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[JustinBB7]

This remake/mod of Vampires: The Masquerade Bloodlines looked like it could actually be finished at some point, but not anymore.

Goodnight, sweet Prince
21 November - atrblizzard
As saddened we are to announce the following bad news, the project has been sent a cease & desist letter.

Without getting further into detail, which is explained in the post below, I'd like to thank everyone for their throughout support, Signothorn and Planet Vampire for hosting the forums while we were migrating to a newer host, and the Vaulderie Team for their countless contribution.

The cease and desist letter:

Dear Project Vaulderie:

We are writing to you on behalf of CCP hf. (“CCP &#8221, a company incorporated in Iceland and the exclusive trademark and copyrights holder for Vampire: The Masquerade (USPTO registration no. 3495901; USCO registration no. TX0005782175, et. seq., for the same line of books).

Recently, it has come to our attention through your website, http://www.projectvaulderie.com/, that you are planning a modification or “re-imagination” of the Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines game, first published a number of years ago by Activision, Inc., under license from White Wolf, Inc. (now known as CCP). While Activision retains certain rights to the game it created, CCP continues to own all other rights associated with Vampire: The Masquerade, including the copyrights and trademarks noted above.

It appears that Project Vaulderie is now engaging in the unauthorized creation, use, and sale of products bearing the name of CCP’s registered intellectual property, Vampire: The Masquerade, without any license, authorization or permission of CCP.

You do not have permission to use CCP’s trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property as the basis for your products and services, nor do you have permission to make or distribute any copy or derivative work, including electronic copies, of CCP’s intellectual property. As a result, we believe you are infringing CCP’s intellectual property rights.
We ask that you immediately cease and desist from the use of CCP’s name and other trademarks on http://www.projectvaulderie.com/. Specifically, please remove all references to Vampire: The Masquerade and Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines from your website, software, and related materials. In addition, remove all artwork from the original Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines game from your website and software modifications, and discontinue any future use of such artwork. If we do not receive an immediate affirmative response from you indicating that you have fully complied with these requirements, we may be forced to take further legal action against you, including but not limited to a DMCA notice to your Internet Service Provider. Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation.

Sincerely,
CCP Legal

http://www.projectvaulderie.com/goodnight-sweet-prince/

 

[Falk]

unauthorized creation, use, and sale

wat

Unfortunately still within their rights regardless, and always a bummer when this shit happens. Hey, we're FANS of your product. :|

 

[Warm Machine]

Why do people put so much effort in building something they don't own?

 

[legacyzero]

Did they intend to sell it?

I thought that if there was no money intended to be made, why is this a big deal?

Serious question, as I dont fully understand things like this.

Why do people put so much effort in building something they don't own?

Are you not a diehard fan of anything?

People like these folks are passionate about the property. They care about it. It does the IP a service by paying a high level of dedication, and work for it.

There are TONS of these kinds of things being worked on.

Im pretty excited about that Metroid II: Return of Samus fan mod being worked on (unless that got C&D'd too)

 

[JustinBB7]

I was looking forward to this, the original is amazing but the bugs makes it feel the game will break if you play it too much. Don't think you can even run it at all without patches.

Such a shame.

 

[RinSatori]

They accept donations.. that = sale i guess.

This what happens when you try to recreate a game in a different engine without permission.

 

[JaseC]

FYI, GAF's character limit for titles is 85 (including spaces), so you could have used Cease and desist for Project Vaulderie (Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines remake). I'd wager many people are going to look at "Vtmb" and wonder what in the world you're referring to.

 

[Man God]

Remaking games you don't own has got to be the studiest thing you can do. Unless the company is gone or doesn't care you're going to get put down hard. If you really love a game and want to honor it, make a mod or a game inspired by it instead of wasting your time.

 

[JustinBB7]

FYI, GAF's character limit for titles is 85 (including spaces), so you could have used Cease and desist for Project Vaulderie (Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines remake). I'd wager many people are going to look at "Vtmb" and wonder what in the world you're referring to.

Haha, I wanted too but thought it would be too long.

 

[Hesemonni]

FYI, GAF's character limit for titles is 85 (including spaces), so you could have used Cease and desist for Project Vaulderie (Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines remake). I'd wager many people are going to look at "Vtmb" and wonder what in the world you're referring to.

I was almost sure it was something Smash Bros related,,,

 

[Amagon]

Didn't know a remake was happening, fuck!

 

[SonyToo!™]

I wonder if CCP are planning to make more use of the license, I would guess that with the fates of both the VtM MMO and Dust FPS has put a large dent in their finances.

Remaking games you don't own has got to be the studiest thing you can do. Unless the company is gone or doesn't care you're going to get put down hard. If you really love a game and want to honor it, make a mod or a game inspired by it instead of wasting your time.

I somewhat agree with western games, however Japan has doujin where fan made games and other media of popular Japanse IP's are sold at conventions and specialist douijn shops. That and the fact most are simple 2D sidescollers is might explain why western made fan games of Japanese games often slip through the net with the publisher sometimes waiting until the fan game is finished and out in the wild before slapping down the C&D to protect their IP.

 

[Rymuth]

Didn't know this was a thing, now I'm sad.

 

[Sentenza]

If that's of any comfort to you people, I don't think this ever had much of a chance to be actually completed... And it's not like it was going to be a massive improvement over the original anyway.

 

[A-V-B]

Did they intend to sell it?

I thought that if there was no money intended to be made, why is this a big deal?

Because they're using someone's copyright. If the creators don't defend their own right to it, IIRC, in court they can get "smack my bitch up"'d by the judge.

 

[JaseC]

I wonder if CCP are planning to make more use of the license, I would guess that with the fates of both the VtM MMO and Dust FPS has put a large dent in their finances.

I wouldn't get your hopes up. Bloodlines is available digitally and as CCP owns the trademark I assume it sees a portion of sales revenue -- it doesn't want this unlicensed remake diverting attention away from the original.

 

[Falk]

If that's of any comfort to you people, I don't think this ever had much of a chance to be actually completed... And it's not like it was going to be a massive improvement over the original anyway.

Honestly? Completely besides the point :|

 

[Nikodemos]

Is taking donations what killed this?

Taking donations can be considered a form of monetary revenue for IP copyright purposes. It's a stretch, but it is a cashflow.

 

[legacyzero]

Is taking donations what killed this? Because free fan projects should be absolutely legal...

This is how I feel. If folks aren't using your IP to profit, even with donations, I see this is nothing more than fans showing you how much the respect, and love your property.

 

[cj_iwakura]

This is how I feel. If folks aren't using your IP to profit, even with donations, I see this is nothing more than fans showing you how much the respect, and love your property.

If it diminishes the brand by association, and some of the fan patches of V:TMB are kind of questionable, I think CCP are well within their rights to protect it.

 

[Castef]

Why do people put so much effort in building something they don't own?

This. I know, it is a work of passion, yet a C&D happens almost all the time when an important IP is involved. Why not use the very same time and effort to develop something new?

 

[kevm3]

Just change all the copyright characters, change the name of the project and rerelease it. I don't get why people throw all the effort down the drain like what happened with that Chrono Trigger remake. Remove the offending assets and make your own property with it.

 

[BasilZero]

FYI, GAF's character limit for titles is 85 (including spaces), so you could have used Cease and desist for Project Vaulderie (Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines remake). I'd wager many people are going to look at "Vtmb" and wonder what in the world you're referring to.

I'm an example of that.

Didnt even know lol.

Speaking of the game....I purchased the original last month!

 

[Sentenza]

Honestly? Completely besides the point :|

Well, I actually think it's relevant.
If this was looking like some amazing rework over the original, capable of giving it a new life, I would be a lot more unhappy about this development.
As it is now, can't say I feel like we are going to miss much. And the fact it was ages afar from being released makes it even harder to grieve over it.

But of course that's just a matter of opinions, I guess.

 

[Falk]

This. I know, it is a work of passion, yet a C&D happens almost all the time when an important IP is involved. Why not use the very same time and effort to develop something new?

Why does fanart exist? Why do covers of music exist?

edit:

Well, I actually think it's relevant.
If this was looking like some amazing rework over the original, capable of giving it a new life, I would be a lot more unhappy about this development.
As it is now, can't say I feel like we are going to miss much. And the fact it was ages afar from being released makes it even harder to grieve over it.

But of course that's just a matter of opinions, I guess.

I totally understand what you mean, and it does feed into the whole debate of if a fan work diminishes the perceived value of the original by being bad. (And I actually agree)

My point is that in this particular case, it's not like it's going to cut into CCP's trillion dollar profit margin over the Vampire franchise or something. Why stop people from doing what they want to do?

 

[Castef]

Why does fanart exist? Why do covers of music exist?

A fanart or a cover of a song usually do not require months of work...

 

[GreatestHits]

Why do people put so much effort in building something they don't own?

Passion. I'm actually working on an IP that might have died but got picked up by a major pub. I am basically going to be an obvious copy but slapping the spiritual successor title on there, and changing any resemblance thats too close. As far as not doing those things, I don't know why someone who would work that hard on something that's against the terms

 

[Falk]

A fanart or a cover of a song usually do not require months of work...

Counter point being some of them do.

And not all mods take months of work.

Both things have an entire spectrum of scope.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Well, I actually think it's relevant.
If this was looking like some amazing rework over the original, capable of giving it a new life, I would be a lot more unhappy about this development.
As it is now, can't say I feel like we are going to miss much. And the fact it was ages afar from being released makes it even harder to grieve over it.

But of course that's just a matter of opinions, I guess.

Adding extra clans and Sabbat content sounds pretty great, but it's a moot point. They're trying to raise donations using someone else's IP and characters. CCP own them. They're in the wrong, end of story.

 

[kamakazi5]

Just change all the copyright characters, change the name of the project and rerelease it. I don't get why people throw all the effort down the drain like what happened with that Chrono Trigger remake. Remove the offending assets and make your own property with it.

This is what I don't understand. They put so much effort into things like this for nothing. All that time could be put into creating something original that people could actually get behind. It doesn't have to be drastically different from the original game. Just make it more of an homage with your own flair and fans will still enjoy it.

 

[Sentenza]

My point is that in this particular case, it's not like it's going to cut into CCP's trillion dollar profit margin over the Vampire franchise or something. Why stop people from doing what they want to do?

Oh, on that I can easily agree.
Not just because I don't think a fan project would harm them, but also because I think every company which does this is essentially spitting on free advertising.

 

[Castef]

Counter point being some of them do.

And not all mods take months of work.

Both things have an entire spectrum of scope.

And yet, you're spending your time working on someone else's IP.

In this case, an IP well alive and kicking. So, a C&D was quite certain...

 

[Falk]

In this case, an IP well alive and kicking.

About that...

Spoiler

Vampires aren't alive kk

 

[Sub_Level]

Good evening, Deb.

 

[Nikodemos]

Good evening, Deb.

Minor spoiler:

Spoiler

Wasn't she supposed to be a Toreador?

 

[Fularu]

My point is that in this particular case, it's not like it's going to cut into CCP's trillion dollar profit margin over the Vampire franchise or something. Why stop people from doing what they want to do?

IP neglect leads to IP loss.

As simple as that. You want to make a Vampire game? Create your own.

 

[ChackanKun]

Why don't they rename it and make it a spiritual sequel?

Just to avoid stuff like this!

Like Demons Souls vs Dark Souls.

 

[Sentenza]

IP neglect leads to IP loss.
As simple as that.

That's a poor excuse/myth.
There are legal ways to acknowledge (and authorize) these kind of fan projects without "losing the IP".

 

[cj_iwakura]

So what exactly has CCP done with this IP besides cancel a game and C&D another? Are the books still coming out? I never see anything besides the reboot WoD main sourcebook in shops.

They made a V:TM 20th anniversary book some time ago, and it's still a very popular IP(more so than Requiem).

 

[SonyToo!™]

Passion. I'm actually working on an IP that might have died but got picked up by a major pub. I am basically going to be an obvious copy but slapping the spiritual successor title on there, and changing any resemblance thats too close. As far as not doing those things, I don't know why someone who would work that hard on something that's against the terms

Shame the west doesn't have their own doujin scene where fans can make and sell products while the IP owner can reap in the extra publicity while still retaining full protection of their copyright.

 

[Glitchesarecool]

Once again, another victim of releasing information about a fan project before it's finished.

I feel like there would be more success of these things if the website just appeared when it was done and copies got out into the wild.

 

[JaseC]

TimeSplitters is a good example. That Sonic CD remaster/remake thing was unofficial originally as well, I believe.

Black Mesa comes to mind also -- it began life several years ago as a mod but will now release on Steam as a paid game, alongside the original Half-Life. Admittedly, though, the situation with Bloodlines isn't as simple since it's Acti that owns the game itself whereas Valve has complete control over Half-Life. For all we know, CCP took so long to issue a C&D because it was trying to engineer an amicable solution with Acti but ultimately failed.

 

[Nikodemos]

IP neglect leads to IP loss.

I suspect the benefits of switching to a "use it or lose it" legal approach to IPs would outweigh the drawbacks.

 

[Falk]

TimeSplitters is a good example. That Sonic CD remaster/remake thing was unofficial originally as well, I believe.

Sonic CD which led to Sonic 1 and 2 remakes as well, to be accurate.

We've got two lines of discussion in this thread. The first, being Project Vaulderie, which I guess already toed the line via donations. The second is 'why put effort into an IP you don't own?'.

On the second, are you really about to go tell these guys that they're wasting their time?

 

[Sub_Level]

Minor spoiler:

Spoiler

Wasn't she supposed to be a Toreador?

Would not be surprised, but I think it's funnier if she was just some normal chick doing a shitty graveyard shift for a radio station while strung out on coffee and cigs.

 

[Castef]

Sonic CD which led to Sonic 1 and 2 remakes as well, to be accurate.

We've got two lines of discussion in this thread. The first, being Project Vaulderie, which I guess already toed the line via donations. The second is 'why put effort into an IP you don't own?'.

On the second, are you really about to go tell these guys that they're wasting their time?

I think there is also another important layer of the discussion to be taken into account here. The game being remade is based on a strong intellectual property. So, it is not really comparable to the Sonic or Resident Evil fan projects. There is an important licensing issue ongoing.

 

[Loomer]

Didn't know this was a thing, now I'm sad...

 

[Robert J. Sullivan]

Appropriate for the thread :
http://debofnight.andcuriouser.com/

 

[Fularu]

On the second, are you really about to go tell these guys that they're wasting their time?

It's a mod (HD texture mod) for an existing PC game (Resident Evil 4 HD), can't you see the difference?

 

[crazyrabbits]

This is what I don't understand. They put so much effort into things like this for nothing. All that time could be put into creating something original that people could actually get behind. It doesn't have to be drastically different from the original game. Just make it more of an homage with your own flair and fans will still enjoy it.

It's just the way fans are. You get so invested into a franchise or property that you begin believing you have some say over the direction/endgoal/etc. Not that it's a bad thing, but anyone looking to create a fan remake should seriously weigh their legal options first and figure out if it's worth the time investment, or otherwise keep mum about it until the product is actually released.