EPTI was speaking of universally shared laws throughout the western world, and the world as a whole; rather than of any specific country. There are some things which hold true in all countries. Concepts of contract and ownership is one such issue where everyone has the same fundamentals.
The DMCA is also another global-like law, because there is matching laws everywhere passed around the same time.
So purely as far as legal technicalities go, in developed countries my affirmations stand. I dont know about the more shakey democracies around the world, like south america or eastern asia.. its entirely possible they have exceptions.
Physical situation realities are, however, as you said, a completely different issue.
Its the same with all laws and crimes, civil and criminal.
I would very much like to answer something raised by mavsfan0041 on that issue:
The thing is, and maybe I'm just cynical, that what's to stop Blizzard from just taking your maps anyways regardless of whether the EULA is legally binding or not? I mean they're the multi-billion dollar company with expensive lawyers. And odds are the map maker isn't going to go to war with Blizzard for the relatively small amount of money compared to the cost of what would surely be a drawn out court battle.
(which is basically TheAmazombie's point too.)
Firstly, a quick side-point.
In europe, in issues of an enormous giant company trying to use the work of a tiny little person; judgement precedent and judge/jury personality are EXTREMELY hostile to the giant company. This isnt true with other issues, but with copyright it definately is. In the US it is entirely possible that this isnt the case, however i know of a number of cases you have had where the court has favoured the little person,and none that i know of where they havnt.
So the issue is more one of "would blizzard just steal it" and "would the map maker ever sue", which is your direct point.
The paragraph above is actually rather relevant to this. Blizzard would actually fear taking someones map without permission, because they have as much to lose as to gain, and more chance of losing than gaining.
Contraspectively - in europe atleast - the map maker has much to gain and little to lose. It is very likely if he won he would be in for a significant amount of money, and if he lost would face only a small partial legal bill. In the US, land of corperate dictatorship tyranny.. i know not if this would be the situation. I do however know that there are a disproportionate number of legally-minded citizens compared with europe, and truth be told most people would jump at the chance of sueing blizzard. Infact i would say there is more chance of them being sued by an american than a european, even if the european court is more friendly to the case.
So, realistically - I cannot see blizzard ever simply stealing your map. Stealing your map IDEA, yes. The map itself? no.
