Did Games Workshop give up on trying to own the term Space Marine already?

Since December , you have n’t been capable to grease one’s palms M.C.A. Hogarth ’s book Spots the Space Marine : Defense of the Fiddler on Amazon , because Games Workshop claimed it owned the trademark on the phrase “ space shipboard soldier ” due to its popular Warhammer 40 K games . As far as we know , Games Workshop ’s lawyers have n’t stopped making nonsensical claims about make a “ common law trademark ” to a idiomatic expression that buy the farm back to the 1930s . But Hogarth ’s Koran has quietlyreappeared on Amazon . Which mean either someone at Amazon has examine sentiency , or Games Workshop decided to try and back down quiet . We wrote to Hogarth and have n’t heard back , but this does appear to be sound tidings .

Update : Games Workshop is still stupefy to their “ trademark ” thing . Theyposted the following to their Facebook page :

Games Workshop owns and protects many worthful trademarks in a turn of territories and classes across the world . For object lesson , ‘ Warhammer ’ and ‘ Space Marine ’ are registered stylemark in a number of classes and dominion . In some other territories and form they are unregistered hallmark protect by commercial use . Whenever we are informed of , or otherwise discover , a commercially uncommitted mathematical product whose form of address is or uses a Games Workshop trademark without our consent , we have no choice but to take fairish action . We would be failing in our responsibility to our shareholder if we did not protect our property .

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To be well-defined , Games Workshop has never claimed to own words or phrases such as ‘ warhammer ’ or ‘ space devil dog ’ as regards their general use in routine life , for example within a body of prose . By example , although Games Workshop clearly possess many registered trademarks for the Warhammer brand , we do not claim to own the Logos ‘ warhammer ’ in vulgar use as a hand arm .

Trademarks as contradict to use of a news in prose or everyday language are two very unlike things . Games Workshop is always vigilant in protect the former , but never make any call to have the latter .

Update # 2 : Apparentlyit was the Electronic Frontier Foundation that got the book reinstate on Amazon . consort to a post on the EFF ’s site :

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We were able to interpose and , to Amazon ’s cite , the company reviewed the title and doctor the book . allow ’s desire Games Workshop will now have the just sense to realize the bullying has to stop .

We ’re pleased that Amazon did the right thing here , and that we were able to help . And we ’re also pleased that so many internet user got involved to support Ms. Hogarth . Together , we ship a sign : Trademark bullies will not be support online .

But the piece of work is not yet done : this is just one instance of a much bigger “ weak link ” problem that imperils on-line speech and commerce . Offline , most effectual users can ignore improper stylemark threats , because the bullies will likely have the beneficial sensation not to test the matter in court and have trivial resort through third parties . In the Internet setting , however , individuals and organizations rely on service providers to help them communicate with the world and sell their products and services ( YouTube , Facebook , eBay , Amazon.com , etc . ) . A hallmark complaint directed to one of those third - party provider can mean a fast and easy takedown – as it did here .

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