Wizards of the Coast Issues DMCA on Fan's Baldur's Gate 3 Stardew Valley Mod, Larian CEO Responds

Wizards of the Coast has issued a DMCA takedown notice for the "Baldur's Village" mod, which added characters from Baldur's Gate 3 into Stardew Valley. This mod, released earlier this month, had received public praise from Larian Studios CEO Sven Vincke, who commended the effort and creativity behind it.

However, shortly after its release, the mod was removed following the takedown notice from Wizards of the Coast, the holder of the Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur's Gate IPs. A spokesperson from Nexus Mods expressed hope that this might be an oversight, suggesting that Wizards of the Coast often relies on external agencies to identify infringing content. They remain optimistic that the decision might be reversed.

In response to the takedown, Sven Vincke took to Twitter once again to voice his support for the mod. He acknowledged the complexities of IP protection but emphasized the value of fan-created content. Vincke argued that free, high-quality fan mods serve as a testament to the resonance of the original work and should not be treated as commercial infringements. He expressed hope for a resolution, stating, "There are good ways of dealing with this."

This incident might be part of a broader strategy by Wizards of the Coast to protect the Baldur's Gate IP, especially with upcoming announcements about the franchise expected soon, as revealed at the Game Developers Conference. It remains unclear whether the takedown of the Stardew Valley mod was a deliberate move or an error that will be corrected. Wizards of the Coast has been contacted for further comment on the situation.