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The King's Quest Companion

Started by TheReturnofDMD, June 30, 2010, 04:35:33 PM

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Baggins

#20
QuoteI'm no expert in copyright law, but if McGraw-Hill owns the publishing rights, doesn't that mean the publishing rights in any form, electronic or otherwise?
Well publishing rights tend to be limited in some way, as in making a deal with the company who owns the IP to publish only a certain number of books and no more than that. Publishing rights also tend to have a fixed time limit as well (if they expire they have to be renewed). They couldn't just continue to publish a book without paying royalties back to the company that owns the IP and copyrighted material within the book. They simply couldn't just post it up for free 'legally' without getting said rights as well.

Which makes publishing it again tricky because the copyright/ownership/publishing rights are shared amongst several parties (in some form).

I've read there have been issues with republishing certain games or books because while a company retained certain publishing rights to the material, they couldn't publish them, because the original companies who shared the copyright either went bankrupt (and ceased to exist), or the companies that bought out the IP only had partial rights to the copyright. It gets even worse when the copyright is shared amongst the company and the creator.

This apparently was the case with one or the games released on the GOG website (it was an adventure game IIRC, I forget which one). The game designer wanted to rerelease his games through GOG, but the company he published it with originally went bankrupt (there was apparently no current owners), although he regained partial ownership to certain parts of the IP (he could pretty much design new games in the series through other companies, just not sell the original games he had helped design) . He had to go through quite a few hurtles before he finally got full rights to publish it through GOG.

On a related note excerpts from the Official Guide to Roger Wilco's Space Adventures (Computer Books) and even King's Quest Companion were published in the Sierra Magazine and later Interaction Magazine as I recall;[http://www.spacequest.net/misc/interaction/int-summer-92-togtrwsa.jpg] with minor reference to other companies publishing the books for Sierra (but not having to add a  "by permission of statement" or "copyright of "publisher".). I know a chapter from King's Quest Companion made it into the King's Quest Collection I as part of the Royal Scribe program (might have been a reprint of said Sierra Magazine article), I don't recall to what extent it mentioned Mcgraw-Hill or not. If not it would imply that Sierra owned most of the rights to the book (perhaps just having Mcgraw-Hill publish it for them).

Actually the first article in Sierra Magazine that was later reprinted in Royal Scribe says the book was published by Silicon Valley Books. I think the first three editions were Silicon Valley Books, fourth Edition was Osbourne (Mcgraw-Hill). Is Silicon Valley Books an imprint of Mcgraw-Hill or did Sierra change publishers?

Quotedidn't say it was, however the thoughts being tossed around in this thread seemed to be going that direction.
I'm sure the reasoning that was tossed in the thread is the same reasoning as Ken Williams, Christy Marx, Andy et al, actually. Altruistic yet still illegal.
Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg

MangoMercury

#21
I have all four of the King's Quest companions, and I've never paid more than the equivalent of $10 for a copy (that's including shipping).  One of my copies appears to have been signed by Peter Spear, and another held a 1996 cinema ticket.  Another copy has had random notes written in it, but they're all in good nick for the price!

Shame the novels aren't as cheap for the most part (the first two, maybe, but See No Weevil?  Augh)
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Baggins

#22
Funny how the weakest of the novels costs the most :p

I once interviewed Peter Spear about the King's Quest Companion asked him if he had worked on anything for Mask of Eternity. He apparently gottne as far as securing the rights by Sierra to start on the Fifth Edition, and even started working on the notes, before Macgraw pulled the plug for a number of reasons.
Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg

TheReturnofDMD

Quote from: Baggins on July 01, 2010, 01:05:20 PM
Funny how the weakest of the novels costs the most :p

I once interviewed Peter Spear about the King's Quest Companion asked him if he had worked on anything for Mask of Eternity. He apparently gottne as far as securing the rights by Sierra to start on the Fifth Edition, and even started working on the notes, before Macgraw pulled the plug for a number of reasons.

Maybe if you could in touch with him again you could see if he could find out if Macgraw would be interested in doing a reprint of the KQ Companion. It's unlikely they would but it couldn't hurt for the author to ask. I'm sure he'd love to see his books in print again anyway.

Baggins

Well, it would probably take getting Sierra/Activision involved as well (they own much of the copyright to it). Back when fifth edition was being discussed  McGraw still held publishing rights. By now that may have expired.

I don't have Peter Spear's contact information anymore though.
Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg

Bad Asp

A copy of The King's Quest Companion... I has it.  ;D

Baggins

#26
Which version?

BTW, right now I could use some scans of the artwork from the various versions, for the King's Quest Omnipedia. I just put up the artwork from the First Edition (I think I got most of the pieces from the book). Graham in the woods, Graham with the magic mirror, Alexander with Medusa Mark I, and Rosella in Edgar's Bedroom (that picture was reused for the chapter picture for KQ7 in 4th edition). The latter could use some adjustment it has a slight tilt.

I just need the rest of the chapter artwork from 2nd and 3rd Editions/4th Edition. I had ripped-shirt Graham and the Roc (from the Second Edition in my archives).

So that leaves from what I can remember;
The Family of Daventry (3rd or 4th edition), Graham vs the Dragon (3rd/4th Edition), Graham and the Mermaid (3rd/4th Edition), Alexander vs. Medusa Mark II (3rd/4th Edition), Rosella in the Mummy's Tomb (3rd/4th Edition), Graham vs. Roc Mark II (3rd/4th Edition), Alexander vs. the Minotaur (3rd/4th Edition). Plus any others I might have forgotten. I don't have my copies with me.

I also need the cover from second edition, and higher quality scans of the second edition maps wouldn't hurt either.
Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg

writerlove

Quote from: oberonqa on June 30, 2010, 04:44:27 PM
I have a copy of the Third Edition King's Quest Companion... and a scanner.... but to be honest what you are requesting is of.... questionable legality.  Just because it's out of print doesn't mean the copyright is null and void.  I believe on printed works the copyright is valid for 50 years after the death of the author (I could be wrong there, so please be gentle if I am indeed wrong).

A better course of action would be to just buy a used copy off of Amazon Marketplace.  That's where I got mine and it was only $10 with shipping... and it's in pretty good shape to be honest.

That is an excellent point. I learned in my Media Law class this summer that a copyright lasts the authors life and then 70 years thereafter. So it lasts a long time. I also got mine off Amazon Marketplace. It wasn't all that expensive, even though I don't remember exactly how much I paid. And it's an enjoyable read.
"Love can't be banished, even from this place. ... still less can it be banished from my heart."
"ENOUGH! Burden me not with thy poetry."-KQ6

Baggins

Well this day and age it gets even trickier... When the authors don't own the copyrights to their own material, and its owned by another company.

Trade mark is another issue altogether.
Well, ya, King's Quest is on Earth. Daventry is very old city from a long time ago. It's in ruins now and people aren't quite sure exactly where it used to be. There are some archaeologists searching through the ruins, they think they know its Daventry. But its somewhere on Earth."-Roberta Williams http://kingsquest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Daventryisearth.ogg

crayauchtin

Quote from: Baggins on July 02, 2010, 09:16:46 AMTrade mark is another issue altogether.
Yes, trademark is more to do with logos, titles, and names and not so much to do with content.
"If your translation is correct, that was 'May a sleepy hippopotamus lie down on your house keys,' but you're not sure. Unfortunately, your fluency in griffin-speak is too low."

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