Wow, I can't believe this. I do not even know where to start. Well, I guess I could share this with the people here and show them what's going on:
I received this e-mail early in the morning:
"Dear Mr. Victor Fiori:
It has come to our attention that you have made an unauthorized use of our copyrighted work entitled The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords in the preparation of a work derived therefrom. We have reserved all rights in the work, first published in February 21st 1986 to present day. Your work entitled "Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Misadventures is essentially identical to the Work and clearly used the Work as its basis, for example: Copyrighted characters, backgrounds, artwork and music.
As you neither asked for nor received permission to use the Work as the basis for "Legend of Zelda: Four Swords" nor to make or distribute copies, including electronic copies, of same, I believe you have willfully infringed our rights under 17 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq. and could be liable for statutory damages as high as $150,000 as set forth in Section 504(c)(2) therein.
We demand that you immediately cease the use and distribution of all infringing works derived from the Work, and all copies, including electronic copies, of same, that you deliver to me, if applicable, all unused, undistributed copies of same, or destroy such copies immediately and that you desist from this or any other infringement of my rights in the future. If I have not received an affirmative response from you by 04/15/2009, indicating that you have fully complied with these requirements, we shall take further actions against you.
Very truly yours,
Reginald Fils-Aimé, President of NOA
Satoru Iwata, President and CEO, Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Shigeru Miyamoto, Senior Managing Director of Nintendo Co., Ltd."
By the looks of it, Nintendo decided to put their foot down when it comes to authors making sprite related stuff or using copyrighted Nintendo characters in an author's story. I'm shocked, yet at the same time disappointed by this. Looks like Nintendo doesn't appreciate my interpretation of "The Legend of Zelda" and now I'm being forced to stop my Zelda series and work on more original content. What choice do I have? Four Swords Misadventures is now cancelled. I guess its back to the old drawing board. This is total Bull. I'm sorry guys... : (
Update: April Fools!
Maximus
CHING CHONG WOW