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GAMING NEWS

UPDATED: Mega Man Rock Band, The Protomen, Sent Cease and Desist by Capcom

Posted on Sunday, July 24 @ 18:19:07 Eastern by
[UPDATE] I'm being informed that the e-mail I saw from a lawyer to The Protomen is most likely a fake. We are in the Internet age, I suppose. I'm still feeling depressed. What does this say about Capcom that I so readily believed it?

[ORIGINAL STORY] You know, I gave all of this a pass. Frankly, I haven't bought a copy of Marvel vs. Capcom 3 yet. I wasn't planning on it. The Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D stuff didn't really bother me either. Mega Man Legends 3 getting canceled... OK, I was a little miffed because any time someone says, "Sorry, this is a game you won't be able to buy for your 3DS, but we know you were looking forward to giving us your money, but no we're just not going to take it, you'll have to play more Nintendo games, I know you were going to do that already but now you're going to have to do that even harder, also we just don't want your money because we're stupid"... I get kind of pissed.

Now I'm really upset. Longtime fanboy rock-and-roll group The Protomen, known for covering Mega Man songs and like, totally rocking sh** out and probably making absolutely sh** money have been ordered to "Cease and Desist" by Capcom. Mega Man level boss "Lawyer Man" Derek K Yu sent the following to The Protomen:

CEASE AND DESIST DEMAND
Pursuant to Title 17 of the United States Code

February 20, 2011

Derek K. Yu
400 S. El Camino Real, Suite 600
San Mateo, CA, 94402

Dear Mr. Weller

This law firm represents Capcom U.S.A. Inc., Henceforth referred to as "Capcom" If you are represented by legal counsel, please direct this letter to your attorney immediately and have your attorney notify us of such representation.

We are writing to notify you that the unlawful copying of the "Mega Man" video game franchise (henceforth referred to as "Mega Man") by the band consisting of yourself, Alan Shacklock, Raul Panther, Scartoe Gleason, Doug Mesich, Andy Sproe, Mike Martel, Derek Haight, Robert Hawkins, and Greg Costa henceforth referred to as "The Protomen," infringes upon our client's exclusive copyrights. Accordingly, you are herby directed to

CEASE AND DESIST ALL COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT.

Capcom is the owner of a copyright in various aspects of Mega Man. Under United States copyright law, Capcom's copyrights have been in effect since the date that Mega Man was created. All copyrightable aspects of Mega Man are copyrighted under United States copyright law.

The letter goes on to detail the startling amounts of money Capcom would sue The Protomen for should they continue making their music, doing their thing, otherwise rocking sh** out while also paying tribute to Mega Man.

The Protomen have stated that they will fight the good fight, but ultimately I'm feeling more depressed than ever with Capcom. I'm going to go check my rights to make sure Capcom can't sue me should I have anything bad to say about them. I'll let you know what I find. Please use the anonymity of our comments section to share your thoughts.

I'll just say... if you rock sh** out and like Mega Man, you'd better stop right now.

[Source]
Related Games:   Mega Man 10
Tags:   Capcom, Mega Man


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Comments
  • Nick_Tan
    Nick_Tan

    Joined: Jul 2006
    Posted: Jul 24th, 2011 at 6:51 pm
    The Protomen have been around since 2003, so why haven't they received a cease and desist letter until now? Makes you wonder...
  • tinymhg
    tinymhg

    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posted: Jul 24th, 2011 at 7:02 pm
    I nominate Capcom for your next I'm With Stupid award. Instead of siccing their lawyers on these guys, who are now getting more attention than they ever have, Capcom should have sent a PR guy. Now Capcom is getting more bad attention and pissing more people off, instead they should have embrace this band winning some good will from Mega Man fans.
  • tinymhg
    tinymhg

    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posted: Jul 24th, 2011 at 9:58 pm
    I still nominate Capcom for your next I'm With Stupid award. Everything else. Never mind!
  • Kese_Arcade
    Kese_Arcade

    Joined: May 2011
    Posted: Jul 24th, 2011 at 9:14 pm
    Not surprised you believed it (if it is fake). Capcom has been on a real a**hole roll lately.
  • Lien
    Lien

    Joined: Feb 2008
    Posted: Jul 24th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
    Hope rides alone indeed...
  • Lien
    Lien

    Joined: Feb 2008
    Posted: Jul 24th, 2011 at 11:13 pm
    Ok guys this is getting scary, i can't get to the protomen's website. It directs to capcom's homepage. Not cool capcom, i went to their concerts and bought their shirts... even got it sign by the band. NOT COOL! YOU SONOVA!
    www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh2OnBDrAIU
  • MaXXine
    MaXXine

    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posted: Jul 25th, 2011 at 2:48 am
    That is just horrible even if it's just a fake. The thought of being pulled through the legal meat-grinder must have been terrifying. The possibility that Capcom might change their legal stance on fan projects just like that will be a nagging thought in the back of their minds from now on.
  • Vagabond
    Vagabond

    Joined: Oct 2005
    Posted: Jul 25th, 2011 at 3:10 am
    Is it too late to start boycotting Capcom. Protomen were just rocking out and showing their love for their favorite franchise. Is that SO wrong?
  • Mcers
    Mcers

    Joined: Mar 2009
    Posted: Jul 25th, 2011 at 6:17 am
    Dear Capcom... CEASE AND DESIST YOU ARE RUINING MY HAPPY MEMORIES OF WHEN YOU DIDNT SCREW US!!
  • TheNameless12984
    TheNameless12984

    Joined: Nov 2005
    Posted: Jul 25th, 2011 at 8:18 am
    Dame. It seems Capcom is doing everything they can to erase Mega Man from the world, even to the point that they would destroy non-profit fan projects like The Protomen.
  • Vilhelm
    Vilhelm

    Joined: Jul 2011
    Posted: Jul 26th, 2011 at 7:50 am
    "I'm being informed that the e-mail I saw from a lawyer to The Protomen is most likely a fake. We are in the Internet age, I suppose. I'm still feeling depressed. What does this say about Capcom that I so readily believed it?"

    I think this tells us more about your journalistic aptitude (read: lack of journalistic methods and research) than anything else.

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