Stop Blizzard, help keep the private servers alive!

[Zygoter]

Some of you know Blizzard are trying to shut down private servers for good in the US. Help us make Blizzard realize private servers are needed and they make people happy by signing the Petition below. 1100 signatures already we need your input every signature is one closer to having them back Hopefully your vote dose count.

Stop Shutting Down Private WoW Servers Petition

[xCarl94x]

I agree, i think that we should be able to keep WoW Private servers, but you gotta remember, they are losing money :[

[Cypher]

Copy-pasting my response to the news story here:

If people are stupid enough to host emulated servers in the US or any of the countries covered by a trade agreement that forces compliance with the DMCA (notably: Australia, not sure of any others) then they deserved to get served with a takedown notice.

@The retards saying "don't let them push us around", "they're greedy", etc.

You're all ignorant morons.
Blizzard own the intellectual property rights to World of Warcraft, running an emulated server IS ILLEGAL if you do it anywhere that the DMCA or other country-specific laws that prohibit such copyright-infringing behavior. They developed WoW, they deserve payment in return. It easy to call software developers greedy but until you're actually in the shoes of one you have no idea what you're talking about.

I have nothing against the guys responsible for the development of the emu servers. They did it for the learning experience, emulating server software when all you have access to is the client is a highly complex and highly challenging task, people like me enjoy that kind of challenge. The problem arises when greedy (yes greedy) people come along, host public servers, and start trying to make money off it.

If I was head of Blizzards legal dept and you were hosting a server in the US I'd do a lot worse than just filling a DMCA takedown notice. They could ****ing rape you in court if they wanted, but they have always shown a lot of restraint, just look at Warden, there so much they could be doing that they don't.

On the topic of 'pushing around'. I don't think anyone who is saying that really understands the first thing about the legal system. Blizzard is not the type of entity you want to piss off. Not only are you in the wrong legally, you also have nowhere near the amount of money required to fight them in court (let alone win, which wouldn't happen in a million years).

On the topic of 'not being able to afford wow'. Blizzard created WoW, Blizzard own the right to WoW, they can charge WHATEVER THEY WANT, regardless of the fact mommy won't pay your WoW subscription. Just because you can't afford something does NOT give you the RIGHT to steal/pirate it, also, far from everyone who uses emulated servers is doing so because of a lack of money, and even if they were, what about the server admins who make money off donations/etc that stem directly from infringing Blizzard's IP rights?

TLDRV:
The law doens't care if you can't afford WoW, if you wanna 'stick it to the man', if you think Blizz are 'greedy', or if you don't believe in copyright. The fact of the matter is if you're breaking the law Blizzard are well within their rights to file a takedown (and a lot more than that too).

So how about before you run around spouting out your ignorant bullshit you take a seat, do some research, and think before you post or open your mouth.

[kataldt]

Online petitions change everything.

They change.

EVERYTHING.

[Adriver]

guiz lets make a difference!

lol

[Cypher]

@The two people above me.

I was gonna go that route, but it just felt too easy.

[Verye]

Private servers violate copyright laws.

(In the US) this is like forming a petition saying "STOP THE BAN ON MARIJUANA" in response to the police arresting someone who is in possession of marijuana. You can say it as many times you want, and even if you think the law is stupid, the law is not going to change and the police are not going to free him just because some people on the internet signed a petition.

I'd say that the copyright laws in question here are not ridiculous at all, though, and the private servers simply got what they knew would eventually come to them if they got big enough.

[Island]

host outside us = ftw

[Clain]

Lol@Burlex :P

1115. | Burlex | We will Never die | Underground | Antrix | Yes

[Boomshine]

1258 signed. **** BLIZZARD! Ok well they're awesome but they're always looking for ways to stretch money and they need to stop that when they keep wanting more and more players. I know that they need money for the members, but they need to make it more efficient then closing down 10000+ private servers

[Island]

this is gonna get you guys no where

[Zygoter]

Maybe your right, I just found it and thought it was worth a go. Well I myself don't live in US :-).

[Cypher]

Private servers violate copyright laws.

(In the US) this is like forming a petition saying "STOP THE BAN ON MARIJUANA" in response to the police arresting someone who is in possession of marijuana. You can say it as many times you want, and even if you think the law is stupid, the law is not going to change and the police are not going to free him just because some people on the internet signed a petition.

I'd say that the copyright laws in question here are not ridiculous at all, though, and the private servers simply got what they knew would eventually come to them if they got big enough.

I wouldn't be so quick to defend your country's copyright laws. Whilst I agree that laws to protect intellectual property rights are needed, there are some laws in your country that at the very least raise a few eyebrows.

The DMCA contains a number controversial or ambiguous sections regarding reverse engineering that cause issues for people like myself. Then there's also the issue of contradictory common/case law regarding issues such as the enforcability of EULAs and other grey areas.

Sure, enforcing copyright is great (and necessary), but the system as it stands is far from perfect.

[Yeroul]

+ It's a shame they only take the good ones down, with good rates, high population and stuff, and not the x5000 fun realms, if they take those down, allot more will go to official, to join even larger PvP. In some countries it is allowed to host a private server, not sure which ones, but some won't do a thing against them, so private servers will always, i repeat, always find a way to live on. but yeah, it's true that blizzards won't make any profit, but they're not really smart either... to put the whole game, with all expansions, online for everyone to download... for free, and in stores for (total amount in my country) 70-100 euro's (depends on where you buy it), they're losing allot of money with just that...

[Christina]

I would sign it if it would solve anything but it's a voilation of TOS, it won't change anything and the more people that sign it the more blizzard will realize what a huge problem this is.

This petition will backfire in everyones face.

If you get 10,000 sigs it'll just show blizzard how out of hand this has gotten.