Board Game Arena

Hi,

Is there a reason why Ed Flanders appears on the New games notifications?

It is more an internal joke. Some people like to find him everytile. For me it is not necessary..

I'm really having a hard time taking games seriously if they have Ned Flanders there...
I don't get how this is still funny?!

Sometimes in jokes really don't work and personally I feel this is one of those times.

It doesn't seem very professional to new comers, and surely Flanders is a licenced IP?

My two cents,

Squeek wrote: ↑29 March 2021, 18:25 It doesn't seem very professional to new comers, and surely Flanders is a licenced IP?

Yes. It does seem a little inconsistent with how careful they are about obtaining permission to use the IP for games. But maybe they read some article online about the parody defense and think everything is a parody.

Meeplelowda wrote: ↑29 March 2021, 18:42But maybe they read some article online about the parody defense and think everything is a parody.

Note that the definition of parody might vary from country to country, so they might have a better time at defending their case with French laws on exceptions to copyright than with American ones.

[As for why Ed Flanders, from what I read on other threads it's simply because one of the owner comes from the Flanders region of Belgium, and that it is a reasonably common symbol used to represent this region. Though until confirmed by the person himself, that's speculation.]

MoiMagnus wrote: ↑29 March 2021, 19:05

Meeplelowda wrote: ↑29 March 2021, 18:42But maybe they read some article online about the parody defense and think everything is a parody.

Note that the definition of parody might vary from country to country, so they might have a better time at defending their case with French laws on exceptions to copyright than with American ones.

Fair enough. (pun intended)

But wonder if a similar amount of thought has been given to GDPR compliance....

No copyright issues on use of Ed Flanders, the Simpson's character is Ned Flanders.

I hardly noticed it when they started but thought it was an OK 'dad joke'. Really started enjoying it when people started losing perspective and vigorously complaining about it.

Well, it was a fun ride but maybe it´s good for now?

It is wearing a bit thin. With the Tichu announcement he basically looks like an official site mascot, just one that BGA obviously hasn't licenced and wouldn't ever be able to.

Maybe it's time to pay an artist to design an original BGA mascot character, one that they could actually put on merchandise as well?