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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Kris_Eike
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#1419 Kris_Eike

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Posted Aug 6, 2011
I just lost some of my respect for Bethesta. This is ****ing stupid.. Suing someone for using a word in their game is idiotic. Bethesta, shame on you.

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Jeff0FNine
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#1420 Jeff0FNine

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Posted Aug 6, 2011
Wow Bethesda need to calm the Frak down and stop bitching about this you can't own a single word and besides its a WORKING TITLE not the actuall game/project name.

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MacConqueror
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#1422 MacConqueror

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Posted Aug 6, 2011
While I like bethesda more than mojang, bethesda shouldn't be suing. And stop acting like mojang is a "poor little indie company," I bet minecraft has more players than Oblivion.

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ShatteredLight
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#1423 ShatteredLight

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Posted Aug 6, 2011
By that logic every time anyone uses the word 'craft' in a game, Mojang can sue them? Hell, why doesn't EA sue movie that has the word 'Art' on the cover, or have Valve file a lawsuit against all the plumbers in the US?

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MacConqueror
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#1426 MacConqueror

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Posted Aug 6, 2011
Because bethesda wants money. That's what its about.

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Mainzer47
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#1427 Mainzer47

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Posted Aug 6, 2011
bethesda just earned itself alot of haters.

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Mainzer47
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#1428 Mainzer47

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Posted Aug 6, 2011
bethesda just earned itself alot of haters.

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Trefl
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#1429 Trefl

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Posted Aug 6, 2011
Anyone else for complaining to them? I'll write off all Elder Scrolls games If they do **** like this to ANY developer using the word Scrolls. What's next? Copyrighting "The"?
What a bunch of low pricks. If they do this I'm boycotting their games (just a personal decision and probably will have no affect, but I don't give a DAMN!). I'll making my own damn game and name it Scroll Quest: The Search for The Scrolls of Scrollian featuring Scrolly. Make one Excruciatingly long Series, and you think you own the word? **** you Bethesda. ****. You.
/rant

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DigitalPandaSDP
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#1430 DigitalPandaSDP

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Posted Aug 6, 2011
scroll scroll scroll scroll scroll scroll scroll scroll scroll scroll scroll scroll.... JUST TRY AND SUE ME!!!
i bet ya cant hahaha

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GhastTamer
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#1432 GhastTamer

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Posted Aug 6, 2011
YoDawgs Peanut Butter company is started.

-Couple days later from Jiff's peanut butter-

HERPDERP BLARG WE IZ SUIGN U CUZ U SAID PEANUT BUTTER IN YOUR NAME1!11

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Evilmasteryoda
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#1433 Evilmasteryoda

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Posted Aug 6, 2011
So can Pepsi Cola and Coca-Cola sue over the word Pop or Cola?

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toki816
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Posted Aug 6, 2011
im thinking of buying www.thescrolls.com

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ThisIsGamer
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#1436 ThisIsGamer

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Posted Aug 6, 2011
Yo dawg I heard you liek scrolls, so I put a scroll in your scroll so you can get sued while you get sued.

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PuffOfDeath
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#1439 PuffOfDeath

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Posted Aug 6, 2011
Really, Bethesda!? Anyone, and I mean ANYONE can use the word "Scrolls" in a part of their title! The Elder Scrolls series isn't even known that well as The Elder Scrolls: *insert game title here*. Heck, The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion has always been just "Oblivion" for me. I never even knew it belonged to a series, until my friends started obsessing over The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim...

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btwsupporter
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#1440 btwsupporter

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Posted Aug 6, 2011
agemo4, theres already a game called elders so you would get sued, idiot.
dargboota, bethesda owns "The Elder Scrolls" so if you want to use the word scrolls, at least 10% of the title must be changed. as there is 17 letters, 2 letters must change. Honestly as long as the project doesn't have the word "elder" or "the" and has an additional word, minecraft can do whatever they want.

On another note
The reason Bethesda is suing is because minecraft is suppose to be released for the 360 in the future, bethesda makes a lot of income off the 360. If minecraft was only for PC and always only for the PC bethesda wouldn't give a ****.

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Jarrett78
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#1443 Jarrett78

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Posted Aug 6, 2011
That is very gay! How can someone 'own' a word like that?!?! I understand if they used a trademarked phrase in the game without permission, But a word? Seriously?!?!

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mossy20
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#1445 mossy20

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Posted Aug 6, 2011
you know that is really stupid, other games have used the word scroll before elder scrolls and that wasnt a big deal! there should NEVER be an entitlement to one word or phrase to a group or company. all they want is some money. i mean come on! get over yourselves to you big companies out there.minecraft is clearly unique compared to many other games so this is nothing more than middleschool drama...

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zombieonfire
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#1446 zombieonfire

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Posted Aug 6, 2011
this is f*** stupid!!

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Mastur_Grunt
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#1447 Mastur_Grunt

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Posted Aug 6, 2011
Wow... asshole much.

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DarkJames
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#1448 DarkJames

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Posted Aug 6, 2011
Scrolls is a word. not a trademark. the trade mark is 'Elder Scrolls' or 'The Elder Scrolls'

I think bethesda should really, really start concerning on skyrim and not these trivialities that probably only 9-year old would care.

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Bethesda, Mojang & "Scrolls"

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