UPDATE NOTE
There seems to be some (understandable) confusion in regards to where the lawsuit is coming from. To clarify, "Bethesda Softworks" (publisher and developer of game titles) and "Bethesda Game Studios" (Creators of games like Oblivion, Skyrim etc.) are not the same entity. BGS is an in-house game-making team led by Todd Howard which is one part of Bethesda Softworks, and has no direct connection to the lawsuit in progress by Bethesda Softworks. Unless further specified by the acronym "BGS", any references to Bethesda in the following article assume "Bethesda Softworks". Sorry about the confusion!
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Mojang has been in development of another project (which we went over in our last installment), which bears the working name "Scrolls". Bethesda has expressed concern that players could mix up this new game with their own "Elder Scrolls" series, although the two seem to share no noticeable similarities beyond the word "scrolls".
Notch said that their office received a 15-page cease-and-desist letter, claiming that Mojang would be sued for rights to the word, along with formal requests for legal fees. He went on to say that they are attempting to establish talks with Bethesda regarding the word, to find an amicable solution for both parties. At the time of this writing, there was no available response from Bethesda.
We will continue to update this article as information becomes available.
Notch said that their office received a 15-page cease-and-desist letter, claiming that Mojang would be sued for rights to the word, along with formal requests for legal fees. He went on to say that they are attempting to establish talks with Bethesda regarding the word, to find an amicable solution for both parties. At the time of this writing, there was no available response from Bethesda.
We will continue to update this article as information becomes available.
...The...
****?
If you do something prickish like sue over the rights to a name that you don't already own, you should get the backlash for it.
Bethesda is being an Ass -wait for it- Hole!
3 million copies of a game, 6 if we're talking two games, 9, etc, etc... If they only make 3 more games and they only gain a profit of a dollar per copy sold. That's 9 million dollars of profit lost. Clearly these are very low figures and the actual loses could be much higher if they make more games or if the profit per copy sold is higher...
HURR DURR DERPY DERP.
That is all I have to say. Well, I'mma go spam the Fout of the customer support thang for B.
Anyways back to the topic, I have no clue why Bethesda would even bother doing this, as they as well as anyone do not know a thing about Mojangs game, scrolls. It could turn out to be a free game that no one plays. I don't believe that Bethesda, or the administrative side of them, felt threatened by it, I believe they are mainly trying to send a message to Mojang.
Trademark and copyright rules are really, really confusing.
For example, if I started a fast food outlet called Hungry Jacks, that would be anobvious trademark breach.
however, if I made say, an electronics store called Hungry Jacks (Not that I would, sounds like a stupid name). I wouldn't actually be breaking trademark laws, because Hungry jacks only owns that name when it is used in reference to the food industry. Since the food industry has nothing to do with the electronic industry (except the packet of Doritos I'm eating while writing this) Hungry jacks would have no claim to sue me.
Bethesda Softworks has no claim on suing Mojang for their use of the word 'Scrolls', as that could be used to describe anything. You have to be specific. They WOULD have a case if Mojang used 'Elder Scrolls' or 'The Elder Scrolls', because that is a recogniseable trademark. But here comes the confusing part: I could make a game called 'The Scrolls of the Elders' and not be breaking trademark or copyright, because the word 'Scrolls' and the word 'Elders' are being used in a different fashion that 'Elder Scrolls'. In this case, the Scrolls are the possesions of the Elders, as oppsed to Bethesda's games where the Scrolls themselves hold the descriptor of 'Elder'. Its all very confusing and a lot of legal bulldust comes into play.
If I've got anything wrong on this, feel free to PM me and I'll take a look at it.
[/two cents worth]
Well, Bethesda never had my respect too...
And right now, it has managed to lose all of mine :/
-Bethesda doesnt own the word scrolls (established)
-Besthda ITSELF is not suing mojang. Their publishing companies legal advisors are.
-Lawyers are douschebags.
-Minecraft is awesome.
There you have it.