Wizards of the Coast has recently issued a DMCA takedown notice targeting a fan-created mod for Stardew Valley titled "Baldur's Village," which integrated characters from Baldur's Gate 3 into the game. The mod had garnered significant attention, including praise from Larian Studios CEO Sven Vincke, who had previously commended the mod on Twitter for its creativity and the love put into its creation.
However, the mod's future became uncertain after Wizards of the Coast, the holder of the Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur's Gate intellectual property, issued the takedown notice. A spokesperson from Nexus Mods expressed hope that the decision might be an oversight on Wizards of the Coast's part, suggesting that the company often employs external agencies to monitor for IP violations. The spokesperson remains optimistic that the decision might be reversed, stating, "Fingers crossed for Baldur's Village."
In response to the takedown, Sven Vincke took to Twitter once more to express his continued support for the mod while acknowledging the complexities of IP protection. He emphasized the value of fan mods, stating, "Free quality fan mods highlighting your characters in other game genres are proof your work resonates and a unique form of word of mouth." Vincke argued that such mods should not be treated as commercial ventures infringing on IP rights and expressed hope for a resolution, noting, "Protecting your IP can be tricky but I do hope this gets settled. There are good ways of dealing with this."
The takedown could be part of a broader strategy by Wizards of the Coast to protect the Baldur's Gate IP, especially in light of upcoming announcements about the franchise's future, as hinted at during the Game Developers Conference. Whether this action against the Stardew Valley mod was a deliberate move or an error remains to be seen. Wizards of the Coast has been contacted for further comment on the situation.
