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Blizzard and Korean Government's negotiations sour

Forum Index > Brood War 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 All
 
 Ambasa   United States. October 07 2010 14:53. Posts 29
Profile Blog # 
Note: This is a translation of a blog entry.



Someone posted a snippet of a blog post on PGR21.com, of a guy who posted a first person account of a meeting between Mike Morhaime and the Department of Culture's vice Minister. Due to its sensitive nature, the blog post was quickly deleted by the writer. However, small portions were recoverable by using search engines, and me being a curious little bugger google searched everyline and used the preview to recover the entire post 8)

Gives you a little bit of an idea of what's truly going on, huh
+ Show Spoiler +

Rough Translation:

"The Government Shouldn't be shaken by Blizzard" -

Last Month, Blizzard's President Mike Morhaime met with the Vice Minister of Korean Department of Culture. The related articles were published saying "A Warm, Accepting Atmosphere", "Promise to continue negotiating", "Progress Seen", but reality was a little, no, a lot different.

As soon as they met, Mike Morhaime started "protesting", exclaiming "Korea isn't following international rules, huh!" "What are you gonna do about people not respecting intellectual property rights!!!". The Vice Minister of course responded angrily, saying "Who do you think you are to say these things to the Minister? You're just a president of an ordinary corporation!!!" [T/N: lines are said in a much angrier tone on statements from both MM and Minister]. orz....

So the people around recovered the demolished atmosphere and disbanded after agreeing to talk about next time, but the dominating viewpoint that Blizzard has already given up any hopes of being able to negotiate with Korea. KeSPA has offered money to settle rather late (3~500 million won), but Blizzard didn't even flinch, and yesterday there was people talking about "GSL may be going overseas...".

Personally I think they have no reason to stay when it's now certain that they're looked upon scornfully especially when they have to fight against the Government, but after looking at the statement said by the opposing party, I was reminded of when Blizzard vented "You guys are going too far just because we're a foreign company" orz... I'm reminded of the materials released yesterday about how China is buying a lot of Korean companies and how China's gaming industry is invading Korea, and as always, I think the comedy is continuing.

About President MM... It's something he won't hear even if he meets Obama, so because he just had a very unique experience he will never have again, he should be satisfied with that? (huh?)




Apparently the Government's stance is that while the game isn't communal property, it's hard to see it as a completely private property, according to this guy's follow up posts.
Last edit: 2010-10-07 18:11:02
I'm the better carbonated milk, thank you. See? I'm even Terran!
Old Post

 
 phosphorylation   October 07 2010 14:57. Posts 2651
Profile Blog # 
Blizzard vs Korea
Good luck blizzard.
 
Old Post

  Waxangel   United States. October 07 2010 14:57. Posts 19038Profile Blog # 
Honestly don't know if this is good or bad...

Does the korean government really have KeSPA's back? And even so, it's a judiciary matter if it goes to trial anyway, so will that even matter? This thing does seem more and more likely to go to court at this pace.
Hey HP can you redo everything youve ever done because i have a small complaint?
Old Post

 
 ii.blitzkrieg   Canada. October 07 2010 14:59. Posts 851
Profile Blog # 
Korea ain't shook.
#1 iloveoov fan || BW Forever.
Old Post

 
 Cambium   Japan. October 07 2010 14:59. Posts 15621
Profile Blog # 

The Vice Minister of course responded angrily, saying "Who do you think you are to say these things to the Minister? You're just a president of an ordinary corporation!!!"

I like this line.
When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.
Old Post

  Lightwip   United States. October 07 2010 14:59. Posts 5497Profile Blog # 
I really don't think it would be wise for Blizzard to bad mouth a government organization. The government generally has the power to screw you over if they don't like you.
The Ministry of Culture is directly connected to this scene, I don't think they should've said this.


As soon as they met, Mike Morhaime started "protesting", exclaiming "Korea isn't following international rules, huh!"

What exactly is this line supposed to accomplish?


The Vice Minister of course responded angrily, saying "Who do you think you are to say these things to the Minister? You're just a president of an ordinary corporation!!!"

Ouch.


So the people around recovered the demolished atmosphere and disbanded after agreeing to talk about next time, but the dominating viewpoint that Blizzard has already given up any hopes of being able to negotiate with Korea.

Does this mean they'll stop business in Korea? That's a damn terrible idea.


yesterday there was people talking about "GSL may be goin goverseas..."

That may sink any popularity it ever had...


I think they have no reason to stay when it's now certain that they're looked upon scornfully especially when they have to fight against the Government

In no small part their own fault.


"You guys are going too far just because we're a foreign company"

Even if true, saying this is just gonna piss the other party off. When the other party is the government, you don't want this.
orz... I'm reminded of the materials released yesterday about how Chin


Apparently the Government's stance is that while the game isn't communal property, it's hard to see it as a completely private property, according to this guy's follow up posts.


This is as good as it could possibly get considering international laws.
Last edit: 2010-10-07 15:06:07
If you are not Bisu, chances are I hate you.
Old Post

  Selith   United States. October 07 2010 15:02. Posts 238Profile # 
Considering KeSPA is related to some of the biggest corporations in Korea, yes, they have a hand or two into the Korean government system in more ways than just gaming.
Old Post

 
 1a2a3aPro   Canada. October 07 2010 15:06. Posts 181
Profile # 
This just in, Blizzard after signing with Activision and releasing SC2 finally feels ready in their newly-found arrogance to.. take on... a fliping country...

Really? -_-'
We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.
Old Post

 
 ComusLoM   Norway. October 07 2010 15:07. Posts 3515
Profile Blog # 
I wish Blizzard would just take the money. While I've never really approved of Kespa's way of handling things I am reminded of Peter's decision (in family guy) making of whether or not to take the boat or the mystery box. "The boat is a boat, but the box could be anything, even a boat!".

It really seems like Blizzard just want to push and push this until they get some unknown quantity of benefits (or lose their position altogether) It's an interesting gambit, but it's certainly not something anyone interested in both SC2 and BW can take as a good sign. I want BW to survive in Korea more than I want SC2, so taking the GSL somewhere else could potentially not be a bad thing. But damnit I want to have my cake and eat it too!
"The White Woman Speaks in Tongues That Are All Lies" - Incontrol Member #37 of the Chill Fanclub
Old Post

 
 Lokian   United States. October 07 2010 15:07. Posts 564
Profile # 
That doesn't sound like MM at all.

The ministry sounds like Kespa a while ago with the "Who do you think you are" rebuttle. I'm just going, what is this block of text?
Old Post

 
 seRapH   United States. October 07 2010 15:07. Posts 8243
Profile Blog # 
gogo korea!

stuff gsl overseas please! and broodwar will liiiiive!
+ Show Spoiler +
[Song Jieun best in show] miss A, Orange Caramel, Younha, (GNA’s spot if she decides to eat), IU ♀| |♂Epik High, Verbal Jint, Phantom, Jaybum, Wheesung
Old Post

 
 overt   United States. October 07 2010 15:09. Posts 3972
Profile Blog # 
The more I hear about this case the less I like Blizzard. Honestly at this point I regret buying StarCraft 2.
 
Old Post

 
 LuciferSC   Canada. October 07 2010 15:10. Posts 535
Profile # 
Can't see GSL moving out overseas from Korea.

Not only will they not be able to find sponsors to organize tournaments of the size of GSL 1 or 2, Korean pro-gamers wouldn't join in making it a amateur-level tournament at best.
Come get some
Old Post

 
 deafhobbit   United States. October 07 2010 15:10. Posts 827
Profile Blog # 
I'm not surprised. I've been saying from the beginning of this debacle that SC programing in Korea is an incredibly effective means of advertising for some of Korea's largest commercial entities. Chaebol don't have as much influence of the government as they did back before the Asian Financial Crisis, but they're still immensely powerful, and most of them utterly dwarf Activision/Blizzard. If this goes beyond negotiations and the government, either through courts or legislation, is forced to get involved, Blizzard will lose ... badly.
I cheer for underdogs and Flash
Old Post

  Lightwip   United States. October 07 2010 15:12. Posts 5497Profile Blog # 

On October 07 2010 15:07 ComusLoM wrote: I want BW to survive in Korea more than I want SC2, so taking the GSL somewhere else could potentially not be a bad thing. But damnit I want to have my cake and eat it too!

If GSL goes overseas it will die.
1. I don't think GOM is big enough to sponsor overseas operations like that(confirm/deny?)
2. Korea is the most pop.-dense supporter of e-sports
3. They lose a lot of credibility if people know the government got rid of them.
In all honesty the only way to keep them both running is if they resolve this peacefully.
If you are not Bisu, chances are I hate you.
Old Post

 
 splints   Canada. October 07 2010 15:12. Posts 85
Profile # 

On October 07 2010 15:09 overt wrote:
The more I hear about this case the less I like Blizzard. Honestly at this point I regret buying StarCraft 2.


QFT. Blizzard looks like they are trying to boss around a country (like Nike does with Indonesia, etc) because they are a multi-national corporation. If the translation and the news is correct, it was very disrespectful to talk to a Minister like that, just because it is a foreign country. I'm sure he would not talk to any departmental secretaries in the US like he did in that meeting.
 
Old Post

 
 T0fuuu   Australia. October 07 2010 15:15. Posts 2262
Profile Blog # 
Its not blizzard fighting against the government though.... its a fight against the corporate interests that back the Korean government. Kespa also happens to be a representative of said interests in the circle jerk that is politics.

Im more surprised at Mike flipping out and pulling the racism card. That is kind of taboo but it was pretty obvious that Blizzard wouldnt get the same backing from the government as a local company would.
 
Old Post

 
 ComusLoM   Norway. October 07 2010 15:17. Posts 3515
Profile Blog # 

On October 07 2010 15:12 Lightwip wrote:

Show nested quote +


If GSL goes overseas it will die.
1. I don't think GOM is big enough to sponsor overseas operations like that(confirm/deny?)
2. Korea is the most pop.-dense supporter of e-sports
3. They lose a lot of credibility if people know the government got rid of them.
In all honesty the only way to keep them both running is if they resolve this peacefully.

GSL would most probably die, yes, but if it could survive outside of Korea it would set a huge precedent for E-Sports in the Foreign scene (not a bad thing_. But as I said, I want both BW and SC2 to run alongside each other in harmony (like volleyball and beach volleyball) in Korea.
"The White Woman Speaks in Tongues That Are All Lies" - Incontrol Member #37 of the Chill Fanclub
Old Post

 
 Nemesis   Canada. October 07 2010 15:18. Posts 2325
Profile Blog # 
Cmon, Blizzard look down on people some more, and try and boss them around more.

They seriously need to get their head out of their asses.

GSL will definitely die if it goes overseas. Maybe, they should learn to actually follow the rules of the place instead of trying to boss everyone around.

Looks like it might be GG soon
Lee Young Ho fighting! KT P are just CHINTOSSTIC.
Old Post

  Selith   United States. October 07 2010 15:18. Posts 238Profile # 
Bad news for Korea:
http://www.clubcity.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=64339

In addition to Michael Morhaime, in attendance were: Members of USA FTA agency, as well as US embassy.

If it did go down as bad as the eyewitness says it were, it might cause very negative impact in upcoming USA FTA policy as well as relations with USA. Since Korean government is very pro-USA and would do anything to be on good side with them, they might find themselves to be between a rock and a hard place, as they must find a way to appease both Korean chae-bols and interests of USA.
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