Space Marines

[vin_petrol]

Well, apparently Games Workshop think they have trademarked "space marines" and nobody else is allowed to use them in works of fiction.

http://mcahogarth.org/?p=10593

Ooh, is that a copy of Heinlein's Space Cadet see nearby, published in 1948. Let's copy a couple of sentences

Comments

[foxy76]

I did start researching this out of boring professional interest, but realised that the writer was referring to a US trademark. US IP law is bonkers!

[vin_petrol]

It's become clear the GW hold a US trademark involving "Space Marines" for *gaming*, so it's a bit of a reach for them to extend this to books. It's also interesting that they've taken on a 'poor' writer with limited resources rather than (say) the somewhat more well-heeled estate of Robert A. Heinlein.

The thing is, GW already have a terrible reputation for heavy handed defence of their IP, so it's not like a boycott of their stuff will work. Millions of people are _already_ boycotting GW for previous stunts like this!

I shall watch this with interest.

[foxy76]

'It's become clear the GW hold a US trademark involving "Space Marines" for *gaming*'

Yes, I checked the UK trademark, and it doesn't apply to literature either. Litigation in the states is a much more expensive process and I'm not too such of the level of success rate there. It is interesting that GW have taken on a 'poor' writer, suggesting that they're not after damages - perhaps they are making money from licensing the term? It does seem heavy handed and pretty inappropriate though to be honest!