Is Games Workshops’ Recent IP Protection Campaign Self-Destructive?
Games Workshop is the biggest hobby miniature figure sellers in the World. However, their recent attempts at IP protection have put them at a discourse with the majority of the fan base.
Games Workshop, the creators of the Warhammer Fantasy Battles, Warhammer 40k and license holders of The Lord of The Rings/ The Hobbit table-top games have launched a recent campaign into IP Protection. Targeting fan animation on Youtube and other media platforms. These recent restrictions put on video content were on a commercial basis. As long as people are not making money off the videos they are producing and are not using original content produced by GW, then there is no problem. However, the caveat there is that most people making fan animation videos have been using it as a primary source of income along with their portfolio of Youtube videos.
Not only have these fan animation stars brought certain characters to a better light among the community, they have also peaked many people’s interest to GW’s lore across Warhammer Fantasy Battles and the 40k universe. You are unable to source those views now because many channels have gone private either being absorbed or taken down by GW. It seems most are of the former, at least. Taking jobs within GW’s team to work on future lore.
For some creators that have joined the team, it may be a dream come true. For creators that are outside the fan animation margins it may be a different story. For example: Lore Explanation Video Producers, Table-top Game Youtubers, etc.
This could just be a first step in GW’s push for protection of their Intellectual Property. A company with so many resources could win a case outright in a corporate court of law especially when they know they are up against a single person in most cases. Which opens up a lot of opportunity for them to expand this project even further to secure and absorb the parts which they choose. Potentially, leaving livelihoods destroyed in their wake.
They are no stranger to making brazen decisions based on profitability rather than the popularity in the fan base. Shutting down Warhammer Fantasy with a disappointing and widely unappreciated end to the lore with “End Times”. It was a decision made out of pure necessity to move forward some on widespread forums would argue. A decision that allowed them to pump out new Warhammer 40k models for table-top at extremely high prices. Another decision argued across forums as unfair and inappropriate for their quality.
There’s no knowing where GW will take their case next, or whether they are satisfied with the results they have already received. They have made a substantial yet, surprising wave in the community. Will the power go to their heads? Will the money and other resources they have at their disposal increase their efforts, dampening the community’s respect for the company? Or has it already reached that point?
Only time will tell.
