Bethesda, Mojang & 'Scrolls'

It would appear that Bethesda - developer of numerous popular titles, including the "Elder Scrolls" series of games - is suing Mojang for use of the word "Scrolls" in one of their upcoming projects.

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.

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AlexxBoii
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
This is an outrage!

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tivatus
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
Hmmm lets spam them with emails! Demanding that they retract any pursuits of law against Mojang Specifications!

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unobtainium
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
online petition i think is in order, there is no way Bethesda can claim rights to the scrolls name, they have to relise that most of us will play "scrolls" then play elder scrolls so its a win for them. You think that Disney sues any other cartoon company for using the name "Mouse" or "Duck" for one of their characters?

i'll donate $5, if everyone who bought MC did then there is 5 x 3 million = 15 million and meet them in court!

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Vire70
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
Wow, new lows from big gaming companies. As someone else said, fire the legal department and hire some bug-testers. Fallout:NV was a messy disaster.

Reminds me of that ridiculous story where someone tried to copyright human DNA.

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Syfer613
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
That just goes to show you how desperate they are.

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saluk
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
It sounds like Mojang got some bad advice. If they hadn't tried to trademark scrolls I doubt this would have come up.

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BlazingShadowEX
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
This is Blasphemy :/.:SSSS:

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Caruso09
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
Really Bethesda

You. Are. Selfish. That is all

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GenMcMuster
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
Cool you're rage-jets.

This is just Bethesda's LAWYERS doing what LAWYERS do. from the abstract view of a LAWYER who probably isn't a gamer these 2 titles look slightly similar (medieval/fantasy/RPGesq) and could cause a digitally illiterate LAWYER to get their Ace-Ventura underwear into a knot.

Copyright craziness is also rather common, this incidence is by no means special. LAWYERS will typically take action when something along the lines of what I detailed above happened (and the case typically goes no-where fast). Even something as inconspicuous as using coloring on a game's cover art that is similar to a preexisting game can cause lawyer's to get revved up and put their sue-hats on.

But you can relax because Bethesda's LAWYERS don't have much of a case and talks between Mojang and Bethesda will probably defuse the situation.

AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! don't cancel your Skyrim pre-orders. becaus Notch isn't (check his twitter)

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718hero718
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
Wow people will do anything to get Notches millions

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Pizarro
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
Link to trademark list for scrolls

1
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=toc&state=4009:ma5lmt.1.1&p_search=searchss&p_L=50&BackReference=&p_plural=yes&p_s_PARA1=&p_tagrepl~:=PARA1$LD&expr=PARA1 AND PARA2&p_s_PARA2=scrolls&p_tagrepl~:=PARA2$COMB&p_op_ALL=AND&a_default=search&a_

2
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4009:ma5lmt.2.7

Who's suing who again?

Last edited by Pizarro: Aug 5, 2011

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dragongild
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
Scrolls, scrolls, scrolls, scrolls, scrolls! Suck it Bethesda.

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Pleasuredroid69
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
Wow, I love Elder scrolls games but wtf Bethesda?

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12sea21
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
Quote from Spaceman Africa

Sickeningly failsome. Why not sue the flaming dictionary for not mentioning your little orc 'em up while you're at it? Fire your legal department and hire some bugtesters plz.

LOL! There we go.. finally someone who sees some flaws.

I personally do not like the elder scrolls series but when i heard the title 'Scrolls' i did not associate with those crappy oblivion games. Its just shameful.. just because notch may be earning more money on a not-yet-released game than them. HAHA! i laugh in their face. How about you go sue games with the names Elders etc.

It is completely and utterly shameful, they need to get a grip and stop attacking notch... he will kick their ass.

And:

Quote from Pizarro

Link to trademark list for scrolls

1
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=toc&state=4009:ma5lmt.1.1&p_search=searchss&p_L=50&BackReference=&p_plural=yes&p_s_PARA1=&p_tagrepl~:=PARA1$LD&expr=PARA1 AND PARA2&p_s_PARA2=scrolls&p_tagrepl~:=PARA2$COMB&p_op_ALL=AND&a_default=search&a_

2
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4009:ma5lmt.2.7

Who's suing who again?

http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4009:ma5lmt.8.1

...?

Last edited by 12sea21: Aug 5, 2011

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fludd12
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
God I hate the legal system these days, people are getting sued right and left

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Gamabunta00
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
eh probably some lawyer thinks he has a case but they own the phrase "The Elder Scrolls" not the Word Scrolls also i dont think you can copyright the name of something or trademark it. you might as well trademark/copyright the word The get some money also why do people keep referring to bethesda as a she.....its a gaming company. lol

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Void_The_Blind
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
That's a very nice game company you have there Bethesda, it would be a shame (miracle) if something were to happen to it... Ssssssssssssssssssssssss

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Corean
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
This is the kind of crap that you'll come across in society.
See a company that's faring pretty well?

Sue them.

If you have the best attourneys, you can get away with nearly anything.

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Raptor3312
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
After reading Notch's blog, it seems it has more to do with greedy lawyers than the company itself(that and personal experience with lawyers). I'd say Notch is doing fine in keeping a level head and not butting heads with other people over something as ridiculous as a title.

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MCFUser468626
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Posted Aug 5, 2011
*sighs* I bet lots of other games have used the word scrolls but now the reason they are suing because Bethesda needs more money. If only large companies had heard of the word common sense. Just stop and think hey why are we suing some small time company but Noooooooo big companies need to be stupid and sue all the little guys to support themselves. Bethesda if you need to sue to continue being a company without going bankrupt that should tell you that you shouldnt be anymore. I will NEVER buy anything from Bethesda again. I hope they go to court and the court says it's a bs claim

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Bethesda, Mojang & "Scrolls"

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