Yesterday, Pokebeach got a message from a Nintendo lawyer asking to have all images of B/W Pokemon, gameplay, etc. removed from their website for "copyright infringement" issues. The lawyer mentioned the following:

"While Nintendo appreciates your interest in and support of the Pokémon game series, your publication of this content infringes Nintendo’s copyrights in violation of federal law. Your activity also and has the potential to cause substantial damage to Nintendo, and leaves Nintendo with no choice but to take steps to protect its intellectual property rights."

"We have accordingly submitted a copyright infringement notice to your domain registrar under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and anticipate that your website will be taken down shortly. We encourage you to immediately remove from your website all graphics, screenshots, and other protected content taken from the Pokémon Black and Pokémon White games. Going forward, you must also refrain from posting any screenshots, videos, or other content that infringes Nintendo’s rights in the Pokémon series or any other game."

"Your full and immediate compliance with the foregoing should render further action on Nintendo’s part unnecessary. It is essential that we receive your written response confirming that you have taken these necessary actions by Sunday, September 19, 12:00 p.m. PDT, however, or Nintendo will have no choice but to consider its alternative legal remedies."

According to Water Pokemon Master of PokeBeach, this lawyer will be making his rounds on all Pokemon-related websites and giving the same information. I find it advisable that we should take whatever precautions to prevent the lawyer from finding anything that Nintendo might have a problem with; as some of you might have already told, I've done my part and removed Tsutaaja, Yanappu, Kurumiru, and Shikijika from my sig.

That said, commentary on the B/W games are definitely allowed. That goes for art of fifth gen Pokemon that were created by someone other than
Nintendo.

Pokebeach has already complied to Nintendo's wishes; all B/W sprites have been replaced with Ditto, (The Isshu Pokedex only containes photos of a frowning Ditto), and all B/W Pokemon shown on the front page of Pokebeach had their faces replaced with Ditto.

It has not been told how long this ban will last; until the lawyer's threat remains in place, we should take whatever precautions we can to keep VR safe from harm.

Discuss.

Oh wooooooooooow. Talk about stupid. Really Nintendo?

I seriously think that is just a joke of some sort. Seems a bit fishy.

They probably don't want all these images released now. (Not sure why, since doesn't Serebii have a deal so they can get information/sprites waaaaay before anyone else?) It still doesn't change the fact that people will continue to use them, maybe more since they're considered illegal. xD Pokemon Black Market, ya'll!

Fans can't advertise for you, Nintendo? So I can't tell my friends to go buy a game, as that would be "copyright infringement", and "it has the potential to cause substantial damage to Nintendo", and could "leave Nintendo with no choice but to take steps to protect its intellectual property rights."

My God. You have to be kidding me.

Nintendo needs to realize that by allowing fans to see the game beforehand, from a fan to fan perspective, allows the fanbase to increase. I want to see a lot about B/W before I get it.

>.<

Man, this is unnecessary.

[IMHO] a screenshot would indicate that ROM is being used, as a photo of the DS would be obvious that it is a photo. So NOA is trying to find the people who use ROM's and tell them nicely to buy the game. [/IMHO]

If its not that then :WTF are you thinking Nintendo?!?! Why don't you piss off the people who buy your product? Yeah, that seems like a good idea. [/sarcasm]

にんてんどのアメレカばかです！

Yes, guys, like you, Water Pokemon Master is just as frustrated as you guys are. I mean, why are they worried about Pokemon being countered by free advertising if they got over a million pre-orders!? They're making tons of money through B/W.

*Something I found rather interesting: Out of annoyance, Water Pokemon Master changed the name of Pokebeach to "Pokerbeach", making a reference to calling the name "Pokemon" will cause substancial damage to Nintendo.

It's true here's some stuff that Archiac the head of Bulbapedia said were true

I found this the other day: http://kotaku.com/5585802/nintendo-d...-obsessed-fans

This is the fifth time I heard this copyright bullcrap this year:

• First, Viacom sues Youtube
• Then Square Enix shuts down all Chrono Trigger ROM hacks on the Chrono Compendium
• Next, a girl is silenced for singing a song for charity
• Then, false copyright claims suspend several Youtube accounts, especailly Chuggaconroy
• Now THIS

I'm laughing so hard at the people going out of their way to prove this is fake. Does it really matter? Who said this image ban is forever? This is why humanity is crumbling; because people can't wait over little pictures of things that don't exist! XDDD

why does nintendo try to hide what may be the best generation? I think it would be smarter to let the fans do whatever they want with the game info they'll still get the game (most likely)

Serebii has confirmed this to be true. He removed all kinds of images as well.

I still can't understand the reason behind it. It is unfair, as it never happened before.

I'm going to believe this is just an after effect of last generation's release. They're just being careful.

You have got to be kidding me, Nintendo. What 'substantial damage' are you talking about? I seriously can't believe that this is actually happening. Are you trying to lose some of your fans or what? This is just disappointing :/

Anyways, like Jason said, we need to be more patient because this is the only solution we have. Hopefully, towards the English release of Black & White, things will ease up and Nintendo will return back to its old self again.

(P.S: Should I remove all the links of the pictures in the leaks thread?)

Should I change my avy?

If I had to state a reason, I would say it's because the two sites were involved in posting illegally obtained information, such as that massive sprite leak of images taken from the game and for taking personal screenshots of the game before the release. In addition, PokéBeach was in hot water earlier this year involving some images taken in a movie theater. Notice that all the major gaming sites, like IGN and GameSpot, are still doing fine and have BW screenshots. Bulbapedia also hasn't received a cease and desist notice yet. I certainly believe that this was caused by illegal media that went beyond the fair use clause that Nintendo has stated in their corporate FAQ.

I really don't see a legit reason for this. Yes this may be "illegal", but didn't they give information to begin with. Without websites like serebii and floatzel I probably wouldn't even hear about B/W or even HG/SS until the it came out. But I was really surprised when learning about this. Me and many of my pokemon loving friends have learned about those games from those websites. So as i said before, I don't see a legit reason for this.


Pokemon B/W has gotten 1 million preorders alot because of these things. so stopping this may just lower the numbers of pre-orders in their next game

Oh Well

Someone should take this whole discussion and send it to nintendo.

Breakin' the law, breakin' the law

Does this mean I should remove the B/W sprites from my computer on Paint?

Chances are it is indeed fake. For one, legally, you must offer AT LEAST one week when it comes to warnings. Take the example of George Lucas sending a Cease and Desist order to the laser pointer company. Second, the grammar in the letter is off for an official letter. Thridly, this letter lacks the official seal. Fourth, why didn't they ask for the removal of all other Pokemon images, aren't they under copyright also? Chances are, and most likely, the letter is fake, just like all those other epidemics you guys mentioned.

I didn't make the sprites. They are the official ones from the game. Or, atleast a website. Is that still ok?

This thread is going no where I already proved that these are really there's no need to continue ranting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magmaster12 It's true here's some stuff that Archiac the head of Bulbapedia said were true Quote: Because if WPM/Serebii or anyone whose has the actual letter were to actually release that info publicly, it's practically guaranteeable that at least some members would feel a need to "confirm this for themselves" and call/e-mail them. Obviously, it would be problematic if random people started bugging a law firm over a case that doesn't concern them, which is why none of the webmasters or anyone that has it has posted it: there's a risk of people being stupid with it, which would just make it more of a headache for the parties actually involved, so they're keeping it confidential. Also this. Quote: Except, not so much. From what I've gathered, though I don't believe any of them have exactly directly said this, it would seem that the law firm's phone number is on their web site (or if not their web site, it's still findable, verifiable information that that phone number is that of the law firm). WPM called this number, in addition to the lawyer's cell phone number given in the letter, and it was the same person. Since this number was on an actual, established law firm's web site that does represent Nintendo and WPM got did get in contact with the guy who sent him the letter through that number, it seems pretty hard to fake to me.