Heroquest returns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[beefcake]

I would have thought that the people that hold the rights to he name me would have heard about this earlier, it was fairly common knowledge around the water cooler. I hope they didn't know and weren't just waiting until it had garnered a. Lot of publicity before throwing the spanner in the works.

[Momotaro]

Moon Design Publishing has released a statement.  Apparently Gamezone approached MDP, asking to license the trademark.  MDP asked for certain assurances, which were never given, and so MDP wrote them a letter explicitly refusing permission to use the Heorquest trademark in the US.  Gamezone went ahead with the Kickstarter anyway.

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/1079761/moon-design-publications-official-statement-on-gam

As Kickstarter is a American company, MDP asked them to suspend the campaign due to a trademark infringement in the US.

Sounds to me like Moon Design are doing it right, and Gamezone are... not.

[Lord GreyWolf]

Ouch! so glad I pulled my pledge before all of this went down.

Quite surprised it took this long for it to get a C&D.
It didn't feel right to me from day 1.

It would be great if it gets made but I am not holding my breath.

LGW

[Arthadan]

New statement from Gamezone:

"GAMEZONE Communiqué, Saturday 30

We would like to inform you all about the present situation, after the pause of our Kickstarter project by Moon Design P. during the thanksgiving holiday, which is an administrative petition within Kickstarter.

Yesterday, Friday, at the start of the day, U.S. east coast time, we sent a letter to Kickstarter, LINK invoking our legitimate trademark rights so they would deactivate the pause and let us progress in the fund raising campaign. We are waiting for Kickstarter’s reply on this matter.

Simultaneously we, Gamezone and Moon Design P., had a reunion to discuss this issue face to face as and not email exchange as was what was happening up till now.

Moon Design P. solicited the pause in Kickstarter because of fear that Hasbro could act against Gamezone in our crowed funding because we are using an American company on American soil. Their argument was that Hasbro could act against them as well for not impeding us in this project. Even thought they are not in any way included in this project or affiliated with it.

If Kickstarter does not reactivate the pause taking into account our letter ( indicated above in the link), then it can only be reactivated if Moon Design P. asks them to. For Moon Design P. to do so they are asking for two things: An official letter from Hasbro in which it states that they, Hasbro, will neither act against our HQ25th nor Moon Design P. They, Moon Design P., have also demanded a considerable sum and percentages from the Kickstarter project.

If we wait for Hasbro to make a declaration, which we can solicit, weeks or even months could pass. With that our production and creation calendar would be severely affected, as not having the funding to continue the campaign.

If the Campaign does not restart soon, the HQ25th will not be ready for Christmas 2014. It will not be ready to celebrate its anniversary.

There exist 3 possible solutions to this conundrum.

1. Kickstarter reactivates the project attending to our petition
2. Wait for Hasbro to declare that they are not against this crowed funding campaign of HQ25th en Kickstarter (an American Company).
3. Immediately move the crowed funning to a platform within Europe, where no risks of legal repercussions exist.

Option one; we can only wait, we cannot be sure that Kickstarter will lift the pause. We cannot influence their decision any more than we have already.

Option two; Hasbro is not obligated to do anything at all.

Option three; here there is no risk, except of course we will raise less funds, no other platform out there at this moment has the same public pull as Kickstarter.

Why are we telling you this? As our backers, what would you like us to do?"

I think they should take the third option and be done with this at once.

[carlos13th]

I would have thought that the people that hold the rights to he name me would have heard about this earlier, it was fairly common knowledge around the water cooler. I hope they didn't know and weren't just waiting until it had garnered a. Lot of publicity before throwing the spanner in the works.

Kinda seems like they were so they could hold it hostage for royalties.

[GladioHumanitas]

GAMEZONE Communiqué, Saturday 30

We would like to inform you all about the present situation, after the pause of our Kickstarter project by Moon Design P. during the thanksgiving holiday, which is an administrative petition within Kickstarter.  

Yesterday, Friday, at the start of the day, U.S. east coast time, we sent a letter to Kickstarter, LINK invoking our legitimate trademark rights so they would deactivate the pause and let us progress in the fund raising campaign. We are waiting for Kickstarter’s reply on this matter.

Simultaneously we, Gamezone and Moon Design P., had a reunion to discuss this issue face to face as and not email exchange as was what was happening up till now.

Moon Design P. solicited the pause in Kickstarter because of fear that Hasbro could act against Gamezone in our crowed funding because we are using an American company on American soil. Their argument was that Hasbro could act against them as well for not impeding us in this project. Even thought they are not in any way included in this project or affiliated with it.

If Kickstarter does not reactivate the pause taking into account our letter ( indicated above in the link), then it can only be reactivated if Moon Design P. asks them to. For Moon Design P. to do so they are asking for two things: An official letter from Hasbro in which it states that they, Hasbro, will neither act against our HQ25th nor Moon Design P. They, Moon Design P., have also demanded a considerable sum and percentages from the Kickstarter project.

If we wait for Hasbro to make a declaration, which we can solicit, weeks or even months could pass. With that our production and creation calendar would be severely affected, as not having the funding to continue the campaign.

If the Campaign does not restart soon, the HQ25th will not be ready for Christmas 2014. It will not be ready to celebrate its anniversary.

There exist 3 possible solutions to this conundrum.  

    1.    Kickstarter reactivates the project attending to our petition
    2.    Wait for Hasbro to declare that they are not against this crowed funding campaign of HQ25th en Kickstarter (an American Company).
    3.    Immediately move the crowed funning to a platform within Europe, where no risks of legal repercussions exist.

Option one; we can only wait, we cannot be sure that Kickstarter will lift the pause. We cannot influence their decision any more than we have already.

Option two; Hasbro is not obligated to do anything at all.

Option three; here there is no risk, except of course we will raise less funds, no other platform out there at this moment has the same public pull as  Kickstarter.

Why are we telling you this? As our backers, what would you like us to do?

Now if I'm making any sense of this mess, Hasbro has the rights to the actual HeroQuest in the US of A.
BD is afraid that Hasbro will sue them if they don't stop GZ's KickStarter.
If Hasbro says they won't then BD will let the KickStarter continue if they get a "considerable sum and percentage of the KickStarter project".

So if I'm getting this mostly right here, BD wants a share of the cash to lift the ban on the GZ KickStarter despite not actually owning the copyright to the HeroQuest board/miniature game?
If anyone, shouldn't that money be going to Hasbro?

[Donpimpom]

well, looking at all those infos, to me all turns in one word, greed.
MDP's greed trying to get a slice from the KS kidnapping the project on a legal pirouette.
GZ's greed pulling the ropes too much doing a KS instead to use a european based crowdfunding
Result? HQ to hell and all losing

[Cherno]

well, looking at all those infos, to me all turns in one word, greed.
MDP's greed trying to get a slice from the KS kidnapping the project on a legal pirouette.
GZ's greed pulling the ropes too much doing a KS instead to use a european based crowdfunding
Result? HQ to hell and all losing

Welcome to the real world, where companies make money instead of providing free entertainment for their fans

HeroWreck 25th Anniversary 

[Calimero]

Can they just use Indiegogo instead of KS?

[Lord GreyWolf]

Can they just use Indiegogo instead of KS?

they can but it wouldn't get nearly as much coverage/backers/funds as Kickstarter would.

LGW

[beefcake]

I think indiegogo are based in San Francisco, so that would be a no for the same reason as kickstarter. 

[Calimero]

Well if they are both based in the US that's not of much help indeed... I really hope this problem will resolve soon though...

[Lord GreyWolf]

Well if they are both based in the US that's not of much help indeed... I really hope this problem will resolve soon though...

Indiegogo is Europe based so it would get around the "U.S" issue that is currently derailing the project.

with all of the hassle and issues I am glad I pulled my pledge.

LGW

[beefcake]

I checked their site. Under the careers area it seems to be asking for people to join a them based in San Francisco. 

[Penchour]

Pulled my pledge too: 1 week lost, with no clear perspective and no communication (even before it was suspended) ... Heroquest returns in the Limbo