Even the freaking terrain is lifted right out of WoW.  There is almost nothing about this game that is not blatant theft.

Look at the two screencaps in this article.  http://www.mpogd.com/news/?ID=5030

Look at the rock formation in the first one... it's like being right back in the Arathi Highlands!

And the second, the structure could be Stonard or Crossroads...

Everything about this game has been stolen, pure and simple.

Originally posted by Athcear

Even the freaking terrain is lifted right out of WoW.  There is almost nothing about this game that is not blatant theft.

Look at the two screencaps in this article.  http://www.mpogd.com/news/?ID=5030

Look at the rock formation in the first one... it's like being right back in the Arathi Highlands!

And the second, the structure could be Stonard or Crossroads...

Everything about this game has been stolen, pure and simple.

Check the videos ... I don't know what to say.

Too funny;

"That key icon on the far left? It's only there because WoW has a keyring with that button. Alganon doesn't have a keyring but they forgot to remove the icon when they copied the UI design."

Honestly it isn't worth it for Blizzard to pursue such a frivolous case where a couple hours could fix it and negate the lawsuit.

Originally posted by grndzro

Honestly it isn't worth it for Blizzard to pursue such a frivolous case where a couple hours could fix it and negate the lawsuit.

It isn't worth it for Blizzard for an entirely different reason.

Also, I doubt a couple of hours could fix anything about this... whatever it is.

Originally posted by TalRasha

Originally posted by grndzro

Honestly it isn't worth it for Blizzard to pursue such a frivolous case where a couple hours could fix it and negate the lawsuit.

 

It isn't worth it for Blizzard for an entirely different reason.

Because Blizzard would lose.

Originally posted by Flex1

There wont be any lawsuit.

If there was a lawsuit it would be Tolkien vs MMORPG companies eeing how they stole his elfs and dwarfs and goblins and orcs.

You are correct in a way here, but Tolkien would not be able to sue either. He lifted all his main ideas from the myths and lore of several mythologies as well as taking from the Bible, including the apocryphal texts. Now the images might be another matter, but it seems that everyone has kind of stolen from everyone else on the looks of most monsters, etc. Moot point.

We're not talking about stealing elves and dwarves and all that bs.  We're talking about if it actually came to pass that they stole things like art assests, copyrighted assets, etc.  You know, tangible things that can be stolen.  If you would of told me this was an emulated WoW server I would half believe you since there are even abilities with the same names.  The actual game mechanics are the same, from tradeskills to combat to death. 

I'm sure they are conferring with their lawyers to see if they could do anything and if they can, the day the game goes live they will issue a cease and desist.  Simple as that. 

Originally posted by Aguitha

At least when trying to copy someone else work, at least try to make it a little different.  I'm amazed by the sheer amount of plagiarism in this game, the UI, the NPC, the Graphics are exactly like WOW.  I'm sure as soon as this game launch they will be sued by Blizzard for plagiarism.   I dont give this game 6 months before it shuts down.

They wont be sued by Blizzard. Remember Blizzard copied a game it's self IE Everquest.

Originally posted by Flex1

There wont be any lawsuit.

If there was a lawsuit it would be Tolkien vs MMORPG companies eeing how they stole his elfs and dwarfs and goblins and orcs.

yup, Tolkien invented elves and dwarves and such....yup.

LotR's a huge ripoff of norse and welsh myth.  Everyone with Germanic and Welsh lineage should sue the Tolkien empire

/sarcasm off

Originally posted by shamus252

Originally posted by Aguitha

At least when trying to copy someone else work, at least try to make it a little different.  I'm amazed by the sheer amount of plagiarism in this game, the UI, the NPC, the Graphics are exactly like WOW.  I'm sure as soon as this game launch they will be sued by Blizzard for plagiarism.   I dont give this game 6 months before it shuts down.

 

They wont be sued by Blizzard. Remember Blizzard copied a game it's self IE Everquest.

Blizzard took liberty with game mechanics in other game of it's genre.  Everquest is like the 13th MMO in history and it can easily be argued that a great deal of EQ came from muds and MMOs preciding it.  However, any idiot can look at two screen shots of EQ and WOW and say they don't look anything alike.

In this case, these people didn't even change the basic art assets that they clearly reverse engineered from Blizzard.  Reverse engineering is against the law in it's own right cause it is similar to stealing.  However many companies do it they just hide the fact from public records.  These people have stolen it clearly and are displaying it.  The map, everything same texture color, shape and style.  

Any moron and this is going to go in front of a jury (non -tech people) can see this is nearly identical.

Originally posted by tanoril

We're not talking about stealing elves and dwarves and all that bs.  We're talking about if it actually came to pass that they stole things like art assests, copyrighted assets, etc.  You know, tangible things that can be stolen.  If you would of told me this was an emulated WoW server I would half believe you since there are even abilities with the same names.  The actual game mechanics are the same, from tradeskills to combat to death. 

I'm sure they are conferring with their lawyers to see if they could do anything and if they can, the day the game goes live they will issue a cease and desist.  Simple as that. 

If you haven't played any other MMO's, they are all the same mechanics, that is the down fall of the genre at this point. And as for the ability names, you can not copyright something of that nature. And every depiction of an orc I've seen in ALL MMO's not to mention single player games, has been pretty much the same. You could really not have a case, unless you could prove that they actually, "stole" your property. Blizzard cannot copyright any races or their likenesses, or any crafts, ability names, or classes, etc. Most of these things are well documented throughout other games and history in books of lore and have been borrowed from many mythologies in the first place. If you think Blizzard came up with any of this crap, you are mistaken. The only way there could ever be a case is if this material was directly stolen from what Blizzard has established as their canon. Has it?

 Why anyone wanna  plagiarize the cartoonize chars of LOTRO. They really are a pitty. Great story and community, but the poor quality of chars spoils the party, then the armour, it seems I walk in some pajamas. Get better in lvl45 but miss the greatness of armours that mostly we are accustomed. And the "inquisition" of GM's chasing the names of the chars, not disrespectful to anyone, only a legitimate choice of the player, arbitrarily renomed  without any warning or defense because they break the LORE. I wich no game dev copy this behavior... ex: (Shadone to Tydd) tell me if that make sence :P

The topic seems pointless. I just don't see Alganon lasting long enough as an MMO anyways. Credit for them developing an MMOG but other than that - meh. Probably the only cool thing I encountered in that game was someone helping me with a broken quest to complete it. That's about it really. Not my cup of tea.

Originally posted by gnomad1

Originally posted by moonbrother

IMO;

I haven't played this game, but I didn't like WoW, so there isn't much point to comment on game quality.

Copyright laws allow for 10% difference from original logo/code/etc before it becomes infringement.  That means that if my rogue elf outfit is made with a bowtie, even if it looks *exactly* like the one in D & D... I'm free and clear.

Citation please where this is stated and in what US statute? Basically you are blowing smoke up people's collective asses.

Tell you what how about releasing a drink and call it Caca-Cola and try your 10% BS defense. I am sure the courts will totally see it your way.

{mod edit}

Do your own homework dude... but, this one time, I shall for you...

http://www.umuc.edu/library/copy.shtml

I'll quote the important part to demonstrate how your example is incorrect...

"What Cannot be Copyrighted?

•Works in the public domain:

• ?Ideas are in the public domain.
• ?Facts are in the public domain.
• ?Words, names, slogans, or other short phrases also cannot be copyrighted. However, slogans, for example, can be protected by trademark law.
  
• ?Blank forms.
• ?Government works, which include:

?Judicial opinions.

?Public ordinances.
?Administrative rulings.

• ?Works created by federal government employees as part of their official responsibility.
• ?Works for which copyright wasn't obtained or copyright has expired (extremely rare!).

(added bullet lists for clarity) <-- notice how I noted that I changed it from the original author, after citing where I got it previous the actual quotation, thus I am free and clear.

So, the *name* coca cola is a trademark (different than copyright) thus you cannot use "Coca Cola" to name your product... the *logo* of the red back with silver/white wave is.  I can say and use the word Pepsi all I want, but if I market their red and blue yin-yang as part of my own product, then I'm violating the law.  Look up the word "parody" for a way out of this.  See also "Fair Use".

By the way, if you came up with a drink and called Caco Cola... you're good, as long as you don't copy the formula of the soda pop, and you check the trademark office to see if it's already been filed.

All of this bundled together becomes the "10% rule" (which doesn't actually exist as a specific number in law, but is rather an interpretation of fair use and minimal creative difference)

If you had *carefully* read my original post, I was referring to a work of "art" ( the elf rogue costume) and code.  How many rogue outfits do you see with black bowties?  None.  Thus, it is an original work and becomes mine.  There are only so many ways to write code for water reflection, or algorithm for auto-track, that may fall under fair use, but if Alganon had borrowed, say the Unreal 3 engine in all its glory, then it would appear in the credits... something  nobody in this discussion so far seems to have read (including myself).

If Alganon gave credit where credit is due, then this whole discussion was futile, though the question was legit.

/taunt on

It seems that the smoke is all yours.  {mod edit}

/taunt off

Originally posted by KhurryFlav

Originally posted by tanoril

We're not talking about stealing elves and dwarves and all that bs.  We're talking about if it actually came to pass that they stole things like art assests, copyrighted assets, etc.  You know, tangible things that can be stolen.  If you would of told me this was an emulated WoW server I would half believe you since there are even abilities with the same names.  The actual game mechanics are the same, from tradeskills to combat to death. 

I'm sure they are conferring with their lawyers to see if they could do anything and if they can, the day the game goes live they will issue a cease and desist.  Simple as that. 

 

If you haven't played any other MMO's, they are all the same mechanics, that is the down fall of the genre at this point. And as for the ability names, you can not copyright something of that nature. And every depiction of an orc I've seen in ALL MMO's not to mention single player games, has been pretty much the same. You could really not have a case, unless you could prove that they actually, "stole" your property. Blizzard cannot copyright any races or their likenesses, or any crafts, ability names, or classes, etc. Most of these things are well documented throughout other games and history in books of lore and have been borrowed from many mythologies in the first place. If you think Blizzard came up with any of this crap, you are mistaken. The only way there could ever be a case is if this material was directly stolen from what Blizzard has established as their canon. Has it?

Have you actually played the game?  It's been mentioned before but here is a shining example of something that was stolen/screen scraped/whatever you want to call it.  In Alganon there is a button for a keyring that is the exact size/icon/location of the keyring button that's in WoW.

Alganon does not have a keyring function.

Originally posted by moonbrother

Originally posted by gnomad1

Originally posted by moonbrother

IMO;

I haven't played this game, but I didn't like WoW, so there isn't much point to comment on game quality.

Copyright laws allow for 10% difference from original logo/code/etc before it becomes infringement.  That means that if my rogue elf outfit is made with a bowtie, even if it looks *exactly* like the one in D & D... I'm free and clear.

Citation please where this is stated and in what US statute? Basically you are blowing smoke up people's collective asses.

Tell you what how about releasing a drink and call it Caca-Cola and try your 10% BS defense. I am sure the courts will totally see it your way.

{mod edit}

Do your own homework dude... but, this one time, I shall for you...

http://www.umuc.edu/library/copy.shtml

I'll quote the important part to demonstrate how your example is incorrect...

"What Cannot be Copyrighted?

•Works in the public domain:

• ?Ideas are in the public domain.
• ?Facts are in the public domain.
• ?Words, names, slogans, or other short phrases also cannot be copyrighted. However, slogans, for example, can be protected by trademark law.
  
• ?Blank forms.
• ?Government works, which include:

?Judicial opinions.

?Public ordinances.
?Administrative rulings.

• ?Works created by federal government employees as part of their official responsibility.
• ?Works for which copyright wasn't obtained or copyright has expired (extremely rare!).

(added bullet lists for clarity) <-- notice how I noted that I changed it from the original author, after citing where I got it previous the actual quotation, thus I am free and clear.

So, the *name* coca cola is a trademark (different than copyright) thus you cannot use "Coca Cola" to name your product... the *logo* of the red back with silver/white wave is.  I can say and use the word Pepsi all I want, but if I market their red and blue yin-yang as part of my own product, then I'm violating the law.  Look up the word "parody" for a way out of this.  See also "Fair Use".

By the way, if you came up with a drink and called Caco Cola... you're good, as long as you don't copy the formula of the soda pop, and you check the trademark office to see if it's already been filed.

All of this bundled together becomes the "10% rule" (which doesn't actually exist as a specific number in law, but is rather an interpretation of fair use and minimal creative difference)

If you had *carefully* read my original post, I was referring to a work of "art" ( the elf rogue costume) and code.  How many rogue outfits do you see with black bowties?  None.  Thus, it is an original work and becomes mine.  There are only so many ways to write code for water reflection, or algorithm for auto-track, that may fall under fair use, but if Alganon had borrowed, say the Unreal 3 engine in all its glory, then it would appear in the credits... something  nobody in this discussion so far seems to have read (including myself).

If Alganon gave credit where credit is due, then this whole discussion was futile, though the question was legit.

/taunt on

It seems that the smoke is all yours.  {mod edit}

/taunt off

Ever heard of "look and feel" copyright violations? Probably not since you are probably to young to have been around back in the day when Lotus, Apple, et al started out.

Do some of your own research and find out about look and feel. Might open your jaded eyes some.

Here is a little something I found while waiting for the non existant proof from you..

I credited the source
Giving credit to the source of a copied work does not mean that the copier is not an infringer: It just means that he or she is not a plagiarist. Acknowledging the source of the copyrighted material does not substitute for obtaining permission to use it.

As I've stated before, it's WoWganon, not Alganon.

So then I guess there should only be a few MMOs out there. The original big 3 take care of original content so WOW and every other game that came after them should have been sued also. Is that what you are saying?

 Watch this.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/88782/rip-a-remix-manifesto

Then continue.

 And if they hand-made all of the content and made it look a little different, they can't be sued. Or at least would have a VERY hard time being sued.

"Ever heard of "look and feel" copyright violations? Probably not since you are probably to young to have been around back in the day when Lotus, Apple, et al started out.

Do some of your own research and find out about look and feel. Might open your jaded eyes some.

Here is a little something I found while waiting for the non existant proof from you..

I credited the source
Giving credit to the source of a copied work does not mean that the copier is not an infringer: It just means that he or she is not a plagiarist. Acknowledging the source of the copyrighted material does not substitute for obtaining permission to use it.", gnomad
 

{mod edit}

"Look and Feel" is much to vague for Blizzard to pursue.  Mostly because it falls under the 10% rule (discussed earlier)

My "non-existant proof "is only supported by your ignorant allegations (aka... you didn't follow the provided link)

Please remember to abide by the RoC and continue this discussion without insulting eachother. 

The phrase wow clone is thrown about way too much these days. It seems any game that comes out and follows the EQ model will immediately be labelled wow clone no matter how different the game may actually be. Its even spread to other genres-people were saying D3 is a wow clone at one point.

But in the case of Alganon, the label is totally accurate. Look at the UI for goodness sake, its almost identical.

Originally posted by jimsmith08

The phrase wow clone is thrown about way too much these days .. But in the case of Alganon, the label is totally accurate. Look at the UI for goodness sake, its almost identical.

Exactly. I, personally, have never called any other fantasy MMO released these last five years a "WoW clone". I've commented on elements of various games being suspiciously derivative at times. But I've never seen a title come out that genuinely deserved the title "clone".

Until Alganon.