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.
i agree they will probly drain all the development funds for minecraft and any other game comming out, but knowing the minecraft community, a lot of people will probably donate to keep it going. i know i would if it needed it.
I would laugh if a 'weapon' eats its own 'wielder'.
Surely he isn't the first person to ever come up with the word 'Scrolls' and sure as hell does not own the word.
He can go to hell the greedy fool.
FFS.
No, you don't "own the word". I even stated that in my last post. You do however own all rights to the commercial use of the word and similar words on and in creative works and commercial products.
Yes it does. If you start a chain of things, or a company, you want the rights to that name and similar names to be protected. So you can't start a "Banana Corp" that makes "bPhones". It will get shot. to. pieces. You will be given a letter pretty much identical to the one Mojang has received. However, unlike Mojang, you will LOSE the case and be forced to rename, settle and pay monies.
No! This is exactly WHY you get a trademark registered. To help prevent other people using similar names and logos to your own. I'm guessing that Zinimax is mainly using a dilution argument.
Also an important line here:
"The law in most jurisdictions also allows the owner of a registered trademark to prevent unauthorized use of the mark in relation to products or services which are identical or "colourfully" similar to the "registered" products or services, and in certain cases, prevent use in relation to entirely dissimilar products or services"
Great examples here, where McDonalds has successfully gotten various named companies/businesses/items renamed :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald's_legal_cases#Trademark_and_copyright. It is also worth noting the ones that FAILED, and why. This will be what happens with the current situation, however it is important that Zinimax DO this, as it is part of trademark law that they defend their trademark.
Greed is a danger to us all.....