL. I am curious what the issues are once that lawsuit gets going. Blizz it appears is expected to file their own complaint now outlining their issues.

whaerf · 11-19-2006, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuco

Has blizzard said anything to this matter?

I remember a few years ago one of the really big torrent site's owners faked being investigated by the FBI / ICE and asked for donations, got several hundred thousand and shut down his website never to be heard from again. Turns out it was all fake and he got out with a load of donation cash. The warez community thinks they can win a fight if they only had someone with enough money to fight the 'man', so they championed this guy with their money, but there is no honor among thieves

Hehe and his forums have a "donations" post stickied at the top.

Rotanee · 11-19-2006, 08:32 AM

The guy gets $25 USD for each glider program full version. That would be 40,000 sales to get to $1 million.

Blizzard has how many people playing? Several million world wide. I would think this guy could be a millionare.

I wonder whether or not the glider guy claimed all that income with the IRS. I bet if he didn't he will soon with all his paperwork and earnings potentially being exposed in a lawsuit. That's gotta suck.

Quineloe · 11-19-2006, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xilsharn

Uh, millions?

I'd be surprised if he didn't. Bot programs charge every month and are usually more expensive than the actual game.

xilsharn · 11-19-2006, 08:47 AM

Wow... then yeah, he's ripe for a lawsuit, assuming some civil statute has actually been broken.

Rotanee · 11-19-2006, 09:09 AM

I find the this pretty interesting.

I am trying to remember, but I think the US Supreme Court decided with respect to copyright infringement suits for music that unless a program was designed exclusively or purposefully to infringe a copyright (sharing music files), the owners of the program couldn't be held liable for other's breach of infringment from using the program. This issue is coming up now with the MPAA suing a lot of online torrent sites.

This isn't online music, but it is potentially copyright tied in through the EULA I would guess, and it does pertain to programs available for use over the internet. I have no clue how contract law plays into this either, since I think in the US contracts are more state law than federal, which means a federal court would apply in part the proper state laws.

Just reading the website for the glider program the creator was aware long before this that Blizzard probably wouldn't approve of the idea. He warns of potential bans and why, and goes into details on the Q&A section.

OH well, will have to wait and see how far it goes.

11-19-2006, 06:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
Deris Touching things that shouldn't be touched. Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 1,653 -17 Internets	Blizzard taking legal action vs. the creator of "Glider" On October 25th, Blizzard/Vivendi payed a personal visit to Michael Donnelly, creator of WoW Glider and accused him of violating the DMCA. Their demands were unclear, but come in the wake of recent player bannings for using bots in the popular MMORPG. It looks like he's going to fight it, but I think it'll be an interesting case if it ever reaches the courts." From the post: "The visitors from Vivendi / Blizzard made demands of Michael and stated that if the demands were not met that they would file a complaint in court if he did not meet them. I asked Michael what the demands were. He was unable to comment at the time to the exact details. But I do know they handed him a copy to very briefly 'Look at'. He was not given a copy. I think I could make a good guess and say that they asked for Glider to be shut down and if they feel that they have been harmed they may have asked for a financial settlement." http://forums.wowglider.com/viewforum.28 Some comedy gold in there. Discuss!!! __________________ Volko - Paladin Shail - Priest Melko - Warrior Deris the Reaver (retired.)

11-19-2006, 07:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
Deris Touching things that shouldn't be touched. Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 1,653 -17 Internets	Not for harassment - he's filing a suit before Blizzard does just to get the high ground in his favor. I hope he gets his balls busted and spends a few years in jail personally. __________________ Volko - Paladin Shail - Priest Melko - Warrior Deris the Reaver (retired.)

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Posted By	For	Type	Date
MMORPG General Discussion - Fires of Heaven Guild Message Board	This thread	Refback	11-22-2006 08:13 AM

11-19-2006, 07:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
Quineloe Hard Rock Hallelujah Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 9,512	I thought Glider guy is already filing a lawsuit back for harassment? ;P

11-19-2006, 07:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
Quineloe Hard Rock Hallelujah Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 9,512	Given he has made millions violating the WOW EULA and the DMCA, yes.

11-19-2006, 07:43 AM	#6 (permalink)
Grooverider 1234567890 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Svenborgia Posts: 1,287	Quineloe, you're completely ridiculous.

11-19-2006, 07:52 AM	#9 (permalink)
Tuco Forum Janitor Join Date: May 2002 Location: Detroit Posts: 10,699 +75 Internets	Has blizzard said anything to this matter? I remember a few years ago one of the really big torrent site's owners faked being investigated by the FBI / ICE and asked for donations, got several hundred thousand and shut down his website never to be heard from again. Turns out it was all fake and he got out with a load of donation cash. The warez community thinks they can win a fight if they only had someone with enough money to fight the 'man', so they championed this guy with their money, but there is no honor among thieves

11-19-2006, 08:14 AM	#10 (permalink)
Rotanee Banned Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 836 +0 Internets	LOL. I am curious what the issues are once that lawsuit gets going. Blizz it appears is expected to file their own complaint now outlining their issues.

11-19-2006, 08:32 AM	#12 (permalink)
Rotanee Banned Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 836 +0 Internets	The guy gets $25 USD for each glider program full version. That would be 40,000 sales to get to $1 million. Blizzard has how many people playing? Several million world wide. I would think this guy could be a millionare. I wonder whether or not the glider guy claimed all that income with the IRS. I bet if he didn't he will soon with all his paperwork and earnings potentially being exposed in a lawsuit. That's gotta suck.

11-19-2006, 08:47 AM	#14 (permalink)
xilsharn Definitely a chick Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,743 -4 Internets	Wow... then yeah, he's ripe for a lawsuit, assuming some civil statute has actually been broken.

11-19-2006, 09:09 AM	#15 (permalink)
Rotanee Banned Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 836 +0 Internets	I find the this pretty interesting. I am trying to remember, but I think the US Supreme Court decided with respect to copyright infringement suits for music that unless a program was designed exclusively or purposefully to infringe a copyright (sharing music files), the owners of the program couldn't be held liable for other's breach of infringment from using the program. This issue is coming up now with the MPAA suing a lot of online torrent sites. This isn't online music, but it is potentially copyright tied in through the EULA I would guess, and it does pertain to programs available for use over the internet. I have no clue how contract law plays into this either, since I think in the US contracts are more state law than federal, which means a federal court would apply in part the proper state laws. Just reading the website for the glider program the creator was aware long before this that Blizzard probably wouldn't approve of the idea. He warns of potential bans and why, and goes into details on the Q&A section. OH well, will have to wait and see how far it goes.