Is it time to go back to the miniature future? Come see what’s going on with the latest Games Workshop release that has many scratching their heads.
A few weeks ago someone claimed to have gotten a previously unseen Dwarf model in with a boxed set of Tau. It looks to be one of the new Age of Sigmar releases we have been hearing for 2016, and upon further review of the sprue, it was indeed dated 2016.
That seemed kinda weird dating something that hadn’t even been released yet right? I’ll admit up front I am not a copyright expert my any means, but it seems like the whole point is to copyright something so someone else can not claim the design as their own right?
Supposedly that was the whole basis for the Chapterhouse court battle, and why Games Workshop didn’t release the Space Wolf Thunderwolves and the Tyranid Tervigon until mid 2013 I believe.
We’ve also been told anonymously that is also the reason why GW will not make rules for any thing it does not have a miniature for, and conversely makes rules for things that are out of date, IS just to keep the copyright on them still.
So if you ever wondered why there is an entry in your particular rulebook about something that’s “out of date” that may just be why. Yes I’m talking to you Tyranid spike gun!
But this week we saw something even more curious. A new model that’s slated for release this weekend (Dec 19th 2015) has a copyright date of 2016.
So what do you make of all that? Can GW copyright the future? Could a model company rush a model into production and release it before the end of the year and then own the rights to it out from under Games Workshop?
What the heck is going on in Nottingham that they would let something like this slip out?
Or is everything going exactly as planned?
Time to get ‘a sculpting?
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About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
