Lawyer: Church will have a tough time with Sony |
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Alex Chapman, specialist games and copyright lawyer of Campbell Hooper solicitors, says that the Church of England may have an uphill battle on their hands with Sony as far as the dispute about an English Cathedral appearing in Resistance: Fall of Man is concerned. We give you the details on Chapman's take on things.So why are the odds stacked against the Church of England? Alex Chapman believes that there is no basis to the claims made by the Church of England against Sony, and they probably won't hold up in court.
He cites a provision in the UK's 1988 Copyright Designs and Patents act as a basis for his observations - the provision itself explicitly stating that it isn't copyright infringement if someone makes a representation of certain artistic works already on public display.
And if you're wondering - yes, it applies to structures and sculptures permanently situated in a public place or in a location open to the public; the Cathedral in question is pretty much accessible to almost anyone. This makes the copyright infringement point moot.
There's another hole in the Church of England's attack, and it's about the Cathedral's age. Specifically, with the Cathedral being old as it is - making it highly unlikely that there's any copyright remaining on it. Copyrights do expire 70 years after the creator of the work has died, after all, and the Cathedral's been there for a VERY long time.
While this is certainly bad news to the Church, Chapman isn't one to favor the other guy too heavily. He also states that while public buildings are fair game and all, presenting establishments in a bad light or manner is quite frowned upon - and this could be what the Church is after.
Still, he maintains that the Church of England will definitely have a fight on their hands. Whatever the legal consequences, he says the public reaction to the entire thing might be more damaging.
Well, what do you readers think? Let us know what you think about Chapman's take on the whole affair by the comments below.
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Comments
I'm First!!!! I think the Church should just give up.
its obvious that u cant sue sony for using an ancient landmark on a video game, stupid Mothers against Violence and stupid old catholic grandpas thinking they could get money out of everything.
Good, ***** the church, sony's lawyers will rape it up the ass.
The things people will do to try and get money these days......
The things people will do to try and get money these days......
This is another ***** lawsuit. Sh*t is getting more and more ridiculous. People sue over hot coffee and even a lost pair of pants these days. I don't know why people think they can sue over anything.
I told my boss about this, and his reply was: "They still want the blood money?" IMplying the church doesn't care if the money was from 'bad things' they just want the money...
But I thought sony would just hand over the money...
lol, where the ***** did you read that?
"The provision itself explicitly stating that it isn't copyright infringement if someone makes a representation of certain artistic works already on public display" boo-ya So that means they have to go after every mag article, movie appearance, and so on.
thats why religion is the largest and worst cult in the world
who ever started this must feel dumb, now everyones againt them
I love how karma works
Have a cookie, you did a good job now we have to change your diaper. Enkei makes poopies!
I think sony should find a way to sue them. Then the church of england will go to hell.
It was a joke. Has sony ever done that in history without a lengthy court battle?
They pretty much have enough money to throw it at the church with little care.
Nope
Thats right. It's allways been that way since religion started. Why do you think we have all these wars?
I'd like to actually see a counter-suit against the church, just because they are being ridiculously greedy.... Guess people aren't filling the coffers like they used to....
its because people CAN sue over anything these days as long as it violates any law at any level.
It took Sony years to hand over money to the allegedly "copyrighted" rumble on their controllers. What makes you thing they're giving in to something with NO basis for legality?
"Whatever the legal consequences, he says the public reaction to the entire thing might be more damaging." no *****. i have yet to read a post from anyone agreeing with the church's actions
people where burned alive in front of that church to proof they where NOT whitches. Not to talk about how christianity came to england in the first place... how about that for violence... and then they worry about people loosing their frustrations by shooting aliens from their church virtually in stead of taking it out on the streets... who do they think they are, they will end up paying a $200.000 penalty to sony for trying to give them a bad name, or lost business...
They have enough money 2 trow away... but there not stupid enough to do that
The church disappoints me. There is no legal base for this case, yet they're trying to sue. If I lived in england, I would peddle copies of the game in front of the church, or at least make a pamphlet of it with screens of the game's carnage and give it to tourists in protest. Actually, if anyone lives in the area, I can make up some pretty good looking brochures...
they aren't catholic. In England are Anglicans
In England, there are many different Christian denominations, not just Anglicans, as you so stupidly put it. As a Catholic myself, I do not support the church in any way when it comes to trhis. If they look at the game in context, they would see that the church is not being used to glorify shooting, but it is being used as a refuge and a temporary hospital.
... hardly any people were burnt as witches in England. Most were simply tried and let go. Someone has been getting their education from Hollywood :-) Anyway it's not fair to compare the church today to that of hundreds of years ago. It's like saying all Norwegians are raping pillaging maniacs because of the Vikings (ok they may be :-) ). To be honest it may not be about the money. It may just be getting the church in the papers. What's the old saying ? No such thing as bad press ....
there is virtually no claim to the churchs lawsuit, all sony have to do is say it was a coincidence that the cathedral scene was in the manchester map, then rename the manchester map to a place without a cathedral. lol. is it just me or does anyone else enjoy blowing ***** up in that church even more now? especially the church windows for me >D
it would be funny if they sued them for something stupid like using sonys copyrighted name on national tv without a permit. lol
over 800 witches were burned in under a week at one time under an old queen (mary or victoria, i forget, the one who married that spanish prince) so dont correct someone who is right k?
Where abouts in England is the church?
quote your source for this data ? I don't believe he is correct. I can correct what I believe to be an incorrect statement....
The total number of victims was probably between 50,000 and 100,000 -- not 9 million as many believe. The craze affected mostly Switzerland, Germany and France. Although alleged witches were burned alive or hung over a five century interval -- from the 14th to the 18th century -- the vast majority were tried from 1550 to 1650. Most were hung as it was the easiest cheapest option. Some of the victims worshiped Pagan deities, and thus could be considered to be indirectly linked to today's Neopagans. However most apparently did not. Some of the victims were midwives and native healers; however most were not. Most of the victims were tried executed by local, community courts, not by the Church. A substantial minority of victims -- about 25% -- were male. Many countries in Europe largely escaped the burning times: Ireland executed only four "Witches;" Russia only ten. A quick google will show that the huge numbers commonly thought to have been burned is falsely derived. K ?
this is bullcrap, the church just wants some dam money and i agree with this guy
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