Neowin.net - Church of England Threatens Sony with Legal Action

Church of England Threatens Sony with Legal Action

Posted by cashman on 10 June 2007 - 10:06 · 34 comments & 20147 views

The Church of England is threatening legal action against Sony, because footage of a Manchester Cathedral was used without permission in the game, Resistance: Fall of Man. The church has said that Sony did not ask for permission to use the interior of the church in the game.

Resistance, which has sold over a million copies and became the PS3 must have game at launch has been defended by Sony, “Resistance: Fall of Man is a fantasy science fiction game and is not based on reality. We believe we have sought and received all permissions necessary for the creation of the game.”

Sony have said they will be contacting the church on Monday to clear up any matters. The Bishop of Manchester had these words to say. "It is well known that Manchester has a gun crime problem. For a global manufacturer to re-create one of our great cathedrals with photo-realistic quality and then encourage people to have guns battles in the building is beyond belief and highly irresponsible.”

News source: BBC News

What is your opinion on this? Do the mix of real world weapons and strange alien weapons reflect any type of gun problem in Manchester? Or is this a nice grasp at publicity by the Church of England?

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#1 Posted by Danny1810 on 10 Jun 2007 - 10:12: This is nonsense, if the game was GTA: Manchester then they might have a point. This game is about saving the country from monsters. The monsters obviously don't care about the cathedral so you've got no choice but to kill them there.

#2 Posted by leesmithg on 10 Jun 2007 - 10:33: I am not into religion myself, however I agree with the Bishop of Manchester.

There is so much gun crime already in Manchester already, then this game maker decides to use a Cathedral in Manchester for a shoot-out is wrong.

If it was a Mosque or a Synagogue there would be murders.

It's totally wrong and the game should be pulled.

(1 reply) #3 Posted by mlauzon76 on 10 Jun 2007 - 12:01: The games been out for a while now, and the Cult is now having a problem with it...please!

#4 Posted by PureLegend on 10 Jun 2007 - 12:58: I see their point of view. In all fairness, they should have asked permission.

#5 Posted by Marduk on 10 Jun 2007 - 13:45: A building is a building, they should just chill out.

(6 replies) #6 Posted by Dan.P on 10 Jun 2007 - 14:18: If this was a Mosque people would be dancing around burning cardbord PS3's while frothing at the mouth!

Last edited by Dan.P on 10 Jun 2007 - 15:19

#7 Posted by dogmatix on 10 Jun 2007 - 17:46: For sure, if another gaming company had used Sony's corporate HQ as the setting for a violent shoot-out, there would be legions of Sony lawyers heading right now for the courts....

#8 Posted by beetlejuice on 10 Jun 2007 - 17:52: pfffft its just another way for an already rich church to get even more money by legal threats or lawsuits. they should stick to what they know best, *little boys* ;-p

#9 Posted by PermaSt0ne on 10 Jun 2007 - 18:02: so if they used a church in another area that's not manchester then it wouldn't be a problem? then explosions should be banned in NYC in video games because of 9/11? no guns in texas, africa, cuba or any other place that has gun problems?

video games have nothing to do with real life (unless specifically portrayed as such, ie GTA). people should have more of a problem with there being guns in a church than in manchester since there will always be gun problems everywere

it's a frickin video game, get over it

#10 Posted by Septimus on 10 Jun 2007 - 18:26: To the Manchester Bishop (funnily I live in Manchester).

STFU you fairy tale pushing tosser!

#11 Posted by +.Vamp on 10 Jun 2007 - 18:50: Quote -
Sony have said they will be contacting the church on Sunday to clear up any matters.

Oh noes!
Shoot outs in virtual churches AND defying the sabbath day of rest! Whats shocking stunt is Sony going to pull next

#12 Posted by rob.derosa on 10 Jun 2007 - 19:27: If sony didnt get permission its their own fault.

Its not specificaly that it is a chruch, its that its a private building (ie owned by the church), the interior of which has been used in a popular video game - something that shouldnt happen without getting permission.

(1 reply) #13 Posted by LOC on 10 Jun 2007 - 19:57: Sony had gotten permission for the developer to go ahead and use the likeness of Manchester's Church etc, so I don't see why this is even an issue now. I think because the game turned out to be fairly popular, and the Church always likes to "liven" things up so to speak, this is why they are making a stink now.

And what's this about gun crime in Manchester anyways? I thought the here in the US was the only place on Earth with a huge gun problem? Is this something new, or ongoing or what? :|

#14 Posted by toadeater on 10 Jun 2007 - 20:01: The Church of England can go to ****!

(and so can Sony)

(2 replies) #15 Posted by tao muon on 11 Jun 2007 - 00:13: Don't know about that side of the pond, but over here, if you can see it from the outside it is public domain. If you want to reproduce images of the inside of a building, of parts not visible from public property, then permission and releases must be obtained.
Now, if you're fictionalizing the interior nothing is required. But if the 'fictional' rendition is close enough to reality then the Church does have the right to complain.

(3 replies) #16 Posted by mapsbam on 11 Jun 2007 - 00:24: Churches are evill. If this church sues Sony and wins money it will only be used to build a bigger church and to give more money to the hypocrites that work there.

#17 Posted by +Orange on 11 Jun 2007 - 10:01: Wow... it's a game people take it sooo bad now.. i say get a life.

#18 Posted by obsolete_power on 11 Jun 2007 - 10:03: I hope the church sues those f-ing bastards and wins!

(1 reply) #19 Posted by ironmysox on 11 Jun 2007 - 10:41: This is kinda ridiculous. To be honest, all churches need livening up and what better way than an extra terrestial gunfight. Anyway, hasn't the mythical robewearing sandal guru all seeing eye upstairs got enough holy house's?

Really, it's a game. Put my house in a game. Porn game. Make me the star. Make me a filthy porn star wearing man thongs and glitter around my eyes. Don't ask my permission. See if I complain. I don't think so.

Last edited by ironmysox on 11 Jun 2007 - 20:55

#20 Posted by Croquant on 11 Jun 2007 - 23:45: "For a global manufacturer to re-create one of our great cathedrals with photo-realistic quality and then encourage people to have guns battles in the building is beyond belief and highly irresponsible.”

That would be true if Sony was actually using the cathedral
But they're not.
It's just a 3D computer model of said cathedral.

Ergo, the Bishop of Manchester has his head firmly lodged in his ass.

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