• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 07:27
CET 12:27
KST 20:27
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT30Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book19Clem wins HomeStory Cup 289HomeStory Cup 28 - Info & Preview13Rongyi Cup S3 - Preview & Info8
Community News
2026 KongFu Cup Announcement2BGE Stara Zagora 2026 cancelled10Blizzard Classic Cup - Tastosis announced as captains13Weekly Cups (March 2-8): ByuN overcomes PvT block4GSL CK - New online series18
StarCraft 2
General
Blizzard Classic Cup - Tastosis announced as captains BGE Stara Zagora 2026 cancelled BGE Stara Zagora 2026 announced ByuL: The Forgotten Master of ZvT Terran AddOns placement
Tourneys
2026 KongFu Cup Announcement [GSL CK] Team Maru vs. Team herO StarCraft Evolution League (SC Evo Biweekly) WardiTV Team League Season 10 Master Swan Open (Global Bronze-Master 2)
Strategy
Custom Maps
Publishing has been re-enabled! [Feb 24th 2026] Map Editor closed ?
External Content
The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 516 Specter of Death Mutation # 515 Together Forever Mutation # 514 Ulnar New Year
Brood War
General
BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ Gypsy to Korea ASL21 General Discussion BW General Discussion Are you ready for ASL 21? Hype VIDEO
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues [BSL22] Open Qualifiers & Ladder Tours IPSL Spring 2026 is here! ASL Season 21 Qualifiers March 7-8
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Soma's 9 hatch build from ASL Game 2 Fighting Spirit mining rates Zealot bombing is no longer popular?
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Path of Exile Nintendo Switch Thread PC Games Sales Thread No Man's Sky (PS4 and PC)
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion The Story of Wings Gaming
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Five o'clock TL Mafia Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas Vanilla Mini Mafia TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
Mexico's Drug War US Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Russo-Ukrainian War Thread NASA and the Private Sector
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Movie Discussion! [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books [Manga] One Piece
Sports
Formula 1 Discussion 2024 - 2026 Football Thread General nutrition recommendations Cricket [SPORT] TL MMA Pick'em Pool 2013
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Laptop capable of using Photoshop Lightroom?
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Iranian anarchists: organize…
XenOsky
FS++
Kraekkling
Shocked by a laser…
Spydermine0240
Gaming-Related Deaths
TrAiDoS
Unintentional protectionism…
Uldridge
ASL S21 English Commentary…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 2357 users

Blizzard to cease negotiations with KeSPA - Page 4

Forum Index > BW General
649 CommentsPost a Reply
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 31 32 33 Next All
p4NDemik
Profile Blog Joined January 2008
United States13896 Posts
April 25 2010 05:10 GMT
#61
Blizzard may have the intellectual rights to the game but KeSPA has the money and the government in Korea backing them. Ultimately those are the two most important things, and without them SC2 will be severely stunted without some kind of KeSPA/Blizzard agreement.

I understand the reasoning behind Blizzard's decision but ultimately they do need KeSPA if they're going to build a successful scene in Korea. This is a big blow to the scene developing in Korea, but nowhere near fatal. Even though the release of the WoL is growing nearer this game will still be in development for years, leaving plenty of time for renewed negotiations. Eventually Blizzard will have to play ball here, no matter how unfair that game will be in KeSPA's favor.
Moderator
NuKedUFirst
Profile Blog Joined March 2010
Canada3139 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-04-25 05:14:35
April 25 2010 05:11 GMT
#62
As far as im concerned, if blizzard goes into Korea (sounds like a country invading) for the first little bit the pro scene will suffer but most likely recover.

Edit:
On April 25 2010 13:45 years wrote:
Bringing down BW to make a point would be pretty stupid.


They are barely making money off of Sc:Bw now, their main goal is Starcraft II's success as an E-sport. Its no skin off blizzards back to bring down Sc:Bw atleast for the time being. KeSPA is making money of off other people's work although KeSPA brought korean e-sports together. Starcraft II getting a Adult rating in Korea is obviously to do with KeSPA trying to get Sc:Bw around so they can continue making money.
FrostedMiniWeet wrote: I like winning because it validates all the bloody time I waste playing SC2.
Waxangel
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
United States33571 Posts
April 25 2010 05:16 GMT
#63
anyone who says KeSPA has the goverment's support, please substantiate that statement.
AdministratorHey HP can you redo everything youve ever done because i have a small complaint?
Fraidnot
Profile Blog Joined May 2008
United States824 Posts
April 25 2010 05:22 GMT
#64
So if not KeSPA, who? Are we talking OGN, MBC, GOM? Hoping this will be an improvement and not the end of SC as we know it.
Milkis
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
5003 Posts
April 25 2010 05:22 GMT
#65
I'm not quite certain what the IP issue is all about -- but I sure hope Blizzard isn't whining about not making money off e-sports or something because that's pretty blatantly false and it's 100% their fault.

Excuse my ignorance but what does the issue exactly entail? Using Starcraft related images in advertisement? Or having Starcraft BW be so involved in such a huge competitive gaming scene? I honestly don't see a good reason Blizzard would have to make such a claim.
n.DieJokes
Profile Blog Joined November 2008
United States3443 Posts
April 25 2010 05:26 GMT
#66
Can someone elaborate the specifics of what either party actually want from one another? In what capacity does Blizzard want KeSPA to respect their intellectual property? What is this thing about IP's and why does it matter?
MyLove + Your Love= Supa Love
FragKrag
Profile Blog Joined September 2007
United States11556 Posts
April 25 2010 05:26 GMT
#67
does KeSPA not realize that their foundation could be stripped from under their feet?

What the fuck is wrong with them?

Anyways I think ESports will continue fine without KeSPA...
*TL CJ Entusman #40* "like scissors does anything to paper except MAKE IT MORE NUMEROUS" -paper
years
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
Costa Rica216 Posts
April 25 2010 05:32 GMT
#68
On April 25 2010 14:16 Waxangel wrote:
anyone who says KeSPA has the goverment's support, please substantiate that statement.


As far as I understand KeSPA is recognized and regulated by the Ministry of Culture, thus supported by a goverment institution. I don't know to what extent this support empowers KeSPA, but the fact alone that it is treated like an official representative of the Ministry of Culture gives it more leverage against Blizzard, specially if Korea is sensitive on subjects which can be interpreted through the patriotic or nationalist eyelens.

It would be interesting to know more about the relationship between KeSPA and the Ministry, and how its viewed by larger government entities, presuming its even treated like something of importance.

On April 25 2010 14:11 NuKedUFirst wrote:

Edit:
Show nested quote +
On April 25 2010 13:45 years wrote:
Bringing down BW to make a point would be pretty stupid.


They are barely making money off of Sc:Bw now, their main goal is Starcraft II's success as an E-sport. Its no skin off blizzards back to bring down Sc:Bw atleast for the time being. KeSPA is making money of off other people's work although KeSPA brought korean e-sports together. Starcraft II getting a Adult rating in Korea is obviously to do with KeSPA trying to get Sc:Bw around so they can continue making money.


I say its a dumb move because, bringing down BW, would probably deteriorate the image Blizzard has amongst e-sport fans in Korea. This is mere speculation though.
"Member of Hyuk Hyuk Hyuk Cafe! He's the next Jaedong, baby!" Through high and low, bisu boy, through high and low.
Waxangel
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
United States33571 Posts
April 25 2010 05:33 GMT
#69
On April 25 2010 14:26 n.DieJokes wrote:
Can someone elaborate the specifics of what either party actually want from one another? In what capacity does Blizzard want KeSPA to respect their intellectual property? What is this thing about IP's and why does it matter?


I think they want an agreement that they will pay them royalties in the future.
AdministratorHey HP can you redo everything youve ever done because i have a small complaint?
iFU.pauline
Profile Joined September 2009
France1680 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-04-25 05:36:28
April 25 2010 05:35 GMT
#70
I don't really have that much faith in all these progaming dream outside of Korea. I mean there isn't enough gamers out there. Mainstream media in Europe don't give a damn about that, please don't tell me I'm wrong. When are you gonna see a national tv put on some progaming match? When you have Orange or Vodaphone as a sponsor, and who's gonna watch it? 15-25 male kids? Lol you think in a time of recession they would invest on something like that? So far nobody could make a living by just playing in Europe, I would advice the next generation to spend more time studying.

Blizzard can't do shit except making big cash prize tournament. I mean it's not like Korea, you're not gonna date or fuck chicks playing 15 hours a day.
No coward soul is mine, No trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere, I see Heaven's glories shine, And Faith shines equal arming me from Fear
Spazer
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
Canada8033 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-04-25 05:36:58
April 25 2010 05:36 GMT
#71
Totally misread that.
Liquipedia
teamsolid
Profile Joined October 2007
Canada3668 Posts
April 25 2010 05:36 GMT
#72
I don't think they can touch BW, because didn't Blizzard sell off broadcasting rights for SC a couple years ago. But for SC2, KeSPA is fucked. Hopefully a different organization steps up.
moopie
Profile Joined July 2009
12605 Posts
April 25 2010 05:36 GMT
#73
Well, on the plus side, SC1 will stick around for a long while.
I'm going to sleep, let me get some of that carpet.
Jaester88
Profile Joined September 2009
United States143 Posts
April 25 2010 05:39 GMT
#74
Also, another thing: do we have any kind of knowledge to the content of the negotiations at all? Is there any kind of evidence at all that KeSPA is the one being difficult in the negotiations? Maybe it's Blizzard that's being preposterously unreasonable?

If there have been previous threads/articles that have shown that KeSPA was the one being unreasonable in negotiations, it would be much appreciated if someone could link the thread/article for me. Thanks.
Megalisk
Profile Blog Joined October 2008
United States6095 Posts
April 25 2010 05:39 GMT
#75
On April 25 2010 12:54 SoLaR[i.C] wrote:
This is PERFECT for a fairly casual player such as myself who doesn't give two shits about the pro scene in Korea. Kespa acted unreasonably and Blizzard responded in the way they should have - by pulling out completely.

We'll end up with more English language tournaments and commentating. Sounds great to me.


And substandard play...
Tear stained american saints and dirty guitar dreams across a universe of desert and blue sky , gas station coffee love letters and two dollar pistol kisses from thirty five dollar hotel room stationary .
.risingdragoon
Profile Joined January 2008
United States3021 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-04-25 05:45:02
April 25 2010 05:40 GMT
#76
People still think kespa's some governing body like the fed or something, and that proteams can operate without them.

Kespa is SKT1, it's Samsung, it's OGN/MBC, it's made up of all these big corps that have sponsored and financed esports all these years and made it possible while Blizzard sold 3+ million copies of SC in S.K. That's why they feel they can't budge. If someone took the paper that you made and did wonderful things with it, wouldn't they lay claim to the creation?

Without these big corporate money and with just Blizz itself funding it SC2 scene would just be pitiful. It'd definitely roll back esports to small lan party tournies unless kespa can find another game for pros to play, or negotiate something that works for both sides.

I'm interested in the terms proposed by Blizzard, and Kespa's counter. But I guess that'd take a long time...

......::::........::::........::::........::::........::::.......::::.......::::... Up☆MaGiC ...::::.......::::.......::::........::::........::::........::::........
iFU.pauline
Profile Joined September 2009
France1680 Posts
April 25 2010 05:41 GMT
#77
On April 25 2010 14:39 Megalisk wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 25 2010 12:54 SoLaR[i.C] wrote:
This is PERFECT for a fairly casual player such as myself who doesn't give two shits about the pro scene in Korea. Kespa acted unreasonably and Blizzard responded in the way they should have - by pulling out completely.

We'll end up with more English language tournaments and commentating. Sounds great to me.


And substandard play...


Bah we all know sc2 is the rts of the noob. no question about that.
No coward soul is mine, No trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere, I see Heaven's glories shine, And Faith shines equal arming me from Fear
Go0g3n
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
Russian Federation410 Posts
April 25 2010 05:41 GMT
#78
Blizzard is really in a big bind with StarCraft II in Korea. With 18+ rating StarCraft II cannot be broadcast on television in prime time or any time slot other than late night, meaning that there will be 0 money in it for TV broadcasters, even if they partner with GOM or other b-company. Plus the 18+ will affect the sales to an extent.

Because the game is not recognized by Kespa, progamers, as owners of the license will be forbidden to play televised (if there will be any) matches, and there in fact will be no StarCraft 2 progamers at all in Korea.

As for governmental support, a year or so back Blizzard appealed to Korean Ministry of Culture (not sure about exact name) after their first negotiations with Kespa and MBC/OGN failed, but they were sent back to deal with Kespa and threatened to set a 18+ mature rating for the game. Almost the same thing happened with China, only they gave the same rating 6 months earlier.
Gliche
Profile Blog Joined August 2008
United States811 Posts
April 25 2010 05:42 GMT
#79
KeSPA was surely the main catalyst for BW's success, but I see absolutely no reason why KeSPA is needed for SC2. The pro scene for SC2 is not something that will magically appear. It does not automatically ship with the game. It will have to be grown from the ground up over years just like the starting days of BW. I see no reason why other sponsors or organizations cannot step in to take KeSPA's spot.

And this is just talking about Korea. This says nothing about SC2 for the rest of the world, and if the recent tournaments and support for BW worldwide are any indication, KeSPA controls a very small piece of the potential pie.
KT fighting~!! | Designing things is fun!
T.O.P. *
Profile Blog Joined January 2009
Hong Kong4685 Posts
April 25 2010 05:42 GMT
#80
On April 25 2010 14:16 Waxangel wrote:
anyone who says KeSPA has the goverment's support, please substantiate that statement.

Because KeSPA is made up of big companies and big companies have a lot of influence in the Korean Government.
Oracle comes in, Scvs go down, never a miscommunication.
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 31 32 33 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
RSL Revival
10:00
Season 4: Group B
MaxPax vs Rogue
Clem vs Bunny
Tasteless1280
IndyStarCraft 220
Rex115
LiquipediaDiscussion
CranKy Ducklings
10:00
Master Swan Open #101
CranKy Ducklings66
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
Tasteless 1280
IndyStarCraft 220
Rex 115
Lowko30
StarCraft: Brood War
Sea 87546
Calm 15667
Zeus 2542
BeSt 506
yabsab 488
Stork 283
actioN 276
EffOrt 197
Last 173
Dewaltoss 141
[ Show more ]
Light 136
ToSsGirL 82
Backho 50
Mind 40
sSak 38
IntoTheRainbow 23
JulyZerg 21
GoRush 19
soO 11
SilentControl 10
Bale 8
Dota 2
XcaliburYe209
resolut1ontv 116
NeuroSwarm103
League of Legends
JimRising 388
Counter-Strike
zeus274
Super Smash Bros
Mew2King46
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor177
Other Games
singsing1613
B2W.Neo539
Fuzer 187
crisheroes29
Organizations
Dota 2
PGL Dota 2 - Main Stream18930
Other Games
gamesdonequick1110
ComeBackTV 283
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 13 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• CranKy Ducklings SOOP3
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• iopq 2
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
League of Legends
• Stunt1034
Upcoming Events
WardiTV Team League
34m
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
5h 34m
BSL
8h 34m
Sparkling Tuna Cup
22h 34m
RSL Revival
22h 34m
ByuN vs SHIN
Maru vs Krystianer
WardiTV Team League
1d
Patches Events
1d 5h
BSL
1d 8h
Replay Cast
1d 12h
Replay Cast
1d 21h
[ Show More ]
Wardi Open
2 days
Monday Night Weeklies
2 days
OSC
2 days
WardiTV Team League
3 days
GSL
3 days
The PondCast
4 days
WardiTV Team League
5 days
Replay Cast
5 days
WardiTV Team League
6 days
Korean StarCraft League
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-03-13
WardiTV Winter 2026
Underdog Cup #3

Ongoing

KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 1
Jeongseon Sooper Cup
BSL Season 22
RSL Revival: Season 4
Nations Cup 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026
IEM Kraków 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
BLAST Bounty Winter Qual

Upcoming

CSL Elite League 2026
ASL Season 21
Acropolis #4 - TS6
2026 Changsha Offline CUP
Acropolis #4
IPSL Spring 2026
CSLAN 4
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
NationLESS Cup
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
Asian Champions League 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
CCT Season 3 Global Finals
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.