Map Ownership

[Landmine]

To start off, I don't see a more accurate place to put this. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I've been wondering, would Blizzard own each map created with the world editor? Checked the "Agreement" with little success in my search.

Second, would they own any ideas/concepts regarding the map, or are they just limited the the map itself (essentially, do they own the map and everything connected to the map, or just the map).

If you don't understand, or wish for a summary: Would Blizzard have the rights to sue a company that creates a game based on a map that was created in the world editor (though I guess that would mean other companies could sue Blizzard for owning property copied off theirs)?

 

[Parrothead]

To start off, I don't see a more accurate place to put this. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I've been wondering, would Blizzard own each map created with the world editor? Checked the "Agreement" with little success in my search.

Second, would they own any ideas/concepts regarding the map, or are they just limited the the map itself (essentially, do they own the map and everything connected to the map, or just the map).

If you don't understand, or wish for a summary: Would Blizzard have the rights to sue a company that creates a game based on a map that was created in the world editor (though I guess that would mean other companies could sue Blizzard for owning property copied off theirs)?

I wouldn't think so because HoN and LoL are both based off of DotA essentially.

 

[Evil_Redneck]

I believe I have read somewhere that the world editor and all components are copyright to Blizzard. I can't say where I've read it but I could swear I've seen it somewhere.

For your question, if you base a game off of a map from warcraft 3, as long as you don't use the world editor to actually publish the game, I don't think they will be able to sue. A similar case would be LoL, it's greatly based off of dota, but it uses its own little system as far as I know, so they are fine. And even if you did use World Editor and worked from there as long as you didn't charge money for the end product I doubt they would even bother sueing.

 

[GhostThruster]

A more accurate place to put this would be the World Editor Help Zone. Map Development, is for, well, developing a map. You're just asking a question.

First, no. Does an ice-cream man own the ice-cream that you bought?

Second, they don't own any of your ideas and concepts or your map. They only own the WE and WC3.

Last, no they don't have the right, otherwise the creators of chess could come back to life and sue all the makers of the Chess games on computer(which one of them was made by Blizzard -Battlechess).

 

[jsheph03]

Nice way to put it. Lol