Defend creative freedom against Games Workshop threats

Hi, my name is Francesco Pizzo, founder of Ghamak.

Since 2018, my creative studio known as Ghamak has been one of the leading creators of the home 3D printing renaissance, giving hobbyists high quality grimdark fantasy and sci fi miniatures. Like many other creators, Ghamak released thousands of models compatible with many 32mm scale wargames (e.g. Grimdark Future and Warhammer) and roleplaying games (e.g. DnD).

In early 2023, Games Workshop (GW) reached out to many creators, including me. While GW asked most creators to change some models with details that were almost identical to their designs, Francesco received a different letter. GW demanded that I delete almost all the models in Ghamak catalogue claiming that my models were breaching their copyright. However, GW did not provide the list of specific models to be removed and did not explain how Ghamak’s models were infringing GW’s Intellectual Property. Additionally, GW asked to hand over sensitive business data and demanded me to sign a contract that, in practice, would prevent me to make new models in the future.

Despite my willingness to find an amicable solution, offering to remove or heavily modify over 30% of Ghamak's catalogue, GW ignored all my letters. GW took almost 12 months to reply to my first letter, refused to provide a list of infringing models, refused to provide any guidelines for me to assess which models were supposedly infringing their IP, and attempted to have Ghamak's models removed from Patreon and MyMiniFactory, the two platforms I use to distribute my creations.

After MyMiniFactory refused to remove Ghamak's models due to the lack of information provided by GW, this controversy escalated to a full lawsuit in January 2025.

Interestingly, the lawsuit (which listed over 1000 models), did not include any copyright infringement claim, but was framed as “unfair competition”, claiming in substance that creating models compatible with GW’s games is illegal per se. This last statement is a real threat to hundreds of companies that create miniatures for the wargaming market.

Below you can find some examples of the models GW claims are counterfeit and should be removed. Each image shows Ghamak allegedly counterfeit models on the left and GW's models on the right.

Disclaimer: The Games Workshop miniatures shown (on the right in each image) are used for reference and comparison purposes only. All trademarks and copyrights are the property of Games Workshop Limited. Ghamak and Francesco Pizzo are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Games Workshop in any way.

Why does this matter to the whole tabletop community?

This isn’t just about Ghamak.

If a billion dollar corporation can declare generic skeletons, alien bugs, futuristic tanks, dwarves and orcs, or landsknecht inspired soldiers “counterfeit,” every independent sculptor, as well as your freedom to buy or print the models you want, hangs in the balance.

GW is sending a simple letter without explaining which IP rights are supposedly infringed, without proving they effectively own such rights (they don’t have exclusive rights to make models derivative of mythological monsters or models inspired to WWI or WWII tanks and soldier).

If GW gets away with what we perceive as a bully approach, every company or independent sculptor unable to fight them in court might be forced to close down at their whim.

We want the regulators to clarify where their IP rights end and whether GW is legally allowed to prevent the sale of models compatible with their games. Once these limits are clear, everyone will be free to create models without the fear of receiving unilateral demands by GW.

Considering that GW cannot claim exclusive rights to the grimdark style and that GW’s IP is itself considered by many derivative of Tolkien’s books, mythology, scifi books and movies, such an approach is even more unacceptable.

For all these reasons, as well as my own battle to continue to work in this field and provide for my family, I am raising funds to fight back, set a precedent, and keep the creative doors of tabletop wargaming open.

Please donate, share, and stand with us today.

We plan to release a more technical discussion about IP rights and how GW might be claiming rights that they do now own. We will update this page or post a link to the article once that is ready.