Candy Crush Saga Studio Trademarks the Word "Candy"

[Andy Chalk]

Candy Crush Saga Studio Trademarks the Word "Candy"

The Candy Crush Saga studio has already accused at least one other developer of infringing upon its newly-granted trademark on the word "candy."

Back in February 2013, mobile game developer King filed for a trademark on the word "candy" in relation to videogames and clothing. Last week, specifically January 15 of this year, that filing was approved, and the studio is now reportedly moving to enforce the trademark by demanding that other developers take down apps with "candy" in the title.

Benny Hsu, the maker of All Candy Casino Slots - Jewels Craze Connect: Big Blast Mania Land [https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/all-candy-casino-slots-jewels/id788815470], told Gamezebo that he was asked under no uncertain terms to pull his game from the App Store. "Your use of CANDY SLOTS in your app icon uses our CANDY trademark exactly, for identical goods, which amounts to trademark infringement and is likely to lead to consumer confusion and damage to our brand," King paralegal Sophie Hallstrom told him. "The addition of only the descriptive term 'SLOTS' does nothing to lessen the likelihood of confusion."

As crazy as it sounds, lawyer and Trademark Blog [http://www.trademarkblog.com/] creator Martin Schwimmer said that generic trademarks like this one can be valid, although enforcing them can be tricky. "Suggestive marks are protectable, but the problem is that third parties can claim that they thought up their mark on their own," he said. He also recommended that any developers contacted by King or anyone else regarding an infringement seek the advice of a trademark lawyer, who "be can very useful in obtaining a coexistence agreement."

But as Hsu pointed out, many indie developers don't have the resources for that kind of legal fight, nor can they look to Apple for help; the letter he received regarding the "Candy Slots" infringement came by way of Apple's legal department. He said he plans on changing the name of his game.

Source: Gamezebo [http://www.gamezebo.com/news/2014/01/20/king-has-trademarked-word-candy-and-youre-probably-infringing]


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[Auberon]

Waiting for "candy shop" cease and desist for using the trademarked word. Wonders of obnoxiously vague copyright system.

 

[The World Famous]

So tell me what happens when Hasbro tries to put a CandyLand game up on the appstore?

 

[Keith K]

And a trademark troll is born.

 

[Donzacuceron]

This is incredibly stupid. I though trademarking a rectangle shape for a phone is bad, but this? This is a freaking catastrophe.

 

[Lvl 64 Klutz]

Translation:
"The customers we're trying to attract are idiots with no reasoning skills and very little reading comprehension, and we don't want other companies to take advantage of that fact."

 

[Xan Krieger]

Quickly, someone trademark "saga" and sue them for all they're worth. Damned trademark trolls, I'm sure everyone hear still remembers the idiot who trademarked the word "edge" and went after people for using it.

 

[CriticalMiss]

I honestly can't tell which of these titles is the official game. Can someone with a brain cell help? Is it:

All Candy Casino Slots - Jewels Craze Connect: Big Blast Mania Land

Or:

Candy Crush Saga

They're just so similar![/sarcasm]

At least we know Tim Langdell has found a new job...

 

[RaikuFA]

So when is Hersey/Nestle gonna take these worthless idiots down?

 

[That Eeyore]

Man this is just like Tim Langdell's stupid ass "Edge" thing, which I'm pretty sure was the reason why "Soul Edge" had to release under the name "Soul Blade" here in NA.

So that settles it: anything this company makes is now poison.

 

[MCerberus]

Have fun paying lawyers to fail at defending your undefendable trademark before a judge slaps you on the head for being too broad.

 

[dragongit]

so... is this going to open the floodgates on people copy writing words? can I just do some sort of automatic process to claim every word in the dictionary? People will have to start speaking french or Spanish or some other language, then we can get to work on claiming those words as well. Then we will copy write sign language, grunting, and any form of visual or audible communication. While we're at it let's copy write free thought and common sense, we obviously don't need those...

 

[Proverbial Jon]

Considering this company, King, have several televisual advertisement spots on UK television I imagine they're not short of a few credits. Taking this sort of abusive and aggressive legal move is nothing more than a dick move to stop other devs from competing.

Perhaps Popcap should sue King for practically stealing Bejeweled.

Honestly, I couldn't believe it when I saw an advert on TV during prime time for a bloody mobile game. What's the world coming to?

Also, I was certain you couldn't claim copyright on single words, especially ones as widespread as candy. At the very least there are laws about making a product with the intention of misleading the consumer into thinking it's another product. I'm smart enough to know that Candy Crush Saga and Candy Slots might not actually be related.

Its like Mojang's Scrolls all over again.

 

[Occams_Razor]

I don't want to live on this planet anymore.

 

[RaikuFA]

Considering this company, King, have several televisual advertisement spots on UK television I imagine they're not short of a few credits. Taking this sort of abusive and aggressive legal move is nothing more than a dick move to stop other devs from competing.

Honestly, I couldn't believe it when I saw an advert on TV during prime time for a bloody mobile game. What's the world coming to?

Also, I was certain you couldn't claim copyright on single words, especially ones as widespread as candy.

I saw it here in the states during reruns of Law and Order and South Park.

Same with their other game involving pets. BTW, if they win this, they're gonna try and trademark pet next. Just you watch.

 

[PunkRex]

What a bunch of f*cking parasites, it's not classy to wish certain events on people I don't know so i'll just say that patent/trade mark trolls need to go... away...

 

[EndlessSporadic]

Someone needs to copyright the word "crush" and sue them for all they are worth.

 

[dakkster]

Can someone help me pull my jaw up from the floor? This is too much stupid.

How does this work on the App Store? Is that other developer only prohibited from selling the CANDY SLOTS game or whatever in the US, since the patent is filed in the US? Can he, for example, sell it on the App Store here in Sweden?

 

[laggyteabag]

This is like Bethesda attempting to sue Mojang for "Scrolls", but this is even worse. How can you trademark a simple word like "Candy"? That word is incredibly common among mobile and indie games.