Larian CEO Swen Vincke has thoughts about WotC’s takedown of the popular Stardew Valley mod Baldur’s Village.
News broke today that WotC had issued a DMCA takedown for the popular Stardew Valley x Baldur’s Gate 3 mod, Baldur’s Village. Now Larian’s CEO, one of the driving forces behind the creation of Baldur’s Gate 3, spoke out in defense of fan-created works.
He begins by acknowledging that, at times, it can be tricky to protect your IP. But Vincke nevertheless stands wholeheartedly behind the idea that if people love your work so much they’re making things with it, it’s something to be embraced. In other words, he still loves the mod.
Larian CEO Responds to Baldur’s Village Mod Takedown
The story of the Baldur’s Village mod takedown is quickly developing. Not long ago, Larian’s CEO Swen Vincke spoke on social media, throwing his voice behind the idea that fan-created works aren’t a commercial enterprise infringing on an IP. In a series of posts on Twitter, Vincke outlines how he views it:
“Free quality fan mods highlighting your characters in other game genres are proof your work resonates and a unique form of word of mouth. Imho they shouldn’t be treated like commercial ventures that infringe on your property.
Protecting your IP can be tricky, but I do hope this gets settled. There are good ways of dealing with this.”
This is hardly a new opinion for Vincke—who earlier this month publicly praised the mod for its creativity. And if you’ve followed anything that Larian Studios’ people have, in general, had to say about the intersection of art and industry, it’s even less of a surprise.
After all, Vincke has previously called out the games industry for its focus on profits over people and passion, even as the very people who make the games we love are laid off in record numbers.
At press time, WotC hasn’t addressed the mod’s DMCA takedown. Baldur’s Village is still unavailable.
More on the story as it unfolds.
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