Most Recent News on Certain Legal Issues

[Camicon Dachass]

Sadly the computer game as it currently is set up will mean mechs like the Marauder and Warhammer might be nice to look at, but will not do very well in game as stock mechs since PPC's run so hot (along with large lasers). The P-Hawk will likely be a welcome addition to the ranks of mediums however because a 45 ton 6 mover can do some interesting things.

More mechs give more variety however, so I look forward to seeing them hopefully if HG can finally get put in the place legally it should have been put in a long time ago.

Stock Marauders and Warhammers might run hot, but being 4/6 75 and 70 tonners, respectively, we'll be able to make some seriously badass custom designs.

I suspect I'd end up playing the Phoenix Hawk like a more heavily armed and armoured Firestarter, which is already an absolute monster of a 'Mech, so I see nothing but good things there.

 

[TimeDiver0]

I suspect I'd end up playing the Phoenix Hawk like a more heavily armed and armoured Firestarter, which is already an absolute monster of a 'Mech, so I see nothing but good things there.

Eh, the Phoenix Hawk would need a large number of support-type hardpoints to match the FS9-H's near-broken(ness), let alone its big bro, the GHR-5H.

I'd still, er... acquire a lance's worth out of sheer nostalgia for Macross, but I'm not replacing either of the aforementioned CQB death machines with 'em.

 

[Camicon Dachass]

Eh, the Phoenix Hawk would need a large number of support-type hardpoints to match the FS9-H's near-broken(ness), let alone its big bro, the GHR-5H.

I'd still, er... acquire a lance's worth out of sheer nostalgia for Macross, but I'm not replacing either of the aforementioned CQB death machines with 'em.

It all depends on what kind of hardpoints they get.

In MWO they have anywhere from 5 to 8 depending on the variant, typically a mix of energy and ballistic, though there are a couple variants that have only energy hardpoints; those that do run ballistics fill those hardpoints exclusively with MGs. The variants appropriate to our 3025 era all run energy-heavy with MGs in support.

If we get Phoenix Hawks I'd expect them to carry a mix of energy and support hardpoints, like a Grasshopper without the missile hardpoint in the head. So that bodes well for their being an up armed and armoured Firestarter.

 

[jkq]

Eh, the Phoenix Hawk would need a large number of support-type hardpoints to match the FS9-H's near-broken(ness), let alone its big bro, the GHR-5H.

I'd still, er... acquire a lance's worth out of sheer nostalgia for Macross, but I'm not replacing either of the aforementioned CQB death machines with 'em.

They need missile hardpoints for missile spam nostalgia.

-jkq

 

[commuterzombie]

I'm excited about missing mechs being added to the game as well, but could we please keep this thread purely for updates on the legal action and save speculation on Phoenix Hawk hardpoints etc for another thread?

 

[Tribalist]

Any new news?

 

[Rifter]

So what was the result of the ruling last week?

 

[Bomberman]

No updates to the docket yet, hopefully at midnight tonight.

 

[Tribalist]

No updates to the docket yet, hopefully at midnight tonight.

Talk about a tease!

 

[Beanstalker]

PGI has already heard the ruling, it's just a matter of making it available to the public, right?

In that case it's probably not good news. I figure they'd have made an announcement, otherwise.

 

[Sable Phoenix]

PGI has already heard the ruling, it's just a matter of making it available to the public, right?

In that case it's probably not good news. I figure they'd have made an announcement, otherwise.

Not necessarily. Legal matters such as this tend to be kept within the courtroom for the most part. Unless records are sealed by order of the court, filings are open to public perusal, but don't be expecting any press releases.

 

[Bomberman]

Agreed, you can bet either party would be announcing a victory if they were allowed to, but generally this stuff is kept close held until everything is super final. The delay could be due to the judge writing a written opinion: if he did make a ruling he is required to put his reasoning (in full) on paper in case of appeals or future cases that may use this as precedent. Unfortunately the only thing we can do is keep checking the public docket since we don't have courtroom or legal team access.

 

[Horseman]

Sadly, the mods must deny that request. What you guys do in PMs is totally up to you though...

You heard the man - if anyone's interested in the archive, just shoot me a PM.

 

[Jack Frost]

Sadly the computer game as it currently is set up will mean mechs like the Marauder and Warhammer might be nice to look at, but will not do very well in game as stock mechs since PPC's run so hot (along with large lasers).

It's not how good you do it; it's how good you look doing it.

 

[Max_Killjoy]

It all depends on what kind of hardpoints they get.

In MWO they have anywhere from 5 to 8 depending on the variant, typically a mix of energy and ballistic, though there are a couple variants that have only energy hardpoints; those that do run ballistics fill those hardpoints exclusively with MGs. The variants appropriate to our 3025 era all run energy-heavy with MGs in support.

If we get Phoenix Hawks I'd expect them to carry a mix of energy and support hardpoints, like a Grasshopper without the missile hardpoint in the head. So that bodes well for their being an up armed and armoured Firestarter.

Just give me the artwork in the game, I can put hardpoints on for whatever.

As for the legal case... it's a sad thing that sometimes how much money you can throw at a case or who you know in high places can matter so much more than the simple truth.

 

[Horseman]

Movement on sensors, cap'n!

Thursday, June 07, 2018
126

2 pgs order 3 - Stipulation and Order ~Util - Terminate Motions Thu 3:38 PM
STIPULATION AND ORDER to Withdraw Motions Without Prejudice re parties'125 Stipulation, by Judge Thomas S. Zilly. (SWT) (Motions terminated: Plaintiff Harmony Gold U.S.A., Inc's93 MOTION for Issuance of a Letter of Request , Defendant Piranha Games, Inc's87 Second MOTION for Summary Judgment)
125

3 pgs misc Stipulation Thu 11:34 AM
STIPULATION AND PROPOSED ORDER TO WITHDRAW MOTIONS WITHOUT PREJUDICE by parties (Meiklejohn, Paul)

Plaintiff Harmony Gold U.S.A., Inc. (“Harmony Gold”) and Defendant Piranha Games Inc. (“Piranha”) have agreed to a settlement in principle of this case, but need time to prepare the written settlement documents. Accordingly, to conserve judicial resources and the resources of the parties, the parties agree to withdraw all pending motions without prejudice. The motions are:

• Harmony Gold’s motion for letters rogatory (Dkt. 93); and
  
• Piranha’s second motion for summary judgment (Dkt. 87).

In the unlikely event that the case does not settle, the parties agree that (1) the motions and opposition papers can be refiled or simply renoted, (2) both motions have been fully briefed and are ripe for decision by the Court, and (3) no further briefing will be permitted unless required by the Court.

 

[Justin Kase]

This sounds promising - thank you for keep us up to date!

 

[BunglingLummox]

This sounds promising - thank you for keep us up to date!

I am not so sure. Unless and until we hear what exactly has or will be agreed, we don't know what this means for BattleTech. There's an end in sight, but I am not yet prepared to call it the one we've all been hoping for.

 

[Max_Killjoy]

I am not so sure. Unless and until we hear what exactly has or will be agreed, we don't know what this means for BattleTech. There's an end in sight, but I am not yet prepared to call it the one we've all been hoping for.

Yeah, if PGI just gave up or agreed to a highly restricted/onerous license, then it's bad news.

 

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Sounds more like the Letters Rogatory stalling tactic forced PGI to the settlement table rather than wait potentially another year, with more court costs tied up and release of the game on hold, which I find disappointing.

I would have far rather seen it go to the end and finally have a documented precedented case where HG does NOT, in fact, have the legal right to pursue copyright infringements on properties they were never given to begin with. However, because of the stalling tactic that apparently worked (I'm honestly surprised the judge didn't toss it out, since HG already *HAD* gone for Letters Rogatory previously in the suit against Tatsunoko that they lost, so presumably they should have already had all documentation they needed already on hand), I'm betting they managed to extort some sum out of PGI in exchange for leaving them alone.

And honestly, I can't blame PGI. They can't afford those kinds of delays, especially not with their latest game slated to release before then. Sucks, but them's the breaks. We only have another couple of years of HG doing this stuff before all their claims on everything end.