IMPORTANT: Leafstorm request cessation of Lovely.
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IMPORTANT: Leafstorm request cessation of Lovely.
I have received a serious email from Leafstorm/BBC regarding the use of Lovely and its trademarks. Please see below.
Lee Phillips <lee@leafstorm.com>
Dear Marc
It has come to our attention that you are incorporating the name of
Lovely and affiliated designs that we created for the production of
the BBC television series How to Start Your Own Country into a new
micronation / website.
We would like to remind you that the name Lovely and affiliated
designs used in the series are the intellectual property of leafstorm,
and may not be reproduced without our express permission.
We therefore kindly request that you cease using the name and
incorpoating any of our designs and intellectual properties on your
new site.
Failure to adhere to this request will form a breach of copyright and
you may be liable to prosecution.
I thank you in advance for your cooperation, and wish you well with
your project.
Yours sincerely,
Lee Phillips
Series Producer / Director
How to Start Your Own Country
-----------------------------
leafstorm
6 Northfields Prospect
Putney Bridge Road
London
SW18 1PE
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Re: IMPORTANT: Leafstorm request cessation of Lovely.
If they have any issues than they should contact Kieran since he is the creator of Victoria and responsible for Victoria's website.
Harald Freyjugjöf the Generous Giver of the House of the Descendants of Freyja
High King of Stormark
Sovereign Lord on all Continents
High King of Stormark
Sovereign Lord on all Continents
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Re: IMPORTANT: Leafstorm request cessation of Lovely.
Pretty sure we've never received anything like this here, despite having Lovely and its flag on the map for more than five years!
Re: IMPORTANT: Leafstorm request cessation of Lovely.
It is Kieran's work so yes they should contact him.
Naturally the Kingdom of Victoria is investigating all of this.
Naturally the Kingdom of Victoria is investigating all of this.
Re: IMPORTANT: Leafstorm request cessation of Lovely.
If any learned men of law (anybody who has a clue!) could take a look at the entire case that is evolving I would greatly appreciate it? In fact I'll pay 1,000 SCUE for the complete review and an considered conclusion!
- Guido Zambelis
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Re: IMPORTANT: Leafstorm request cessation of Lovely.
I'll deal with this, I have my finger in most of the pies. Marc, any idea why they emailed you?
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Re: IMPORTANT: Leafstorm request cessation of Lovely.
No idea at all.
Re: IMPORTANT: Leafstorm request cessation of Lovely.
Is anybody else having trouble getting through to the Kingdom's forums?
Re: IMPORTANT: Leafstorm request cessation of Lovely.
I am!
First Senator of Dazhou
Minster of Defence for the Kingdom of Victoria
Former Victorian Ambassador to the MCS
Proud owner of 500 Dverghallen Næringer shares
http://dazhou.proboards.com/index.cgi
Minster of Defence for the Kingdom of Victoria
Former Victorian Ambassador to the MCS
Proud owner of 500 Dverghallen Næringer shares
http://dazhou.proboards.com/index.cgi
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Re: IMPORTANT: Leafstorm request cessation of Lovely.
They were slow earlier, although I've experienced a lag like that before, but now they're not loading. Should I be the first to mention how coïncidental everything seems?
EDIT: Eventually it's loaded after quite a long wait...
EDIT: Eventually it's loaded after quite a long wait...
Re: IMPORTANT: Leafstorm request cessation of Lovely.
Just starting to think that Craits.
First Senator of Dazhou
Minster of Defence for the Kingdom of Victoria
Former Victorian Ambassador to the MCS
Proud owner of 500 Dverghallen Næringer shares
http://dazhou.proboards.com/index.cgi
Minster of Defence for the Kingdom of Victoria
Former Victorian Ambassador to the MCS
Proud owner of 500 Dverghallen Næringer shares
http://dazhou.proboards.com/index.cgi
Re: IMPORTANT: Leafstorm request cessation of Lovely.
They are indeed taking a very long time for me. I have been attempting to view a thread since I wrote my first concerns. All very coincedental. I do wonder whether Leafstorm will be impressed with someone impersonating them.
Re: IMPORTANT: Leafstorm request cessation of Lovely.
Sounds like scare tactics. It's very arguable how enforceable that is, depending on the use of the symbols in question.
Ask for the paperwork and the name / contact information for their lawyer. Be very polite and respectful - no threats, no wild claims, no snarky attitudes, certainly no insults. Use terms like "mutual satisfaction." If you’re not willing to back down at a whimper, but still don’t piss them off too badly, then chances are they have bigger fish to fry and don’t want to waste their time.
Something like:
Ask for the paperwork and the name / contact information for their lawyer. Be very polite and respectful - no threats, no wild claims, no snarky attitudes, certainly no insults. Use terms like "mutual satisfaction." If you’re not willing to back down at a whimper, but still don’t piss them off too badly, then chances are they have bigger fish to fry and don’t want to waste their time.
Something like:
To be honest, I'm skeptical that director / producers don't have legal staff that files these sorts of claims, and the actual use of "micronation", which is not nearly as widespread of a term outside our sector as we may think, is also a red flag. You may be able to bluff your way out of this. If nothing else, if they really do have lawyers and send you scary documents, you can simply consent to the changes and avoid any prosecution.Dear Mr. Phillips,
We understand your position and certainly have no desire to cause you or your associates any financial harm. However, we believe there must be a way that we can work out this dispute to our mutual satisfaction.
I am afraid we are not familiar with your specific claims. In order for me to better understand the situation and what you attest that we are in violation of, we request that your legal department send me any relevant documents to the situation, along with any contact information so that we may present inquiries. My own advisors will go over these documents. If we see that what you are asking is very minor, then it would be our pleasure to simply make the changes as you request. Otherwise, we will be in touch to negotiate an agreement.
I enjoy your programming. Have a good day.
<you>
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Re: IMPORTANT: Leafstorm request cessation of Lovely.
If you are using any of the original stuff (flags, images etc.) beyond the name itself then you probably don't have a leg to stand on as far as intellectual property rights are concerned. I would say fair use is tenuous in this instance although they should be lenient since there is blatantly no profit derived from Lovely on the part of Victoria or its users. There is no real alternative to compliance. Just change the flag slightly and use the Danish word for Lovely and nobody will care any further.
Have Farzan or Guido do a sanity check, and since Guido has already offered...
Have Farzan or Guido do a sanity check, and since Guido has already offered...
- Guido Zambelis
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Re: IMPORTANT: Leafstorm request cessation of Lovely.
The government are considering their response.