RukBot
01-10-2023, 12:23 PM
https://www.destructoid.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/sega-mega-drive-visual-compendium-canceled.jpg
Volume pulled from sale due to 'non-negotiable' stanceBitmap Books, publisher of the fantastic "Visual Compendium" range, has regretfully canceled its long-delayed volume Sega Mega Drive: A Visual Compendium, following legal fallout from Sega itself.
The new tome would have been the eighth release in the popular Bitmap Books series (https://www.destructoid.com/the-super-nintendo-is-next-in-line-for-a-visual-compendium/), following on from editions on platforms such as the Atari 2600, Commodore 64, Commodore Amiga, NES, and SNES. The sleek, hefty books feature a plethora of visual material from each platform's archives, ranging from sprites and stages to boxart and marketing materials. Sega had originally backed Bitmap Books for a Sega Master System edition, but seemingly would not close the same deal for its 16-bit counterpart.
"We?ve had to push back the release date a few times, and as of now, have not communicated why," writes creative director Sam Dyer in a statement to Bitmap Books' fans (https://www.bitmapbooks.com/blogs/news/the-unofficial-md-gen-a-visual-compendium). "I'm afraid to say that we have been asked by Sega to remove the listing or face potential legal action. As a small business, this is not something we can risk. After discussions, their position is non-negotiable. It is of course their right to protect their IP as they see fit."
https://www.destructoid.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/sega-mega-drive-visual-compendium-canceled-2.jpg
"Personally I have regrets with this project, as I should have put the brakes on a while back," continues Dyer. "Instead I pressed on with the belief that it would be OK because of the various efforts made to state that the book is 'unofficial' and the skew towards third-party games. I was also buoyed by the number of SEGA fan related projects that were out there that are not challenged legally. In hindsight, this was a mistake, and I should have shelved the project."
"As of today, I must admit defeat. I'm not prepared to risk everything I've worked for, and jeopardise the amazing projects we have in the works. As a small business, we cannot fight something like this legally."
The publisher notes that it hopes to find a way to release the Sega Mega Drive Visual Compendium as a free PDF, should such a method be both plausible and, one would assume, legally viable.
You can check out the Visual Compendium series over on the Bitmap Books website. (https://www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/all-books)
The post Bitmap Books cans Mega Drive Visual Compendium following Sega legal threat (https://www.destructoid.com/bitmap-books-sega-mega-drive-visual-compendium-cancelled/) appeared first on Destructoid (https://www.destructoid.com).
More...
Volume pulled from sale due to 'non-negotiable' stanceBitmap Books, publisher of the fantastic "Visual Compendium" range, has regretfully canceled its long-delayed volume Sega Mega Drive: A Visual Compendium, following legal fallout from Sega itself.
The new tome would have been the eighth release in the popular Bitmap Books series (https://www.destructoid.com/the-super-nintendo-is-next-in-line-for-a-visual-compendium/), following on from editions on platforms such as the Atari 2600, Commodore 64, Commodore Amiga, NES, and SNES. The sleek, hefty books feature a plethora of visual material from each platform's archives, ranging from sprites and stages to boxart and marketing materials. Sega had originally backed Bitmap Books for a Sega Master System edition, but seemingly would not close the same deal for its 16-bit counterpart.
"We?ve had to push back the release date a few times, and as of now, have not communicated why," writes creative director Sam Dyer in a statement to Bitmap Books' fans (https://www.bitmapbooks.com/blogs/news/the-unofficial-md-gen-a-visual-compendium). "I'm afraid to say that we have been asked by Sega to remove the listing or face potential legal action. As a small business, this is not something we can risk. After discussions, their position is non-negotiable. It is of course their right to protect their IP as they see fit."
https://www.destructoid.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/sega-mega-drive-visual-compendium-canceled-2.jpg
"Personally I have regrets with this project, as I should have put the brakes on a while back," continues Dyer. "Instead I pressed on with the belief that it would be OK because of the various efforts made to state that the book is 'unofficial' and the skew towards third-party games. I was also buoyed by the number of SEGA fan related projects that were out there that are not challenged legally. In hindsight, this was a mistake, and I should have shelved the project."
"As of today, I must admit defeat. I'm not prepared to risk everything I've worked for, and jeopardise the amazing projects we have in the works. As a small business, we cannot fight something like this legally."
The publisher notes that it hopes to find a way to release the Sega Mega Drive Visual Compendium as a free PDF, should such a method be both plausible and, one would assume, legally viable.
You can check out the Visual Compendium series over on the Bitmap Books website. (https://www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/all-books)
The post Bitmap Books cans Mega Drive Visual Compendium following Sega legal threat (https://www.destructoid.com/bitmap-books-sega-mega-drive-visual-compendium-cancelled/) appeared first on Destructoid (https://www.destructoid.com).
More...