Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
"Piper" Kickstarter, have you seen this? — Parallax Forums

"Piper" Kickstarter, have you seen this?

WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,934
edited 2015-04-02 06:33 in General Discussion
Was told about this Kickstarter tonight and checked it out. This matches an concept that I have been discussing with friends for a while. Mix something virtual that kids use to utilize their creativity and tie it back to something tangible.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/withpiper/piper-a-minecraft-toolbox-for-budding-engineers

Comments

  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2015-03-31 11:31
    I saw it, and wanted to get one for my 7 year old daughter. She's already helping me design a (rough) house layout for mommy's new house using Minecraft. Pretty slick for a second grader.

    Unfortunately, the wife says Piper is too much for the kid at this time (I completely disagree) and we have to wait until its in stores.
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2015-03-31 12:57
    Aw. Can't use it. No Cheats mode!
    prof_braino wrote: »
    we have to wait until its in stores.

    What's the word on the trademark licensing of this? Minecraft is now a Microsoft product, and they can be expected to be much stricter in protecting their trade names. Piper can still sell the thing, but can't ride on the Minecraft name for a commercial product, unless there's some licensing understanding somewhere.
  • WBA ConsultingWBA Consulting Posts: 2,934
    edited 2015-03-31 16:26
    GordonMcComb wrote: »
    What's the word on the trademark licensing of this? Minecraft is now a Microsoft product, and they can be expected to be much stricter in protecting their trade names. Piper can still sell the thing, but can't ride on the Minecraft name for a commercial product, unless there's some licensing understanding somewhere.

    Interesting point! I would guess that licensing is not required because Minecraft Pi is a free edition and they don't seem to be selling it as an "official Minecraft" product, but rather a product designed for Minecraft. However, I could easily see how my perspective wouldn't hold ground in trademark court. It's kind of like selling an iPhone case without licensing. Your ok until you try to plant an apple logo on it.
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2015-03-31 17:04
    The US Trademark office lists Mojang as the holder of the term "Minecraft" for a ton of things. You'd think for $2.5 billion Microsoft would have taken over those rights, and would be expected to exercise them for products and services sold for a profit.

    As an add-on for Minecraft, it likely doesn't hurt sales of Minecraft -- might even spur sales. But once the Big Money rolls in (and two and half billion dollars is big money), most companies prefer formal business deals so that all the parties know what's expected of them. I have no idea if the Piper box is licensed or not, but being an official Mojang or Microsoft product doesn't really matter.

    Thing about KickStarter is that the monetary success of a project is there for everyone to see. Now, even Microsoft knows it's raised a quarter of a million dollars. That's enough simoleons to activate the guys and gals in the gray three-piece suits.
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2015-04-01 03:00
    I did not read it specifically in the kickstarter, but I have the impression it is like any other user mod, and so is protected by the agreement between MS and Mojang.

    If I understand correctly the mod package (external to the base game itself) includes code to access the new hardware on the GPIO pins, and the developer has created maps that use the new functions.

    MS screwing up this project to get a tiny bit of money seems foolish, it would do more damage than the money would be worth.
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2015-04-01 13:27
    I was thinking more how they phrased the main description of their product -- the way they did it is generally asking for trouble. Had they called it "A Toolbox for Minecraft," that's often allowable.

    I don't think Microsoft will require anything more than a name change, and maybe not even that. Some well placed legal notices may be all they require. While I know there are existing provisions for user mods, those are digital only, and the vast majority of them are free and not-for-profit. This is a physical commercial product, so a different ball game.
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2015-04-02 06:33
    Well, on one hand we may see MS stick their hand out, to exert control or obtain money. On ther other hand,we have Mojang's agreement and the user community. The promise was that MS may not touch user mods.

    If MS does ANYTHING except give its blessing, they will face a fire storm. This is "education" and "stem". This is a most ambitious user mod. And it leaves the original minecraft java stuff intact, so it should have no reason to be touched by MS. MS might choose the "stupid" path, but lets hope that there are things even MS are smart enough to understand.
Sign In or Register to comment.