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.
1-Bethesda Softworks (Bethesda Game Studios publisher) did NOT actively sue Mojang, their lawyers tricked them into doing this.
2-Bethesda Game Studios is not related to this at all, so don't be hating on them. Matter of fact when I get the money I'm going to go out there and buy Skyrim.
3-Yes it's over a word, but again, their lawyers saw that it could implicate "The Elder Scrolls" but again, Bethesda Softworks was tricked into this. "If you knew nothing about cameras and I sold you a camera without me explaining what it could do very well, would you buy it or not?" Since Bethesda Softworks did not know the situation to it's fullest, they went ahead with the sueing, much like how the camera idiot bought a camera with almost no extra things.
Phew, I hope that clears things up.
On a random note, and possibly a bit more on topic, ever wonder what would happen if Mojang went on with this game? Something tells me that Bethesda Softworks might be a little more willing to see what's going on here. Just keep the lawyers in the Lawyer Room until it's time.
*sigh*
You can't own a word.
Scrolls.
There I said it, am I going to get sued now?
While I'm at it: SKYRIM AND OBLIVION.
From an ancient plain which lies in Oblivion...
And is covered in toxic Fallout.
~
Anyways, it's just a word. What if he said "scrolls" in swedish?
Sue a dictionary next time. They have scroll in there a few times.
http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/en/us/IntellectualProperty/Trademarks/Usage/Windows.aspx
Sure its kinda silly, but Mojang is in the wrong here.
I'm going to sit here and troll this topic until people start to understand that Bethesda Softworks is just operating as any company in their position would. They trademarked elder scrolls a long time ago. Mojang tried to copy the word 'scrolls'. Elder Scrolls and Scrolls on their own are indeed pretty similar, so when Mojang tried to trademark 'scrolls' they got in trouble.
Tim langdell copyrighted "Edge" and tried to sue various companies for use of the word Edge (like "Soul Edge"). After losing over and over again, he got kicked out of the company. They aren't similar enough to guarantee a success, and people refer to the game as "Skyrim" not "Elder Scrolls" anyway.
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Thumps up if you join any problem say s here!
1. So it's not OK to trademark "Edge", but perfectly OK to trademark "Scrolls"? Mojang tried to trademark Scrolls, and Bethesda said no.
2. One very incompetent disgruntled employee trying to make a buck off of the word edge isn't really the same thing as a big company, with a smart legal team, going after Mojang for using scrolls.
3. It's not a single game but the series that holds the trademark "elder scrolls". It doesn't matter how people refer to the game. If you are talking about the series, you will probably say the elder scrolls. No, it's not really going to cause much confusion, I agree.
4. I do hope Mojang ultimately wins this. If all they have to do is change the name, I'm sure they can find one at least as good as Scrolls.