Topic: RockStar a bunch of hypocrites?

[GoldenPhoenix]

RockStar threatened to sue over Grand Theft Scratchy poster in new Simpsons game. Talk about a bunch of hypocrites, they complain about censorship yet freak out when someone parodies their series. It isn't clear yet, but they may have forced EA to take out the whole level based on it, or just the poster. Regardless what a double standard, coming from someone who parodies stuff like crazy.

[that Baby guy]

Sitar Hero!

Yeah, Rockstar looks to be as you describe them.  Parody is completely legal, and that poster/level is not going to harm their game sales one bit.  They just think they're better than everyone else.

[ThePerm]

thatguy correctly put it, Parody falls into fair ground and is completely legal.

[BranDonk Kong]

Well then the director of Scarface needs to sue Rockstar for the BLATANT chainsaw scene ripoff in GTA Vice City, and the state of New York should sue Rockstar for their parody of the state in GTA3 and Liberty City Stories, and "blank" should sue Rockstar for ripping off "blank", etc...

[Plugabugz]

Nintendo should parody something of theirs and them watch Rockstar sue. They should then counter-sue saying we'll only settle if all future games are on our platform, profitable or not.

[ThePerm]

also we must remember take 2 is bleeding money, litigation is a money maker

[Stogi]

not if you lose....

[GoldenPhoenix]

Well it is official. EA has changed the name from Grand Theft Scratchy to Mob Rules.

Here it is

[couchmonkey]

Looks like the lawyers won this one. :{

[GoldenPhoenix]

This story is even more odd now that I've been playing the game because you can see Grand Theft Scratchy posters all over. The one level "mob rules" is an early level but there is also one titled "Grand Theft Scratch" near the end of the game. So I'm not sure how accurate this is anymore because I have seen it in the game.

[Ceric]

Parody is Fair Use.  They should have stuck with there guns but I can see that they probably did it out of courtesy so they don't get with one of there games associated with the killing of ladies of the night.

[LuigiHann]

The impression that I get is that it's totally okay to use the parody within the game, but using it in advertisements is problematic.  

[Chozo Ghost]

Quote
Originally posted by: Ceric
Parody is Fair Use.  They should have stuck with there guns but I can see that they probably did it out of courtesy so they don't get with one of there games associated with the killing of ladies of the night.

Bingo. Otherwise Weird Al would be out of a job.

[couchmonkey]

Quote
Originally posted by: Chozo Ghost

Quote
Originally posted by: Ceric
Parody is Fair Use.  They should have stuck with there guns but I can see that they probably did it out of courtesy so they don't get with one of there games associated with the killing of ladies of the night.

Bingo. Otherwise Weird Al would be out of a job.

Well, technically Weird Al asks for permission before he does anything, but you're right.

My bet is that the lawyers and execs didn't want to get into a dust-up with Rockstar over it, and the developers went along with it.  Sure they could win a legal battle over this but EA is a big, faceless corporation with better things to do than defend artistic freedom.

[Coffee&Cigarettes]

http://kotaku.com/gaming/top/ea-content-for-grand-theft-scratchy-has-not-been-removed-317789.php

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: Coffee&Cigarettes
http://kotaku.com/gaming/top/ea-content-for-grand-theft-scratchy-has-not-been-removed-317789.php

Still doesn't say WHAT happened exactly, I wouldn't be surprised if Rockstar did complain at one point.

[Darkheart]

I thought they got them to remove advertising posters out of retailers of Grand Theft Scratchy and let them keep the in game stuff alone. . .