[Brad]

PLEASE BURY THIS: Digg - Nintendo Shutting Down Its Own Fan Sites


THIS WAS AN APRIL FOOL'S JOKE THAT HAS SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL.

APOLOGY CAN BE FOUND HERE: Uhhh... April Fools?

As some of you have noticed, FC has gone down several times recently. You were told that it was due to the site being backed up. This was also what the admins THOUGHT was the cause. However, it was due to something completely different. It turns out that Corey had received several emails from NOA (Nintendo of America). In short, the email asked that we close down friendcodes.com due to copyright infringement, because Nintendo owns the phrases: friendcode, friendcodes, friend code, and friend codes. Since Corey has been inactive, he obviously hasn't checked up on his emails and such until recently. Him and Robert talked about it, then Robert told the rest of us.

Basically Nintendo is "asking" us to remove the site files that are infringing the copyright (such as the logo, which contains the word "friendcodes"), and to drop the domain name for the same reason. Corey just responded to the emails tonight, and is going to talk to a NOA rep. (hopefully) Monday over the phone. But honestly, it looks bad. They've been sending the emails for almost a month now with no response, so they're very serious about it right now. We're still talking about what to do, but it looks like we will have to shut down the site temporarily, until it all gets worked out. Of course, if it works out Nintendo's way, we'll be closed down permanently. Naturally, we're going to try and keep that from happening, but like I said, it doesn't look good.

We're going to have to let the members know as well, just in case the site goes down during this whole event, they'll know what happened. Hopefully if Nintendo sees how many of their customers use this site, they'll let us off the hook. We're considering starting a "Keep FC.com Online" petition. This is probably the worst thing that's happened to FC. Including the crash.

I have nothing else to say, except that this makes me a bit sad and ••••ed. Yeah, this nullifies all the staff changes we've made recently, but this is news even to the admin team. I don't see why Nintendo has such as big issue about this. I don't see how it affects them unless they just want the domain for their own use. Anyway, we decided the staff needed to know what was going on ASAP. We'll tell the members soon, but the staff needed to know first.

Stay tuned.

B.

Sorry guys, the old thread accidently got deleted due to a miscommunication between Chris and I. Please post your thoughts about this here.

EDIT: Carlos, the owner of Nintendo-Play got a similar email as well. Interestingly enough.

Digg the story! Digg - Nintendo Shutting Down Its Own Fan Sites

Brad Edit: This has happened to Corey before, for all of you who can't seem to believe this...
Copy Right Laws and Trademark Infrigment [Archive] - Web Hosting Talk

[Mariomaniac64]

I'm sure that the great staff here will be able to convince Nintendo that keeping this site alive could help their company. It will also persuade us not to boycott.

[MetaKnight18]

I'm not believing this. Not until after April Fool's day.

[sour]

Originally Posted by Mariomaniac64

I'm sure that the great staff here will be able to convince Nintendo that keeping this site alive could help their company. It will also persuade us not to boycott.

True that! Do all you guys can FC Staff this place is a great place to hang out, make friends, and play games with great people!!!!

[Jag]

I don't believe it at all. No reason to, we're safe.

wiinumbers.com

>:o

[santaman99]

Originally Posted by MetaKnight18

I'm not believing this. Not until after April Fool's day.

Exactly what I said on the staff'ums.

[CrazyRedd]

Just because of the name. >.<
I doubt it's just that. Nintendo wants us to be safe.
But Most people here are like, 16 so heck with safty.
If Corey sells the site to nintendo....
>.<

Whats wrong with them?
We are helping with there bisness....

[Suntro]

would it be possible to... forward this e-mail to me?
I realise that only Corey (and Robert?) were sent the email but could the email be foreward'd to me? I'm currently not buying this story and this email would be the final piece of evidence I need to sway me over.

[Pastapiggy]

id hate to see this site go, sure its a dump now but ive become too attached and have made a lot of friends (most left, some are still here)

nintendo really takes it up the ass with this kind of stuff

[Jub]

Originally Posted by Suntro

would it be possible to... forward this e-mail to me?
I realise that only Corey (and Robert?) were sent the email but could the email be foreward'd to me? I'm currently not buying this story and this email would be the final piece of evidence I need to sway me over.

send me a copy to please