No more 'Grand Theft Scratchy' in Simpsons Game

Given the GTA series have always had parody high on it's list of USPs, it's rather churlish of them to baulk at someone returning the favour.

"THIS GAME CONTAINS PARODIES OF THIRD PARTY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND OTHER MATERIAL. THIS GAME IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR APPROVED BY OR OTHERWISE AFFILIATED OR ASSOCIATED WITH THE OWNERS OF THAT CONTENT . THERE IS NO AFFILIATION OR ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE SIMPSONS GAME, ELECTRONIC ARTS INC. AND ITS LICENSORS WITH THOSE THIRD PARTIES."

Sad....Coffee is served hot, sad.

Dick move. Rockstar loses points for this one. Not a huge deal but still.

Rockstar is taking classes from the Sony school of public relations.

I don't understand this, Grand theft auto is a recognised crime, right? As in you can be fined for 'a grand theft auto'. If this is correct, then surly Rockstar can't legally own the name?

'The Simpsons' is one of the very few shows that has gained acceptance from a very broad side of the political and social spectrum. I can only see benefits in having GTA 'parodied' in the game.

I completely fail to see why Rockstar put a stop to it, other than a complete and utter desire to dig themselves into a hole and to send a clear message that they have no sense of humor whatsoever.

Maybe they were concerned that the section of the game would reinforce negative stereotypes towards GTA and Rockstar? Even so, I don't think that's a good reason and it's just very botched PR at best.

ROCKSTAR YOUR GAY!!!

Total weak sauce Rockstar... epic fail.

http://straylight.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/92-1292.ZO.html

QUOTE: "germ of parody lies in the definition of the Greek parodeia, quoted in Judge Nelson's Court of Appeals dissent, as "a song sung alongside another." 972 F. 2d, at 1440, quoting 7 Encyclopedia Britannica 768 (15th ed. 1975). Modern dictionaries accordingly describe a parody as a "literary or artistic work that imitates the characteristic style of an author or a work for comic effect or ridicule," [n.12] or as a
"composition in prose or verse in which the characteristic turns of thought and phrase in an author or class of authors are imitated in such a way as to make them appear ridiculous." [n.13] For the purposes of copyright law, the nub of the definitions, and the heart of any parodist's claim to quote from existing material, is the use of some elements of a prior author's composition to create a new one
that, at least in part, comments on that author's works. See, e. g., Fisher v. Dees, supra, at 437; MCA, Inc. v. Wilson, 677 F. 2d 180, 185 (CA2 1981). If, on the contrary, the commentary has no critical bearing on the substance or style of the original composition, which the alleged infringer merely uses to get attention or to avoid the drudgery in working up something fresh, the claim to fairness in borrowing from another's work diminishes accordingly (if it does not vanish), and other factors, like the extent of its commerciality, loom larger. [n.14] Parody needs to mimic an original to make its point, and so has some claim to use the creation of its victim's (or collective victims') imagination, whereas satire can stand on its own two feet and so requires justification for the very act of borrowing. [n.15] See Ibid.; Bisceglia, Parody and Copyright Protection: Turning the Balancing Act Into a Juggling Act, in ASCAP, Copyright Law Symposium, No. 34, p. 25 (1987)."


That said, I can understand why the changes were made...attorney's and settlements aren't cheap. However, Rockstar I think mocks plenty of IP in its game. On the radio you have Toys R Us and Howard Stern parodies, and that was just GTA3. Anyone else remember particular Rockstar send-ups in the GTA series?

I am so glad these guys proved to be the dirt bags I always thought they were when I saw their games. Highlighting the worst of society, and exploiting it for a buck, never seemed to be a good story and game play to me. Now look at them defending their parodying of movies like Colors, and South Central by going after the Simpson's Game. Do they really believe any gamer over the age of 18 doesn't know their ideas are huge bites from movies? Running over a hooker doesn't mean your story is original and innovative even if Gamespot tells you differently Rockstar.

Yeah I'm disappointed in rockstar for this. Even so, I'm still going to buy GTA.

Of all the childish...

Hey Rockstar, better threaten Marvel as well
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimates#.22Grand_Theft_America.22_.28The_Ultimates_2_.237-13.29

Waaaaaah. I think we should all chip in and send R* a case of Summer's Eve to wash out their sandy vaginas.

So.fucking.lame.

Rockstar doesn't have a strong legal case given the Supreme Court's recognition of parody as "Fair Use" even when done for profit.
Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc., 510 U.S. 578 (1994)

However, they can delay the release of the game indefinitely through litigation, effectively strong arming EA into giving them what they want.

What? Rockstar using mob tactics?

Not surprising perhaps, but still an a-hole move.

Maybe they played the demo of the Simpsons game, realized it was awful and decided they wanted to distance themselves.

If Rockstar is doing this simply because they don't want parodies of their game showing up, then yes... screw that. However, if they are doing it because this is a Teen rated game that will be marketed to audiences that include younger people... well I can understand with all their legal problems if they don't want that hanging over them. It's all about perception in the legal system, unfortunately.

Didn't GTA mock True Crime in one of their games?

A satirical take on GTA? I thought that's what Simpsons: Hit And Run was!

This is a giant case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Yeah, this is _almost_ as dumb as Fox News trying to sue the show over their satirical news crawl bit, not quite that stupid but close.

It was said in an earlier thread, I forget by who, but "Grand Theft Otto" would have been so much better.

It still would've been taken out, apparently.

Rockstar=yeast-laden coochie

Someone needs to post the email address of whoever is responsible so we can start a peaceful campaign of flooding that inbox with criticism and personal attacks.

Break the circle and stop the movement, the wheel is thrown to the ground
Just remember it might start rolling and take you right back around

You're all fools!
The Mob Rules!

Lawyers are obviously running that company now, not gamers. They sit there and fight hard to parodize every industry, and every city, and get taken to court, and look how the hypocrites behave when the Simpsons take a shot at THEM.

So lame.

As someone else pointed out above, the Simpsons game looks to be chocked full of suck. On top of that, Grand Theft Scratchy is NOT a parody, it's a weak ass reference. Something has to make a joke or be funny to be considered parody.

If the Simpsons game managed to save Grand Theft Scratchy after the Rockstar dispute, I would have so played GTS and boycotted GTA.

Yes, I'm that retarded to affect my gameplay according to relationships between developing companies.

It makes me laugh.... but back in like 97-98 EA bought out the rights to a favorite game of mine at the time. "Aliens Online" Which was hosted by "gamestorm"

The game was pretty much like the movie "Aliens". EA bought it,... canned it. And pissed off many people. They didnt seem to care.... I even knew people who wrote letters to EA, asking them to sell the rights to them.... EA would not, and the game hasn't been back in population since. Freaking Corporate Big wigs.... all they care about is the mighty dollar, and how fat their going to get. So to EA..... you got what you deserved. Karma's a.... well you know.

I guess you can say I have a biased opinion against EA, and everything they represent. Like buying the NFL rights, so NO-ONE else, can even make a game with the active players.... this world is so screwed up. From Iraq, to video games, everyone just cares about their own self.... Could you even imagine a world where people actually helped each other??? Well I can, and it would be alot better then this.... People? ha!

ok... enough from me :)