Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsBlizzard sends a C&D to Warcraft Characters, other iPhone apps
by Mike Schramm 
Apr 29th 2009 at 9:00PM
The good news here: Blizzard may be planning to do more with the iPhone. The bad news: they're apparently trying to squelch useful iPhone apps that are out there right now. They've already sent out cease-and-desist orders to two Warcraft-related iPhone apps that were charging money (Armory Browser and the Warcraft Arena Calculator), and now we've heard from its creator that Warcraft Characters has gotten the C&D treatment as well (here's his post on the subject, though his site appears to be down at the moment). Just before he was set to announce the alpha of the 3.0 version of the app, Blizzard dropped him legal notice to stop distrbution. As of this writing, however, the app is still on the App Store, so get it while you can. Warcraft Chest and WoWTalent appear to still be available on the store as well, and WoWTalent is still charging 99 cents.For whatever reason, it appears Blizzard is going after even free programs released on the iPhone that use their information from the Armory. We're not quite sure why -- an optimist might guess that they're planning to release an Armory app of their own on the iPhone, or they're worried that people might confuse the official iPhone app with one that's unofficial. Or maybe they're just being cautious of their copyrights, though that's a pretty harsh assessment -- there are other MMOs who surivive and thrive off of unofficial iPhone and desktop apps.
It would be a real shame if Blizzard legal was simply going after fans who have invested a lot of time and effort into these apps even when there's no clear reason for them to do so. Clearing the field for an official app is one thing, but closing down a useful product for your players built solely by your fans just to erase a perceived threat is entirely another.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Add-Ons, Hardware
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
Geoff Apr 30th 2009 6:27AM
So, how long before they do the same to Curse.com?
Darkrose Apr 30th 2009 5:41AM
Blizzard has put the Armory online. I can understand they are unhappy about someone coding a different front-end and then charging money for that.
Regardless of the hours of coding that have undoubtedly been put into the Armory apps for the iPhone, those that charge money are basically charging money for relaying a service to the end-user - a service that is hosted and paid for by Blizzard in the first place.
As far as the C&D to free apps are concerned, I'm guessing they either got caught in the cross-fire, or Blizz is taking this approach for legal reasons. For example, from what I understand is that if people (ab)use something that is copyrighted by you, you have to act on it, otherwise you are implying to be ok with it. Which might give you lots of trouble in future disputes. I'm not a lawyer, but perhaps there is some legal reason more or less similar to this that makes them send notices to the free apps as well.
Noah Apr 30th 2009 6:32AM
This just makes me wonder why Blizzard isn't actively working WITH these developers instead of against them.
CCP (EVE Online) has a fancy API that allows anyone to grab information about your specific character using a special key which can be shared/changed/etc.
Anyhoo, there is an app in the iTunes store called Capsuleer which uses this API to let you know what's going on with your character. It's actually be sanctioned by CPP. Why wouldn't they want developers giving their game more exposure on the iTunes store?
If Blizzard doesn't come out an official app, this will leave a very bad taste in my mouth...
Khaled Apr 30th 2009 6:38AM
Lame Blizzard! These apps are free!!
What's next? asking wowhead/thottbot/wowwiki/wowinsider to stop ???
Sieglinde Apr 30th 2009 7:20AM
Another thought may be that the source of the spam/scam ingame mail which targets the members of guilds with higher gear may be people using these apps to gain guild lists and gear. Our guild was targeted by someone who used a name almost identical to one of my toons (only changed the "i" to a "ì") to give it validity, then recommended a URL to visit. As I'm a high ranking officer, which shows on the Armory, it would make sense to use this toon, because people would believe me.
I know this has happened to other guilds, because the same scenario was in the forum, and maybe Blizzard is trying to shut down access to the Armory through apps that they cannot control. Perhaps their app has more security abilities, maybe some kind of tracking, which the other apps may not have. That's speculation, but the use of the Armory to target guilds for the purpose of sending people to a URL that may put a keylogger on is something that is in everyone's best interest to squelch.
dalton Apr 30th 2009 8:02AM
lol at the blizzard apologists.
Olicon Apr 30th 2009 7:50AM
I think maybe..just maybe.. it has to do with the Martin Fury scandal. If I were Bliz, I would be plugging every single possible loopholes there could ever possibly be.
Tondef Apr 30th 2009 8:16AM
I kind of wonder if this means that they will now hammer Curse for pushing their "premium" service. Notice how they blocked the better updater (WoWMatrix) then amazingly fixed that standard-premium account bug that Curse has had in it's updater for years so that now you can't use the Update All anymore.
Hoggersbud Apr 30th 2009 11:31AM
It wasn't a bug dude, they deliberately set it up to work while their client was still in beta.
Aedilhild Apr 30th 2009 9:05AM
Unless these app devs are usufructuaries, Blizzard, as owner of the Armory and other assets, chooses who may and may not benefit or profit from its intellectual and physical property. End of conversation.
Dreamshadow Apr 30th 2009 9:07AM
The downside to all of this is that Apple can disable the app and remove it from our systems without us doing anything. You'd have to stop synching your iPod touch / iPhone to keep the app.
Frank Apr 30th 2009 10:10AM
not true. just uncheck that app from your prefs for updating when syncing.
Robert Apr 30th 2009 9:12AM
I think this ties back to the recently updated Add-On policy along with the lawsuit against Glider. It appears that Blizzard is trying to ensure that no one is profiting from third-party application development of any sort. This may be to prevent appeals from Glider or future "Glider" type applications from being able to use existing Add-Ons / third-party apps from creating a precedence that could be used to gain leverage in a lawsuit.
Jamus Apr 30th 2009 9:47AM
Hey Blizz... put up or shut up. You can complain about it when you have something you think is better. Until then, lay off the devs who are actually helping you out.
James Riggs Apr 30th 2009 10:10AM
Fuck you Blizz. You can have my character app when you come get my phone.
JB Apr 30th 2009 11:16AM
Uh, the only people really using the armory are those that have paid accounts on WoW. Why would anyone who doesn't already have an open account for WoW ever need to browse the Armory!?
This is just another sign that Blizz is preparing their own app and I think it's safe to say it will be more than .99 cents.
/shame
DavidC Apr 30th 2009 11:29AM
There is really no difference between "selling" a UI Mod and "selling" an iPhone app. This is not surprising and completely in keeping with their policy that WoW is THEIR property and others should not be making money off it. At least not in a traditional buyer/seller relationship.
Vince Apr 30th 2009 1:17PM
They should come after wow insider now for using the word wow. :)
OMG you should pay all your money to Blizzard for using wow.
LudoThegreat Apr 30th 2009 1:34PM
Blizzard disgusts me anymore. They have become nothing but a pathetic money hungry garbage making company. Maybe they should focus more on fixing issues with wow or how to release a patch with out destroying an entire game for weeks before worrying about someone else making no money on an application that works.
akw Apr 30th 2009 2:09PM
"there are other MMOs who surivive and thrive off of ..."
There aren't any other MMOs who operate on a scale that makes it meaningful to compare them with WoW, when it comes to talking about marketing decisions.