LotG 24 – Melina Bueller’s Day Off: Geoff’s Interviews at Chicon 7

• Today’s episode features three great interviews from Geoff at Chicon 7, while Melina was busy goofing off at Dragon*Con on her birthday.

• Because this was recorded at a convention panel, the sound quality is not up to par with our normal episodes, and may be inconsistent from interview to interview.

• In addition, this episode has not been substantially edited. If this is the first episode you’ve ever listened to, we recommend you go back on our website and listen to one of our earlier episodes to get acquainted with us.

• First, Geoff talks to the energetic Daniel M. Kimmel, former lawyer turned film critic, and Hugo Nominee for Best Related Work for Jar Jar Binks Must Die . . . and Other Observations about Science Fiction Movies, which can be found here. His reviews can currently be found at northshoremovies.net.

• Next, Geoff talks to the up and coming scifi author Nancy Fulda, Hugo Nominee for Best Short Story for “Movement,” who is also nominated for the Nebula Award. More details on her can be found here and here.

• Finally, the vigilant Geoff tackles issues related to fanfic, joint collaboration, Star Trek, vampires, and “intimate adventures,” with Jacqueline Lichtenberg and Jean Lorrah, joint collaborators on the Sime- Gen Universe. These interesting ladies know the importance of understanding intellectual property law for writers. Forever Knight… Really, Geoff? More information can be found here, here, here, and here.

• A big thanks to Geoff for giving Melina her “Day Off” at Dragon*Con for her birthday.

• We promise to return in two weeks with a deliciously “Evil” regularly scheduled episode!

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LotG 23 – Law for Geeks: A Gencon Panel!

In this episode, Melina Pinilla, Geoff Gerber, and fellow attorney Justin D. Jacobson (http://geeklawyers.com/) team up to answer geeky questions about the law for Gencon attendees!

Because this was recorded at a convention panel, the sound quality is not up to par with our normal episodes, and you might have trouble hearing some of the audience questions.

In addition, this episode has not been substantially edited. If this is the first episode you’ve ever listened to, we recommend you go back on our website and listen to one of our earlier episodes to get acquainted with us.

And remember, none of this is legal advice folks!

Geoff and I will return in two weeks with a regularly scheduled episode! Enjoy!

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EP 22 – Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

• I. Melina and Geoff pat themselves on the back a bit for the ENnie Nomination and Parsec Finalist news!

• II. Gencon is this weekend!!

• III. Something New: Will a D&D Monster Manual illustrator sue Rush Limbaugh? To be determined!

• IV. Something Borrowed: Novels starting as Fanfic, a twitter discussion from @pedr.

• V. Something Old: It’s time to update several of our old episodes and let you know what’s been happening in the courts!

• VI. Scrolls v. Elder Scrolls – Episode 3

• V. SOPA – Episode 4

• VI. Cowboys and Aliens v. Cowboys and Aliens – Episode 6

• VII. Diary of a Wimpy Kid v. Diary of a Zombie Kid – Episode 7

• VIII. EBookopoly Lawsuit – Episode 14

• IX. Inspectre Spacetime v. The Untitled Webseries about a Space Traveler Who can Also Travel Through time – Episode 15

• X. Tripletown v. Yetitown– Episode 16

• XI. OMG it’s the OGL – Episode 17

• XII. Link v. Assassin’s Creed – Episode 18

• XIII. FunnyJunk v. The Oatmeal – Episode 19

• XIV. Legal Precautions for Game Designers – Episode 20

• XV. Hmmmm…. did we get to something blue?

• XVI. Come see us at Gencon – it’s going to be a blast! Come by our panel, Law for Geeks, at 3pm on Friday in the convention center, for an on-site recording of our next episode!

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LotG 21 – It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s a Superlawsuit!

• SPECIAL PRE-SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT: Thanks to everyone who voted for us in the ENnies! We are also a finalist for a Parsec award for Best Fact Behind the Fiction Podcast. It’s been an exciting year!

• Today we have an episode on a very complex “Super” topic. Melina admits to being woefully unprepared for this topic. She’s also been watching a lot of Dark Shadows.

• A little about copyright assignment termination rights from Geoff. Are you still awake?

• Geoff and Melina have to take a brief time out. Intermission music provided.

• A little about interlocutory appeals from Geoff. Geoff likes Latin. Melina likes the Carmina Burana. If you weren’t asleep before, you definitely are now.

• Geoff and Melina realize they STILL haven’t explained what the case is about. 17 minutes in, we finally start talking about Superman and what the suit is about.

• Why this lawsuit is a big deal, including the new Superman reboot.

• How the lawsuit “got weird.” The case of the angry attorney and the unlikely holiday gift.

• Superman as a criminal mastermind? Melina tests Geoff on his Superman origin knowledge.

• Melina and Geoff banter for a bit about the new movie.

• Don’t forget to come to our panel at Gencon Indy! Friday, 3pm, in the convention center! Catch us in 2 weeks!

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Vote for Law of the Geek for an ENnie!

Law of the Geek has been nominated for an ENnie Award! If you want to help us win, please go vote here! Your support is really appreciated!

Please abide by all the rules of the contest!

Thanks!

Lotg 20 – Project Ninja Panda Taco! Legal Precautions for Game Designers

• IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT! Law of the Geek is one of five podcasts that has been nominated for a Gen Con EN World RPG Award (also called an ENnie”). These awards are peoples’ choice awards, and the final winners are voted upon online by the gaming public.

  Therefore, we really need your help!! Voting starts this Friday and only runs for 10 days – it only takes a few moments, and we’ll have a link on our website starting Friday where you can go vote. If you’ve ever listened to us, we desperately need your vote, so please consider taking a moment on Friday to vote. And congratulations to all of the other nominees, as well as to all of the podcasts who submitted this year. We are deeply honored by this nomination.

• Today we have a very special short episode with Jenn Steen from the Jennisodes Podcast!
  Unfortunately Geoff is off this week, so it will be 30 minutes of estrogen filled fun. Girls
  Gone Gaming?

• Jenn is an Indie Game Designer based out of Pennsylvania and host of The Jennisodes,
  which can be found here.

• A little bit about Project Ninja Panda Taco, her new game!

• Melina finds out what legal precautions Jenn chose to take at each stage of the process
  and what she plans to do in the future.

• Jenn advises the listeners to always pay their taxes. She does not like getting into
  trouble.

• Come to Gencon Indy if you want to meet Jenn!

• Help back Project Ninja Panda Taco here – it only runs for one more week and there are some really awesome rewards levels! And find more here to get updates after the Kickstarter funds!

• In two weeks, catch your regularly scheduled Law of the Geek episode, featuring the RETURN OF GEOFF aka “The IP Powerhouse,” for a very “suuuuuper” topic!

• Thanks to Jenn for coming on the show! And congrats to her for her ENnie nomination as well!

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LotG 019 – Carreon My Wayward Son

• I. A pre-show legal disclaimer as well as kid disclaimer. This episode is rated PG-13.

• II. Announcement: Gencon pre-registration has closed! If you’re planning to attend,
  prepare for long at-the-door registration lines.

• III. FunnyJunk v. The Oatmeal – lots of disclaimers, and the background story.

• IV. The blog post and charity campaign that started it all, here.

• V. The complaint dissected: Carreon v. Inman, et al.

• VI. Suing the National Wildlife Federation and American Cancer Society to impose a
  constructive trust.

• VII. Suing Inman and “John Does” of the Internet for Use of a False Designation and
  Cybervandalism.

• V. Thanks to the many people who emailed us this story. Catch us in two weeks!

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LotG 018 – The Short Unhappy Life of a Copyright Lawsuit

• NonLegal Disclaimer: Melina is sick and sounds really whiny this episode.

• Diecon is coming up! Get details here! Come play 4E with Melina!

• Today’s episode is a listener submitted topic submitted by @williampall – Link: A Novel versus the Assassin’s Creed franchise.

• A short lawsuit with a long complaint: Beiswenger v. Ubisoft Entertainment et al.

• A very long tangent about hypnosis and accessing your ancestral memories.

• Geoff’s bad experience with being strapped to a chair.

• The complaint makes Geoff and Melina giggle. A lot.

• Link: A Novel. As read by Geoff Gerber.

• Ubisoft turns the tables on Beiswenger.

• A special announcement from Jennisodes and The Podge Cast! Law of the Geek is a proud sponsor of the GenCon Social. If you’re coming to GenCon, be sure to get a ticket to the GenCon Social, available here!

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LotG 17: OMG it’s the OGL!

• Today’s episode is a follow-up to last week’s discussion on copyrightability of systems, or lack
  thereof.

• II. Announcements: The St. Louis Ren Faire is still going on for another week. Diecon is coming up!
  Also, check out the Good Old Boys Game Club on Facebook and be sure to check out the
  next Game Day! Geoff and Melina attended Game Day Saturday – it was a ton of fun!

• III. Deconstructing D&D.

• IV. Ogling the OGL. Permission to breathe, captain?

• V. Catch us in two weeks!

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LotG Episode 16: Warning! System Failure!

• I. Today’s topic is a listener mail topic submitted by Pete Griffith aka @pedr. It’s a recent lawsuit involving a game called “Triple Town” and a game called “Yeti Town” – an issue that implicates the question of whether game systems are protectable under copyright law.

• II. Announcement! GenCon Event Registration opened yesterday. If you’re attending, be sure to come meet us at our free question and answer panel on Law for Geeks – with Justin D. Jacobson, a fellow attorney and gamer over in Florida. Friday at 3pm! Find the catalogue on GenCon’s website, here!

• III. Another announcement! If you’re in the STL area, check out the Wentzville Renaissance Faire, which also opened this past weekend. Get directions and more information, here.

• IV. Let’s get to the main topic! Background on Triple Town and Yeti Town.

• V. The Complaint: filed in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington at Seattle. 12-cv-147. Spry Fox, LLC v. Lolapps, Inc. et al.

• VI. We talk about the similarities alleged in complaint. And Geoff loses all Star Wars related geek cred. WAMPA!

• VII. The current status of the suit.

• VIII. Are games protected by copyright law? Let’s break it down!! What is and what isn’t protected.

• IX. How the suit may play out.

• X. Come play Fiasco with Melina at “Game Day” in Arnold. Details here.

• XI. Thanks for listening! Have a great Memorial Day Weekend! Catch us in 2 weeks!

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