I love how nobody is listening to anything anybody else is saying (and I know nobody's going to listen to me, either). However, in response to some of the opinions stated here, which give the impression that one can own a word's trademark rights, I've decided to give a little more information about that. For those who did not research it, Tim Langdell was the founder of Edge Games. He is very well-known for aggressively attempting to stop anyone and everyone from using the word "Edge," claiming that others may be confused by their games (personally, I'd never heard of Edge Games before, so I doubt there was much to be confused over). Unfortunately for him, he lost every case and actually has many of his registered trademarks revoked. It's the same thing here. Just because a single word that has no major significance to the offended (or both) parties is used, it does not mean that it is a legal bound to seek legal compensation. If the word was vital (i.e. Bowser, Samus Aran, Halo) to the name, it would be one thing, but the word "Scrolls" is not majorly significant to "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim." As also stated by many on this page, many know each title as "Skyrim," "Oblivion," or "Morrowind," not Elder Scrolls III, IV, and V. Bethesda (or Zenimax, whoever's actually the driving force behind this) will lose if they continue this lawsuit and will indeed, regardless of their victory or defeat, will lose a large portion of fans to this episode. Hopefully, the will quit while they still have the hearts of their angry fans, but we will discover this as the weeks leading to the trial fade.
Suing Mojang for using the word scrolls? that is the equivalent to me making a game and in the game some dude said Scrolls and the whole game got sued.
When a company wants money they sue the big indie makers.
Thats whats happening right now with bethesta suing mojang.
Its not about the title but the money.
Anyways Mojang will win because no judge will let someone sue someone else for a title and get away with so much money!
The reason Notch posted this is because he decided to start posting random crap because so many people are following him. "I like ice cream," he said once. Also, in the 15 page letter why is Nintendo getting mixed up with this?
Nike owns "Air"
Apple owns... Apple.
Paris Hilton owns "That's hot!"
Donald Trump couldn't get "You're fired" because it was too similar to the already owned "You're hired"
End result of all of this is nothing will happen, this is the way TM laws work. Stop bitching about it and read some info before going all "ZOMG NEVER BUYING GAMES FROM THESE PEOPLE AGAIN!!!!111One"
Nike owns "Air"
Apple owns... Apple.
Paris Hilton owns "That's hot!"
Donald Trump couldn't get "You're fired" because it was too similar to the already owned "You're hired"
End result of all of this is nothing will happen, this is the way TM laws work. Stop bitching about it and read some info before going all "ZOMG NEVER BUYING GAMES FROM THESE PEOPLE AGAIN!!!!111One"
Actually some people are reading it, and finding themselves fairly pissed off that Bethesda would do something so utterly stupid to begin with. There is no copyright on "Scrolls" and Mojang is working towards copyrighting it, even if Bethesda contests it. There is no way either game name is similar, only by one single word. If they really want to play hardball, power to em, but in the end, it's the legal systems between both game company's that will battle it out. I must admit, it is pretty ****ed they would do that.
Actually some people are reading it, and finding themselves fairly pissed off that Bethesda would do something so utterly stupid to begin with. There is no copyright on "Scrolls" and Mojang is working towards copyrighting it, even if Bethesda contests it. There is no way either game name is similar, only by one single word. If they really want to play hardball, power to em, but in the end, it's the legal systems between both game company's that will battle it out. I must admit, it is pretty ****ed they would do that.
The fact that you're saying "Copyright" shows you don't know enough about IP and trademarks.
Zinimax OWNS "The Elder Scrolls" name. Plain and simple. They own it. It is theirs. Hopefully no one contests that.
Notch wants to own "Scrolls" as a name. When he applied, Zinimax would have been told that someone wants to make name containing a word that is contained in their name.
Zinimax NEEDS to defend their Trademark. If they don't, then they are not meeting the requirements of said trademark, and will lose it, meaning anyone could buy the rights to it, then sue THEM.
So. They defend it, by issuing a C&D to Mojang Spec. Normal course of action would be Mojang getting an IP lawyer to send back another 15 page letter saying that the two items are distinctly different, about different things, and that they can quite frankly stick their requests for legal costs up their ass, as long as everyone involved agrees not to stop on each others toes.
And life goes on.
These usually NEVER make common knowledge, and happen ALL the time. The media just loves running with it, especially when it's a big corporation involved.
E would be a better letter, as it is more common than A.
...Just helpful advice!
Suing Mojang for using the word scrolls? that is the equivalent to me making a game and in the game some dude said Scrolls and the whole game got sued.
Thats whats happening right now with bethesta suing mojang.
Its not about the title but the money.
Anyways Mojang will win because no judge will let someone sue someone else for a title and get away with so much money!
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Retired StaffYou CAN own a word.
Nike owns "Air"
Apple owns... Apple.
Paris Hilton owns "That's hot!"
Donald Trump couldn't get "You're fired" because it was too similar to the already owned "You're hired"
End result of all of this is nothing will happen, this is the way TM laws work. Stop bitching about it and read some info before going all "ZOMG NEVER BUYING GAMES FROM THESE PEOPLE AGAIN!!!!111One"
Actually some people are reading it, and finding themselves fairly pissed off that Bethesda would do something so utterly stupid to begin with. There is no copyright on "Scrolls" and Mojang is working towards copyrighting it, even if Bethesda contests it. There is no way either game name is similar, only by one single word. If they really want to play hardball, power to em, but in the end, it's the legal systems between both game company's that will battle it out. I must admit, it is pretty ****ed they would do that.
@paganmother
Just doing my own thing.
@paganmother
Just doing my own thing.
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Retired StaffThe fact that you're saying "Copyright" shows you don't know enough about IP and trademarks.
Zinimax OWNS "The Elder Scrolls" name. Plain and simple. They own it. It is theirs. Hopefully no one contests that.
Notch wants to own "Scrolls" as a name. When he applied, Zinimax would have been told that someone wants to make name containing a word that is contained in their name.
Zinimax NEEDS to defend their Trademark. If they don't, then they are not meeting the requirements of said trademark, and will lose it, meaning anyone could buy the rights to it, then sue THEM.
So. They defend it, by issuing a C&D to Mojang Spec. Normal course of action would be Mojang getting an IP lawyer to send back another 15 page letter saying that the two items are distinctly different, about different things, and that they can quite frankly stick their requests for legal costs up their ass, as long as everyone involved agrees not to stop on each others toes.
And life goes on.
These usually NEVER make common knowledge, and happen ALL the time. The media just loves running with it, especially when it's a big corporation involved.
@paganmother
Just doing my own thing.
I believe both have already been done. Whether you would get sued or not is up to the courts that deal with trademarking.
@paganmother
Just doing my own thing.