I've heard and inferred all manner of things about blizzard banning arcade maps, or not banning them when seemingly they have reason to.
For example:
Barcraft got banned for copyright.
However,
Startrek Subjugation has been on the arcade for 2+ years and its obviously using startrek themed models and textures.
Don't get me started on the rumors that may be true about banning for things like language and so on.
The point of this thread is:
Someone I know was threatened by another arcade user over a map that is very similar to another map and attracting the same player base. The threat was, "Take your map down or I'll report you to blizzard and they will ban you for copying [map name here]"
This sounds bogus to me, given how many variations there are of desert strike for example. As the title says, has anyone heard of this actually happening?
actually, only if the map gets some attention outside of the arcade. airstrike for example used copyright protected sound and didnt win the RTC (IIRC). in general blizzard gives a shit unless you promote the map outside the arcade (in my opinion, nobody knows for sure)
debates map = gets people go doodle = takes the map down
any map that offers "special" stuff for "selected" few + some people report it = takes the map down
...
as for copyright on a map within arcade? there is no action
someone took one of my melee map and added stuff on it.. i never was pissed off about it and complained, because i don't care "in that way"
but i doubt they would have done anything about it
the fact is, when i read your post, i cant stop thinking/translating it:
"i made a copy of a map so as to change stuff i didn't like" .. "someone is not happy about it and reports it to blizzard" .. "what will happen?"
that makes more sense than "my friend is having this issue"
no actions are taken by blizzard if they have nothing to lose from leaving it be, they don't care, the arcade is nothing but extra problems for them.
on the flip side, when debates was banned.. what was it banned for? = people reporting it
so the short answer is: no one knows what blizz will choose to make an example of, a rather popular map might get its way if loads (i mean dozens at least) of players were to report/complain and succeed in getting the other map banned.. but then again that is networking of caliber that is not present within the arcade
.. a confidential map (a dozen players) will never get that kind of lobbying going.. and so pleads to get its "clone" removed will go unanswered!
.. furthermore (with the new eula we all signed to be allowed to open our editor recently) blizzard could:
"map A is famous" "map B is a clone with changes"
"map B is reported" "map B stays unbanned"
"mapmaker from famous map A takes off his map out of resentment of the situation"
"blizzard reuploads map A, in spite of mapmaker's wishes"
Blizz removed some TD because unit pathing formed swastika. Blizz removed some map that implied sex on the beach 2 times until its premise was changed to "cloning" on the beach. So you know, the "offensive" stuff.
I've never heard them banning user anyway, warning - maybe, but outright banning account for publishing map - no.
"Take your map down or I'll report you to blizzard and they will ban you for copying [map name here]" - don't negotiate with terrorists/self entitled assholes.
And a closing thought - when you publish your map as "unlocked" - a warning pops up saying that anyone can take your map and upload it as their own. It can be copied, it can be stolen and they won't do a thing. Them bothering about simple idea iteration is mind-boggling.
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I've heard and inferred all manner of things about blizzard banning arcade maps, or not banning them when seemingly they have reason to.
For example: Barcraft got banned for copyright. However, Startrek Subjugation has been on the arcade for 2+ years and its obviously using startrek themed models and textures.
Don't get me started on the rumors that may be true about banning for things like language and so on.
The point of this thread is:
Someone I know was threatened by another arcade user over a map that is very similar to another map and attracting the same player base. The threat was, "Take your map down or I'll report you to blizzard and they will ban you for copying [map name here]"
This sounds bogus to me, given how many variations there are of desert strike for example. As the title says, has anyone heard of this actually happening?
Blizzard don't just banned map just because some douche do something like
"HEY BLIZZARD ! Banned that map!"
No sir, there are long and deep complicated process for that.
They have to determine the report is valid that the map really did break arcade rule(s) .
That the report is not from some but hurt individual that just can't stand the fact that other map are more famous than theirs.
After that they have to see what rule(s) that map break.
If it is true blizzard can determine the punishment accordingly.
But seriously, if the reason for reporting just because 'it is similar' I don't think blizzard going to bother.
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actually, only if the map gets some attention outside of the arcade. airstrike for example used copyright protected sound and didnt win the RTC (IIRC). in general blizzard gives a shit unless you promote the map outside the arcade (in my opinion, nobody knows for sure)
Also, someone has to report it first. Same goes for all of blizzard's games. If you don't get reported, nothing happens.
it all depends, blizz:
copyright issues? = takes the map down
debates map = gets people go doodle = takes the map down
any map that offers "special" stuff for "selected" few + some people report it = takes the map down
...
as for copyright on a map within arcade? there is no action
someone took one of my melee map and added stuff on it.. i never was pissed off about it and complained, because i don't care "in that way"
but i doubt they would have done anything about it
the fact is, when i read your post, i cant stop thinking/translating it:
"i made a copy of a map so as to change stuff i didn't like" .. "someone is not happy about it and reports it to blizzard" .. "what will happen?"
that makes more sense than "my friend is having this issue"
no actions are taken by blizzard if they have nothing to lose from leaving it be, they don't care, the arcade is nothing but extra problems for them.
on the flip side, when debates was banned.. what was it banned for? = people reporting it
so the short answer is: no one knows what blizz will choose to make an example of, a rather popular map might get its way if loads (i mean dozens at least) of players were to report/complain and succeed in getting the other map banned.. but then again that is networking of caliber that is not present within the arcade
.. a confidential map (a dozen players) will never get that kind of lobbying going.. and so pleads to get its "clone" removed will go unanswered!
.. furthermore (with the new eula we all signed to be allowed to open our editor recently) blizzard could:
"map A is famous" "map B is a clone with changes"
"map B is reported" "map B stays unbanned"
"mapmaker from famous map A takes off his map out of resentment of the situation"
"blizzard reuploads map A, in spite of mapmaker's wishes"
all in all, a great contract!
@somen00b: Go
None that I am aware of.
Blizz removed some TD because unit pathing formed swastika. Blizz removed some map that implied sex on the beach 2 times until its premise was changed to "cloning" on the beach. So you know, the "offensive" stuff.
I've never heard them banning user anyway, warning - maybe, but outright banning account for publishing map - no.
"Take your map down or I'll report you to blizzard and they will ban you for copying [map name here]" - don't negotiate with terrorists/self entitled assholes.
And a closing thought - when you publish your map as "unlocked" - a warning pops up saying that anyone can take your map and upload it as their own. It can be copied, it can be stolen and they won't do a thing. Them bothering about simple idea iteration is mind-boggling.