Article: New conversion kit releases from Chapterhousestudios.com
- Thread starter Trevor
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chapterhousestudios
New member
Fortunately not, all the Vehicle doors and kits are done in 3D design, so they arent recast with new sculpt on them, they are totally distinct designs.
The same is said with the shoulder pads, these were mostly done in 3D design and printed up. Arrows and simple geometrics (pointed arrows etc) are free reign and cannot be copyrighted.
The Plated Armor pad is so simple and from history as well (look at plated samurai armor) it is public domain as well.
We have stayed away from distinct GW created designs, thats why you wont see a Blood Angel icon reproduced in exactness.
In case GW tries to throw the weight around we have legal council as well.
We try to be as much in the right way legally as we can.
The same is said with the shoulder pads, these were mostly done in 3D design and printed up. Arrows and simple geometrics (pointed arrows etc) are free reign and cannot be copyrighted.
The Plated Armor pad is so simple and from history as well (look at plated samurai armor) it is public domain as well.
We have stayed away from distinct GW created designs, thats why you wont see a Blood Angel icon reproduced in exactness.
In case GW tries to throw the weight around we have legal council as well.
We try to be as much in the right way legally as we can.
If you look at GW\'s legal info on their website, you\'ll notice the following at the bottom of page four. Under the heading \'Model Conversion Kits\':
We do not allow unlicensed third parties to manufacture or produce conversion kits for our models. We need to be able to control our products and all derivatives thereto in order that we produce quality products for years to come.
I hope your legal team is good...
Link to GW legal info
We do not allow unlicensed third parties to manufacture or produce conversion kits for our models. We need to be able to control our products and all derivatives thereto in order that we produce quality products for years to come.
I hope your legal team is good...
Link to GW legal info
chapterhousestudios
New member
Sigh... when will people understand...
That is GWs Legal POLICY, just because they post something there, does not mean it is enforcible in a court of law.
Nowhere on that page do they refer to any IP Law or Acts in the US or the UK.
GW can list on thier site, that if you buy thier minis you cant play them in any other game system. That doesnt make it a law just because they say its thier policy.
People please do some REAL research into IP law, not just reading a companies policy, which cannot be forced upon anyone.
That is why people are so afraid of GW, they dont understand Country laws are different from a Companies policy.
That is GWs Legal POLICY, just because they post something there, does not mean it is enforcible in a court of law.
Nowhere on that page do they refer to any IP Law or Acts in the US or the UK.
GW can list on thier site, that if you buy thier minis you cant play them in any other game system. That doesnt make it a law just because they say its thier policy.
People please do some REAL research into IP law, not just reading a companies policy, which cannot be forced upon anyone.
That is why people are so afraid of GW, they dont understand Country laws are different from a Companies policy.
DrEvilmonki
Active member
I\'m sorry but you are simply trying to ride on GW\'s coat tails. You clearly state that the conversion kits are for GW material and are therefore infringing on there IP. They invented the salamander chapter, you are trying to profiteer off it. You clearly state that you have made SpaceMArine shoulder pads NOT samurai armour additions.
Then you act like other people are ignorant because they can see your blatant commercial rip off. Not often I hope someone gets their arses sued but heres an exception.
Then you act like other people are ignorant because they can see your blatant commercial rip off. Not often I hope someone gets their arses sued but heres an exception.
chapterhousestudios
New member
Wow...
The only thing we are doing is making conversion kits for peoples 40K armies. There is no law against doing that, in fact we are trying our best (and we have a lawyer to guide us) to not copy GWs IP.
The law lets companies make aftermarket parts, as long as you dont copy whole models or specific icons.
Sorry if you are offended, but if you dont like the stuff we make, do not buy it.
We wont make anything GW already makes, as that makes no business sense, it would be a waste of resources and time and illegal.
People are free to make anything they want that fits on anything and sell it as long as they dont copy IP.
A door isnt IP
A shoulder pad shape isnt IP
A dragon head isnt IP
saying \"Shoulder Pad for Space Marines\" is perfectly fine in commercial law.
If you do not like that idea, dont play any GW games.
Why? They stole the Chaos Compass-Star from an Author.
They pretty much copied Tolkiens Orcs, Elves etc.
Stuff is inspired, accept it or dont play any GW stuff. They didnt pay Tolkien to use elves or orcs.
Jeesh
The only thing we are doing is making conversion kits for peoples 40K armies. There is no law against doing that, in fact we are trying our best (and we have a lawyer to guide us) to not copy GWs IP.
The law lets companies make aftermarket parts, as long as you dont copy whole models or specific icons.
Sorry if you are offended, but if you dont like the stuff we make, do not buy it.
We wont make anything GW already makes, as that makes no business sense, it would be a waste of resources and time and illegal.
People are free to make anything they want that fits on anything and sell it as long as they dont copy IP.
A door isnt IP
A shoulder pad shape isnt IP
A dragon head isnt IP
saying \"Shoulder Pad for Space Marines\" is perfectly fine in commercial law.
If you do not like that idea, dont play any GW games.
Why? They stole the Chaos Compass-Star from an Author.
They pretty much copied Tolkiens Orcs, Elves etc.
Stuff is inspired, accept it or dont play any GW stuff. They didnt pay Tolkien to use elves or orcs.
Jeesh
Roger Bunting
New member
I\'m not going to talk about the IP thing, I\'ll say something else.
I like the vehicle upgrades and they look to be decent quality but unfortunately the metal shoulder pads are poor quality casting.
I like the vehicle upgrades and they look to be decent quality but unfortunately the metal shoulder pads are poor quality casting.
chapterhousestudios
New member
Let me appologize for those photos. I have heard your concern before from people looking on the website, but up close they are much better (up close pewters always look bad, no matter the site).
I wanted to get them up ASAP and those are the roughs, aka prototypes, they are uncleaned etc.
We have had a ton of compliments on the actual pewter models and bits that we sell, mold lines are near non existant, etc.
When the painted and cleaned bits are shown, you ll see a world of difference.
I wanted to get them up ASAP and those are the roughs, aka prototypes, they are uncleaned etc.
We have had a ton of compliments on the actual pewter models and bits that we sell, mold lines are near non existant, etc.
When the painted and cleaned bits are shown, you ll see a world of difference.
DrEvilmonki
Active member
Tolkein didn\'t invent Elves or orcs, GW DID invent the Salamander space marine chapter and 40k. Of course it is derivative but YOU clearly state in the titles on your webpage that what you are selling is based on GW IP. It is simply bizzare to then turn around and say that you are producing generic bits that have nothing to do with GW IP.
chapterhousestudios
New member
OK, so we did start the company to flesh out Salamanders for our personal use. I dont get why you are stuck on that fact, you can call them salamander, dragon, drake whatever. I call them Salamander so those gamers who do want salamander stuff can google it and find it.
GW has ignored the Salamanders, all we did was create our own dragon bits to fill the empty spot.
GW has ignored the Salamanders, all we did was create our own dragon bits to fill the empty spot.
DrEvilmonki
Active member
Forgeworld (a GW owned company) have extensive conversion kits for the salamanders so in fact you are directly competing with GW using their own IP.
I don\'t give a rats about you or your company to be honest but your \"we have a lawyer and none of you understand IP\" crap just pissed me off. You are clearly trying to profit directly from GW\'s IP and that is clearly a violation of copyright.
chapterhousestudios
New member
You are wrong, why?
Forge World makes 3 Salamander items, a terminator pad set, a 3 piece rhino door set and a 3 piece land raider door set.
Look at our items, our rhino set includes many more pieces then 3 doors. Same with our Land Raider set, its a huge kit compared to the 3 doors.
We have made completely NEW designs that incorporate a dragon head, and it doesnt look all that much like the GW head, a bit different in fact.
Again, you cry IP infringement, but all I see is a dragon style and we say our items CAN BE used to represent salamanders. Where exactly is the copyright violation?
You can say copyright violation all day, but that does not mean its true.
Why is it you insist on witch-hunting our company when there our tons of artist who paint, custom modify and sculpt using GW ideas and fiction right here on this forum? Do you do the same to them?
If you want to believe we are violating IP and copyright laws, I cant change your mind obviously you know more about it then I do.
Forge World makes 3 Salamander items, a terminator pad set, a 3 piece rhino door set and a 3 piece land raider door set.
Look at our items, our rhino set includes many more pieces then 3 doors. Same with our Land Raider set, its a huge kit compared to the 3 doors.
We have made completely NEW designs that incorporate a dragon head, and it doesnt look all that much like the GW head, a bit different in fact.
Again, you cry IP infringement, but all I see is a dragon style and we say our items CAN BE used to represent salamanders. Where exactly is the copyright violation?
You can say copyright violation all day, but that does not mean its true.
Why is it you insist on witch-hunting our company when there our tons of artist who paint, custom modify and sculpt using GW ideas and fiction right here on this forum? Do you do the same to them?
If you want to believe we are violating IP and copyright laws, I cant change your mind obviously you know more about it then I do.
DrEvilmonki
Active member
Well that is true. As to witch hunting your company - well first if I was going on a wicth hunt wiccanpony would kick my arse, but more importantly I would go on every forum I could find and bad mouth you, I would ensure GW were aware of what you are doing and I would generally make as much noise as I could. All I am actually doing is replying to your posts in this thread.
And it is because you are clearly mass producing a product for commercial gain that I dislike. Others on this website convert and paint individual pieces for the most and don\'t tend to use the news section to promote themselves.
Of course now it is also just for the fun because you obviously are getting all pissy and I find that amusing.
chapterhousestudios
New member
Well do what you want, I learned a while back, that people on the internet cant always be expected to act like responsible adults.
To save you some time, yep GW knows about us, but also they know we probably make them more money then we ever take, every shoulder pad someone buys needs a GW model to be put on as well as the tanks.
Am I Pissy, nope, realizing it is true that some people are just there try to make other people miserable and get attention to themselves, oh yeah.
To save you some time, yep GW knows about us, but also they know we probably make them more money then we ever take, every shoulder pad someone buys needs a GW model to be put on as well as the tanks.
Am I Pissy, nope, realizing it is true that some people are just there try to make other people miserable and get attention to themselves, oh yeah.
DrEvilmonki
Active member
lol I am drawing attention to myself? seems you are the only one who is tking any notice. Your points are simply illogical and nonsense. People wont be buying space marines just to put your stuff on. They would buy them anyway and GW knows it.
Nietzschie
New member
To get away from the banter back and forth, I have to say that I took a look at the site and was rather pleased with what I saw. While the photos of the product are a bit rough, the items aren\'t that bad. As for the whole battle about IP infringement, I have to side with Chapter House on this one. After all, how many third party controllers are out there for the latest console system. You\'re simply filling a niche that people have the option to utilize. I look forward to seeing your other products in the future and hope to see you expand into other armies. Cheers
Bignastyshark
New member
Some of your stuff is actually very nice but the shoulder pads are lacking im afraid, the roman numerals are a little lack luster after all the time taken for the doors etc and you appear to have ruched the shoulder pads,
I can also see the point drevilmonki is making, for nearly every item on your site you have a GW reference, i sincerely hope you have strong legal support as you say, but good luck to you
Iain.
I can also see the point drevilmonki is making, for nearly every item on your site you have a GW reference, i sincerely hope you have strong legal support as you say, but good luck to you
Iain.
chapterhousestudios
New member
Well the numbered pads are pretty much just a easy thing to do that we wanted to do.
I think we may do another set with what we have learned (we did 90% of the numbered pads work in 3D design) and do one with a cooler font for the numbers.
I have been debating on doing rhino doors and hatchs with Arrows for the different squad types, but I think it would be easier and cheaper for the gamer to have glue on Tactical, Assault and Devestator markings for the tanks.
Nick
I think we may do another set with what we have learned (we did 90% of the numbered pads work in 3D design) and do one with a cooler font for the numbers.
I have been debating on doing rhino doors and hatchs with Arrows for the different squad types, but I think it would be easier and cheaper for the gamer to have glue on Tactical, Assault and Devestator markings for the tanks.
Nick
