Games Workshop ripped me off!!!!!! - Writers Forum

imrhati · 02-24-2006, 06:31 PM

around a year ago i wrote a book for the black library ( i actually happen to be in the process of rewriting this novel now) anyway in this book i invented a weapon called a pulse pistol which was a pistol version the pulse rifle and carbine which could eb held onboard ships, by battlesuit pilots and other lightly armed tau.

yesterday I get White Dwarf GW's official magazine and this month it has the new Tau sneak peeks and inside it has info about the pulse pistol!

i am not angry they ripped me off in fact it is kinda cool my idea probably influenced the new codex. anyway it is too bad i can't prove they ripped me off or man would i be rolling in the green stuff. no, i mean money

mammamaia · 02-24-2006, 06:42 PM

many times multiple minds will come up with the same idea, so don't be so sure you were ripped off... that's why the patent office exists, after all... and, as you admit, if you can't prove they took it from your copyrighted work, it's moot, anyway... welcome to the world of humans, honeybun!

love and consoling hugs, maia

Julianne · 02-24-2006, 06:43 PM

I'm not sure I understand the issue. If by "pulse pistol", you mean a small hand-held weapon that shoots lasers/bolts of energy/etc., then I'd say that idea has been around for YEARS in science fiction literature and movies. Didn't Captain Kirk have something like that?

Or is there something very specific about your particular pulse pistol that you think was copied?

woodcut.evolution · 02-24-2006, 08:10 PM

Seems like pure chance to me. If I know anything about GW it's that they take a long time to review & make up and review new rules. I would imagine their concept for the pulse pistol is about as old your writing the novel. Besides it was an existing weapon type, it's not a far leap for them to come up with a pulse pistol.

imrhati · 02-24-2006, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julianne

I'm not sure I understand the issue. If by "pulse pistol", you mean a small hand-held weapon that shoots lasers/bolts of energy/etc., then I'd say that idea has been around for YEARS in science fiction literature and movies. Didn't Captain Kirk have something like that?

Or is there something very specific about your particular pulse pistol that you think was copied?

will the tau use pulse rifles and pulse carbines which are pretty original as far as science fiction goes, the pistol is a single handed version. It is a pretty specific weapon and as i have never heard of a pulse pistol outside my writing up until when the rumours about the new codex began flying. I don' care if they ripped me off or were even inspired be my, actually i think that it is really cool!

Rob · 02-25-2006, 02:08 PM

around a year ago i wrote a book for the black library ( i actually happen to be in the process of rewriting this novel now) anyway in this book i invented a weapon called a pulse pistol

If you think you invented the pulse pistol, Google it. Then reconsider your accusation that GW ripped you off.

Cheers,
Omni

imrhati · 02-25-2006, 03:15 PM

k i googled it and yes they are weapons called pulse pistols, but none that are the same as my idea. the closest thing was someone made up a shitty space marine chapter that used pulse weaponry. whoever made that should bang their head on the wall.

Ben · 02-25-2006, 07:58 PM

Quote:

a pistol version the pulse rifle

If anything, you ripped them off.

imrhati · 02-25-2006, 09:32 PM

right...

kalibantre · 02-25-2006, 09:47 PM

hey.

I'm a cynic at heart, its kinda fun, so i'm thinking thi is a coincidence.. but I hope it wasn't. you seem very chirpy about it

imrhati · 02-25-2006, 09:58 PM

and why not?

Ilan Bouchard · 02-25-2006, 10:06 PM

That doesn't sound like a big innovation; all you did was think of a pistol version of a rifle, right?

imrhati · 02-26-2006, 10:46 AM

it goes deeper than that, you need to actually read the fluff to understand.

K-P · 03-11-2006, 06:39 PM

I once wrote a sci-fi story in which my characters used a future technology called a "microwave" oven. It was like a regular oven, except that it used "nulcure" technology to emit "micro" waves that heated whatever was placed in the "microwave" oven. In the climax of the story, the character placed a "tin" cup (another stolen idea; it's basically a cup, but made of a metal called "tin") into the "microwave" oven.

Next thing I know Black and Decker stole my idea.

So, I know how you feel, brother. Next time you come up with something as original as a "pulse" pistol, I suggest you immediately patent it.

Jay Harrison · 03-22-2006, 11:13 PM

Didn't GammaWorld, an early RPG of the early 80's have pulse pistols. That concept has been around for a while.