Winston & Strawn LLP to Represent Chapterhouse Studios LLC in Games Workshop vs CHS

[Dyrnwyn]

Highlights:
- From 189.1, part 2:

- GW note "The Star Fox is a fan created Space Marine Chapter.", but still maintain that they own the trademark "star fox". Aparently they now argue that if somebody names their army something, they gain trademark rights. That´s rather spectacular.

Actually IIRC, the Star Foxes were the result of a 'create a chapter' contest GW ran quite a while back. It was actually a guy who was at my LGS who made them, won the contest, and had his stuff made official. I wouldn't be surprised if the fine print on the contest rules said that by submitting your chapter, you gave up the rights to GW. However, that still wouldn't make the Star Foxes iconography a trademark, as GW never sold anything under that mark.

[GomezAddams]

THE COURT: So you're another group that are on my "once a week whether I really want to or not" schedule.

That made me chuckle I have to say. Its a bad sign - wasn't someone saying awhile back it could all get thrown out if the judge gets fed up?

Star Fox... meh. CHS will point to Nintendo, GW whine, judge tells everyone to get over it. Its obscure enough that most people who aren't long in the teeth won't be aware of. Hell I had that WD and I can't remember half the chapters that were in it (I do however, remember there being at least five tiger striped chapters).

[Scorpion0x17]

Hi all,

Could I get a layman's terms summing-up of what the current known state-of-affairs in this case is?

(a related topic has come up on another forum, and I would like to know what the current situation is)

[Lord Dan]

Games Workshop settled with Paulson games in January, so they were dropped from the lawsuit (GW investor relations memo).

Most recent docket we have is this one:
http://ia700405.us.archive.org/18/it...0791.200.0.pdf

It basically says that there was a phone meeting on the 17th of May for a status hearing. In a previous docket Judge Kennelly stated that discovery ended April 23rd or something, so we should be looking for some movement soon. If you want to look up case information yourself you can go to:

http://archive.recapthelaw.org/ilnd/250791/

Some of the minutes are actually pretty funny.

[The bearded one]

Some of the minutes are actually pretty funny.

Some of the emails as well It actually reminds me of warseer at times

"Your sarcasm is noted. As is your refusal to tell me what is on the disk
Thank you."
- "then you should read my emails!"

ah, lawyers..

[Sean_OBrien]

One of the interesting things surrounding the case is that many of the new Chapterhouse releases have been added to amended complaints by GW.

While that might not seem like much in general - if Winston & Strawn thought they would have a hard time winning this, they would likely advise Chapterhouse to not release products which would be added to the fire so to speak. If they did, and Chapterhouse disregarded their advise - W&S would likely drop them as a client (often happens with paid legal counsel - almost always happens with pro-bono work).

However, Chapterhouse keeps releasing stuff which GW keeps adding to amended complaints and W&S has not dropped them as a client. That really points to the level of confidence the W&S has in their overall case.

It would be nice to be a fly on the wall and actually see what is going on in some of the depositions and the like.

[Vet.Sister]

Many new documents posted to the review site, http://archive.recapthelaw.org/ilnd/250791/
So... can anyone who speaks lawyerese give a quick update in laymans terms? ie. What stage is the case in? What are they doing... Is anything being decided.
Most importantly what exactly is being argued here? I read alot of the most recent stuff and it appears to me (I have no knowlege of the Law or anything like it) that GamesWorkshop is documenting some/all of their product line... I think. I really dunno, it has been months and I'd like someone (knowlegible) to post a quick recap & current state of affairs/arguements.
Thank you in advance.

[shelfunit.]

Going by the reply by Gary Chalk, he has left GW high and dry, as has Russ Nicholson.

[Sean_OBrien]

So... can anyone who speaks lawyerese give a quick update in laymans terms? ie. What stage is the case in? What are they doing... Is anything being decided.
Most importantly what exactly is being argued here? I read alot of the most recent stuff and it appears to me (I have no knowlege of the Law or anything like it) that GamesWorkshop is documenting some/all of their product line... I think. I really dunno, it has been months and I'd like someone (knowlegible) to post a quick recap & current state of affairs/arguements.

For whatever reason - someone decided that the party should be moved over here and it sort of stuck:

http://www.warseer.com/forums/showth...dgement-called

Should cover your questions though.

[t-tauri]

Thread closed.