The Matrix

[Sean of the Thread]

Having found myself bored with WoW recently I was thinking of trying out the new mmorpg The Matrix.

Does anyone know if this article has any merit?

http://www.hotghettomess.com/not.htm

[Apotheosis]

Wow, it should.. If this case actually happened, it should be in the AP or some other news agency.. I'll do some detective work now..

[Fission]

Sounds like BS... the Matrix and the Terminator series had nothing to do with each other, and if anything, the Terminator borrowed more from Philip K. Dick, if anyone.

:thumbsdown:

[Apotheosis]

http://www.slccglobelink.com/news/2004/10/28/

You have to register (free), but it appears that the case is describer further.

Basically, the point is, that all attempts by the defendants to have the case dismissed have failed, so the case itself, vs. whether there is an actual claim to copyright infringement still has to go to court.

Still, not much information in the press regarding this issue, which is fairly interesting, but that publicity in itself is not good for the defendants, and they're the ones with the big $$$

[Fission]

This is hardly an uncommon thing, any time a franchise hits it big somebody wanting to dip their hands into deep pockets comes out saying the idea was stolen from them. J.K. Rowling has been getting the same sort of BS claims, for example, about how she stole everything from Harry Potter.

The Matrix and Terminator claims are tenuous at best, based on similarities between machine intelligences controlling the world. Of course she was the first and only one to ever think of such a concept. :rolleyes:

Guess she should sue Saberhagen over the Berserker stories, too. Oh, and the folks behind Robotron: 2084 video game, and Adam Warren for the Central Computer in his Dirty Pair stories, and countless others. Because they all obviously stole from her, too. Pfft.

:thumbsdown:

[Pallon]

Originally posted by Fission
Sounds like BS... the Matrix and the Terminator series had nothing to do with each other


Except for that minor part about sentient machines trying to stop a messianic figure who is prophesied to one day overturn their rule of the planet

[AnticorRifling]

One word;

TRON.

[Artha]

Industry Rule #4,081, movie industry people are shady too.
This site wins for the Tribe reference.

[Hulkein]

Cool article, but she says AOL Time Warner owns 95% of the media.... I don't think that's accurate.

[YancyDC]

The article has some merit, but she'll probably never be able to take it too far.

Matrix Online is pretty fun, I never played WoW because I get enough of the fantasy setting from GS, though.

[Fission]

She'd have probably had better luck just going after the Matrix.
Trouble is, Cameron was already actioned against for the Terminator, for borrowing liberally from some of Harlan Ellison's work.

The pieces in question, (Soldier , and arguably, Demon with a Glass Hand) predate her script by like 14 years. If she somehow actually wins, maybe Harlan Ellison should sue her for being derivative as well.

:yes:

[Apotheosis]

Well, the courts saw no reason to dismiss the case, so if they can prove infringement, then things should be ruled in her favor.

You fail to notice that when dealing with general storylines, that would be a reason to dismiss, as the 'overall' theme isn't necessarily protected by copyright, BUT, if names, characters, and events, as well as other details, present themselves, that in of itself could very well prove infringement.

Obviously, if she sent the script in to them, too, then there is a good chance that they stole her concept.

FINALLY, if they prove they were referring to her ORIGINAL material.. she's got a case too.

[Fission]

So... if the theft of her original work by 'the man' and their tools in the media was that clear-cut, why didn't she sue immediately after the first Terminator came out? Why instead wait for years upon years, for the release of further movies by different companies and the release of the Matrix Trilogy as well?

:?:

[Apotheosis]

Originally posted by Fission
So... if the theft of her original work by 'the man' and their tools in the media was that clear-cut, why didn't she sue immediately after the first Terminator came out? Why instead wait for years upon years, for the release of further movies by different companies and the release of the Matrix Trilogy as well?

:?:

I don't know anything about the terminator, but I am assuming that both cases are separate.

The case went public in 2003/2004.
Cases such as these take years to build, gather evidence, etc..

[Fission]

The whole thing about the evil monolithic giant that is Time Warner burying her stories is kind of silly, too. Maybe she should write a script about that, while she's at it.

Warner Bros. does the Harry Potter movies which also make tons and tons of money for them, and yet somehow their godly might couldn't suppress the stories from those claiming J.K. Rowling stole their work, go figure.

:tissue:

[Apotheosis]

Originally posted by Fission
The whole thing about the evil monolithic giant that is Time Warner burying her stories is kind of silly, too. Maybe she should write a script about that, while she's at it.

Warner Bros. does the Harry Potter movies which also make tons and tons of money for them, and yet somehow their godly might couldn't suppress the stories from those claiming J.K. Rowling stole their work, go figure.

:tissue:

so? how many of those people actually took this issue to court and went on trial. Since there was no dismissal of the case right off, apparently there's enough substance to this case to give it some taxpayers money.

I guess we'll find out when all this goes to trial