IMPORTANT!!! They want to kill iMtG

Piotr · January 31, 2012, 05:03:17 PM

EDIT: Ok guys and gals, I think we're safe now. Thank you everyone who joined the protest, at this moment I don't know if Wizards will listen to us but I have read all your comments on the official app (and of course on iMtG) and I am very grateful for your support. It really means a lot to me. If Wizards will refuse my business proposal we will just have the app as it is now, with our own mana symbols and slightly worse quality of the scans. Next update will mostly solve the ugliness of the new expansion symbols too.

My notice period with my current employer is slowly coming to the end, and from April 1st you're my only boss. This is not a joke, I'm gonna be working full time on iMtG

Long live iMtG!

ORIGINAL POST:

Ok guys and gals, it's official now. From the letter I received today in response to my response to WotC's DMCA takedown letter to Apple:

"Wizards has committed to removing all of the relatively large number of applications on the iTunes Store that infringe its MAGIC: THE GATHERING(r) copyrights and trademarks in order to protect its intellectual property, and as a fan of the game, we assume you understand and appreciate Wizards' desire to do so."

As a fan of the game I totally fail to understand this. But I'm not stupid and I understand that some guy within WotC is trying to protect his 'Magic The Gathering Toolbox' app project and killing the competition off is the easiest way to do this. Unfortunately that means we the fans of the game will suffer, as the proper way to do this is to make the best app on the market, and without competition this is not possible.

I'm asking you to help me reach some other guys within WotC to stop this madness. We need to complain loudly but politely that this is not what the fans of Magic understand nor appreciate. Could everyone download the official app and rate it one star with a comment such as 'Please stop killing mobile MTG apps. Stop your lawyers, we want our apps back!'.

WotC official app: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/magic-the-gathering-toolbox/id491192015?mt=8

While at it, please vote other reviews with 'Please stop killing mobile MTG apps. Stop your lawyers, we want our apps back!' up so other people are more likely to see our action. You know, 'Was this review helpful?' thing. You can easily find them by checking most critical reviews.

This will give them something to think about but at the same time we will not have to spam good people like Maro.

Rass · January 31, 2012, 05:06:55 PM

That sucks

cltrn81 · January 31, 2012, 05:18:34 PM

Countersue them for harassment!

Piotr · January 31, 2012, 05:19:51 PM

We're not going to sue them as they are not suing us yet. We need to find a way to reach people in WotC who can stop this. Share your ideas please.

BlackJester · January 31, 2012, 05:28:10 PM

MaRo and/or other Tweeters, and social network users are the only ppl that come to my mind.

If they turf every other app out there, there is going to be HUGE outcry. What about StarCityGames? Did they get a similar letter? Is there any way to sound a rallying cry?

BlackJester · January 31, 2012, 05:29:57 PM

I suppose one way would be to show that you are NOT infringing on copyright and are using only public domain stuff.

Rass · January 31, 2012, 05:35:37 PM

Could you ask them if you can pay a royality to them per member who joins and if it's cheap just add it to the cost. I mean for a buck more I would pay to keep this site open

Rass · January 31, 2012, 05:42:49 PM

Lol I wonder if this is why there are so many guest on the site lately

Mentonin · January 31, 2012, 05:56:37 PM

We can move social networks. Like tweeting something like: "fail #WotC, taking down good apps for nothing", spamming their sites with something similar and other movements. This happens a lot, here in brazil a tablet producer, can't remember which one, said it wouldn't update the android in its tablet and, only 3 days after they changed their opinion because people were moving against it in Internet. Huge emprises like these always care for their public image

Raven316 · January 31, 2012, 06:17:43 PM

Quote from: Piotr on January 31, 2012, 05:03:17 PM
Ok guys and gals, it's official now. From the letter I received today in response to my response to WotC's DMCA takedown letter to Apple:

"Wizards has committed to removing all of the relatively large number of applications on the iTunes Store that infringe its MAGIC: THE GATHERING(r) copyrights and trademarks in order to protect its intellectual property, and as a fan of the game, we assume you understand and appreciate Wizards' desire to do so."

As a fan of the game I totally fail to understand this. But I'm not stupid and I understand that some guy within WotC is trying to protect his 'Magic The Gathering Toolbox' app project and killing the competition off is the easiest way to do this. Unfortunately that means we the fans of the game will suffer, as the proper way to do this is to make the best app on the market, and without competition this is not possible.

I'm asking you to help me reach some other guys within WotC to stop this madness. We need to complain loudly but politely that this is not what the fans of Magic understand nor appreciate.

What's the time frame how much time did they give you?

Raven316 · January 31, 2012, 07:33:08 PM

Piotr did u try contacting the maker of decked app to see if he is getting the same treatment?

Prophylaxis · January 31, 2012, 08:21:57 PM

MTGSalvation

What are the infringing stuff?

InfinitiveDivinity · February 01, 2012, 12:51:40 AM

That's stupid, they're creating a monopoly, that's illegal. You should check to see if other similar apps. are being treated the same. Your obviously a huge threat because your app. is amazing. Either way this really sucks...

Prophylaxis · February 01, 2012, 01:25:15 AM

Quote from: Prophylaxis on January 31, 2012, 08:21:57 PM
MTGSalvation

What are the infringing stuff?

Nvm, MTGSalv ain't helping.

Hold your nose and dive in, I s'pose.

Piotr · February 01, 2012, 04:47:31 AM

Yes I contacted TJ of Decked fame and we're working together. We are also talking to MTG Master's Ben Olson (his app is down already http://www.mtgmaster.info) and trying to reach the other guys who are selling cards through TCGplayer. As per the citation in my initial post, Wizards are after all the mobile apps. The biggest apps on Android were hit too. As for the MTGS, I started a thread there, they are the biggest forum aren't they: http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=389490