First off, the whole idea that Warcraft was originally Warhammer is just wrong. Some Warcraft artists took inspiration from Warhammer (but didn't directly copy it), and Blizzard's (well, Blizzards' old company's) CEO tried to get a deal to brand the game with Warhammer (which never happened) ... but the game never meant to copy Warhammer or be a Warhammer game.
Second, if it was so easy to prove that Warhammer copied Warhammer ... why didn't GW sue them?
GW is so notoriously litigious then why I asked Google "Is GW litigious?" I got this:
Quote:
Yes, Games Workshop is litigious, having recently filed a large lawsuit against online sellers for Warhammer intellectual property infringement and facing scrutiny for aggressive tactics and broad claims of copyright and trademark violations against its fan base and other entities. Similarly, The George Washington University has been involved in recent litigation, including a settlement for a breach of contract class-action lawsuit and an ongoing Department of Justice investigation into antisemitic discrimination.
Games Workshop (GW)
Aggressive IP Enforcement: GW has a reputation for being litigious, filing a significant lawsuit in early 2025 against hundreds of online sellers for trademark and copyright infringement related to Warhammer products.
Broad Claims: The company's lawsuits have targeted a wide range of items, including counterfeit miniatures, logos on products, and even related merchandise like 3D-printed helmets, cosplay gear, or items with the "Warhammer" name.
Criticism: Critics and content creators have accused GW of using aggressive, potentially predatory legal tactics, with some lawsuits being deemed baseless and causing financial damage to innocent parties.
Previous Legal Setbacks: A 2010 lawsuit established that GW could not claim copyright over products they do not produce, such as the concept of "myetic spores".
|