|
|
 |
|
|
Pages: 1
bnetd Project Shut Down By Blizzard
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)
Posted by: TotalRecall
bnetd is an alternative to Battle.net which allows users to host servers which emulate the Battle.net online gaming service enviroment. Yesterday, Blizzard Entertainment sent a letter to bnetd's host notifying them of a violation of the DMCA:
Dear Sir or Madam:
This letter is to notify you, pursuant to the provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, that we believe one of your customers is infringing Blizzard Entertainment's, a division of Vivendi Universal Games, Inc. ("VUG"), copyrighted materials. Specifically, Blizzard Entertainment is the owner of the copyright for the computer games Diablo(r) II and StarCraft(r) and the multi-player server software run by Blizzard Entertainment on its Battle.net(r) site. The following site hosts and/or distributes software that violates Blizzard Entertainment's copyright: http://www.bnetd.org/ <http://www.bnetd.org/>
The aforementioned site either hosts or distributes software which illegally modifies and/or alters Blizzard Entertainment copyrighted software or bypasses anti-circumvention technology, thereby infringing upon Blizzard Entertainment copyrights. Accordingly, Blizzard Entertainment demands that you act expeditiously to remove, or disable access to, the web page listed above in order for you to claim a safe harbor under the DMCA from liability for contributory and vicarious copyright infringement. Please immediately delete or disable access to this web page and remove its contents from view.
Should you have any questions, please contact the undersigned at piracy@blizzard.com or 949-955-1380 extension 1616.
As of now, the project is not challenging the charge and all files on http://www.bnetd.org have been blocked.
Posted by: Kdr Kane
Frankly, I've read the DCMA. I don't see how it applies in this case.
The DCMA protects copyrighted material from being decrypted or hacked. bnetd provided an alternative server for users to play games on. The code was independently developed. If they were doing something other than this, I'd like to know what they did.
In my opinion, Vivendi Universal and Blizzard Entertainment are using their muscle and nobody can defend themselves.
Next thing you know, they will get a new executive that thinks OTS.net is an infringement on their property. Then where would we be? We couldn't oppose them either if we received a letter.
Posted by: Darky!
Surewe could. I'm sure one of us is friends with a high priced never-looses-a-case lawyers, or one visits this site. We could get them to "flex" back.
Posted by: TotalRecall
I don't really see it as a case that cannot be easily won, but one that would require a lot of time.
I'm sure one of us could defend the site if it ever comes to that, but I really don't see why it ever would. Open Tech Support does not only refer to Battle.net channel.
Posted by: Gunslinger
I can see us pressured to change the name of the site in the future, but little else.
And, I'm with Kane. Unless they directly reverse-engineered Blizzard's battle.net server software, then there is no issue with the DMCA.
What *is* an issue, however, is the modification to the code which is required to allow Warcraft 3 beta functionality on the bnetd emulated server. They could likely serve a letter about a copyright violation there, but that wouldn't effect the bnetd operation as a whole, just one aspect of it.
I too am confused by this, and am curious as to what grounds Blizzard actually has in this case.
Posted by: SKYHN
Whats the big deal with this? LOD is playable on Heat.net as an alternative to bnet. Same thing with Starcraft, Warcraft II and Diablo.
Posted by: Gunslinger
But heat.net does not actually emulate the battle.net server environment. Their code is their own. The interface seen with bnetd is "identical" to that seen on battle.net (which may actually be grounds for copyright issues, now that I think about it). Also, heat.net does not require you to modify the code of the game in any way to be functional.
The same thing goes for kali. It War2, Starcraft, and Diablo 1. It doesn't emulate anything that is a Blizzard copyright and it doesn't modify/reverse engineer any Blizzard code.
In the case of the Warcraft 3 beta, bnetd is doing this. That is why bnetd is subject to attack and services like heat.net and kali are not.
Posted by: Null Actor
bnetd violates the DMCA because it allows people to get around the copy protection used by battle.net, namely cdkeys.
If you play on battle.net, you require a valid, unique cd key. If you play on bnetd, you can use a pirated copy without a valid cdkey.
That's where the issue lies.
On all the other services, they either emulate lans or act as a TCP/IP matching service, and have nothing to do with cdkeys or battle.net service.
Posted by: Ion Silverbolt
Blizzard should worry more about getting their servers stable. Then there wouldn't be people trying to make their own battle.net in the first place..
Posted by: Null Actor
Actually, this whole thing started with bnetd being modified to carry the warcraft III beta, thus allowing anyone to play, even without proper cdkeys.
Posted by: tkron
Interesting side note
Only Diable 2, LoD (I am not sure of the soon to be released Warcraft 3) actually run on their server when you run closed games.
Diablo, SC, BW and Warcraft 2 BNE only use the Battle net as a place where people wanting to play games together can meet. Once the game is started it is run on the creators computer and the other players computers communicate directly to the computer hosting (the games creator) the game. Yje battle net is not needed once the game is started. In the case of SC/BW/WC2 the battle.net is kept informed as to the outcome of the game when the game ends, so that win and loss records of the players may be tracked.
Although I doubt that any service currently does this, any non battlenet server could be abused by its creator to steal legitimate cd keys.
Posted by: Maverick
Isnt it in the Battle.Net TOS Policy it somewhere says something about not creating any alternatives to the Battle.Net service? I can look into that, but I do beleive it says that.
Posted by: Kdr Kane
That maybe a valid point.
But, what does that have to do with the threat of the DMCA?
Posted by: Null Actor
 Quote:
Originally posted by Nova Z
bnetd violates the DMCA because it allows people to get around the copy protection used by battle.net, namely cdkeys.
|
Posted by: Kdr Kane
I read your post. I ignored it the same way the bnetd servers ignored the CD key. That doesn't make bnetd responsible for someone using a CD with an invalid key.
We just have a difference of opinion on this.
That's like a company saying they own the software after I paid for it. They can claim it's a license all they want. But, I bought that software. It's mine unless they reimburse me for it. I don't see reimbursement anywhere in any license agreement.
Posted by: Null Actor
The point is that the cdkey is the limit on making sure that you don't give the game to all your friends. It means that despite the fact that you've purchased the game, it makes sure that your copy is the only one using the added multiplayer features of the game that battle.net offers.
The suit isn't to stop a legal user from using bnetd, it's to stop bnetd from allowing illegal users to use it.
Arguably, that is the main (and intended) use of bnetd for warcraft III beta.
Note that blizzard did not have any problem with bnetd until it was used mainly as a tool for the piracy of a LIMITED BETA. There were supposed to be 1000 copies of the beta (or whatever). As it is now, there are thousands more playing ILLEGALLY on bnetd.
Had they NOT added support for a NON-PUBLICLY AVAILABLE program, I'd figure that bnetd would still be just fine right now.
Posted by: Kdr Kane
*yawn*
I don't plan on buying any more Blizzard games. I wasted my money on Diablo II. I want my money back on that game.
Posted by: SKYHN
I dont know if Ill ever buy another blizzard game either. Im tempted on WCIII. There better be a demo playable on the net before the game comes out, theres no way I would buy it without playing it first.
I dont like Warcraft much anyways. I would buy a new Starcraft game though.
Posted by: Null Actor
Like I've been telling others: Don't say it unless you mean it.
If everyone did as they said and quit purchasing blizzard products, blizzard would eventually get the message.
However, I have no doubt that most people will run out and buy WC3, or WoW, or SC2 or D3 or whatever, like lemmings.
|
|
|
|
|
