Bethesda Says Mojang's Scrolls Infringes on Elder Scrolls Mark
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?The Elder Scrolls? is their legacy, the word scrolls itself is not. It?s not a made up word nor is it someone?s last name. It?s the normal word for a roll of parchment. Could you imagine if someone tried to say the word ?war? was theirs and noone else can use it because they used that word in part of the title of a series?Caramel Frappe said:
I don't hate bethesda for this but it's stupid.
Interesting how this is an issue with videogames and yet with movies and books I hardly hear a peep when someone comes out with the exact same title for a product of the same media within a year or two. This is Langdell fever that Bethesda is having, and they are going to end up only hurting themselves when Notch and Mojang win the case. Notch states he likes Bethesda so he might not countersue, but even if he doesn't the publicity against Bethesda will get even worse against them. Which is a shame. They would do themselves a favor at dropping this matter and finding new lawyers who don't also work for album companies and/or the RIAA.
If I was able to make the trip, and Mojang decided to have their Minecraft release event on 11-11-11 anyway, I would go there, sending Bethesda a 'Wish You Were Here!' postcard.
The only people who won't be able to tell the difference are people who don't even use a computer.
Keep in mind also that Scrolls is actually more Jeb's baby, and that Notch is only the wacky godfather. I plan to wait and see what Jeb has to say about it, as beyond just Mojang, he stands to take a hit from this if things go the wrong way.
I like the concept myself that Mojang put out for Scrolls. As it stands, I don't plan to buy Skyrim or any other Elder Scrolls games. Not now.Fensfield said:
If I was able to make the trip, and Mojang decided to have their Minecraft release event on 11-11-11 anyway, I would go there, sending Bethesda a 'Wish You Were Here!' postcard.
He stated Bethesda doesn't have a strong case, and I am inclined to believe. For one, he has plenty to use off the court case that got Langdell shut down. Two, Bethesda can't legitimately claim that people know the Elder Scrolls games by the name, Elder Scrolls. From Morrowind at least it has been: Morrowind, Oblivion, and now Skyrim. Notch can thank Bethesda's publicity department for that last. No case for confusion there. Also there is a third. Gametype. Scrolls is not an RPG, it is not an MMORPG. It is an Online CCG.Baresark said:
The only people who won't be able to tell the difference are people who don't even use a computer.
Keep in mind also that Scrolls is actually more Jeb's baby, and that Notch is only the wacky godfather. I plan to wait and see what Jeb has to say about it, as beyond just Mojang, he stands to take a hit from this if things go the wrong way.
Agreed. It isn't worth the energy to hate them. I am disappointed in this kind of move they are making, and I will sorely pity them when it comes around into their face. The fallout* could potentially bite them in the ass so hard, we won't see another game made by them, ever. Though that likelihood is really small given their backers. Zenimax isn't small fry, though they do hide in the shadows quite well.DementedSheep said:
*:Any puns that occur can be taken as a moment of amusement without detracting from the point of the post. It was honestly unintentional but I'm keeping it there anyway.
Even if bethesda decide to take this to the courts, they're going to lose ; minecraft has more than 11 million people playing it (classic) and more than 2.5 million people have bought it, so no matter what bethesda tries, the community will likely boycott skyrim, and bethesda will be driven into bankruptcy.
In short, bethesda, (to vaguely quote extra credits) do not tangle with the kind of people that have more than 13 million supporters.
In short, bethesda, (to vaguely quote extra credits) do not tangle with the kind of people that have more than 13 million supporters.
"Notch, sir..."
"What is it, Nigel? I'm busy swimming blissfully naked in my money-filled swimming pool."
"Well, it's the Fallout 3 people, sir... They're here to see you."
"How quaint! Are they here for my 10:00 massage?"
"I'm afraid it's a bit more dire than that, sir."
"What is it, Nigel? I'm busy swimming blissfully naked in my money-filled swimming pool."
"Well, it's the Fallout 3 people, sir... They're here to see you."
"How quaint! Are they here for my 10:00 massage?"
"I'm afraid it's a bit more dire than that, sir."
Finish. Minecraft. First. The game has a lot of promise but they're wasting their energy porting it to the Xbox and now this other junk. Millions of people dropped 20 bucks on a beta and all that money goes towards other development. Great way to piss off the fans...
Are you suggesting that Swedes are incapable of being named "Nigel" and using words like "quaint?"Arker said:
I think you're selling them a bit short there!
Sorry Bethesda, unless you trademarked TES: The Scrolls or something like that You don't own the word Scroll or its different forms at all. What next? ill You also claim Elder is Your trademark? And then we can happily move to "The" and every company that uses "The" in their product name will be sued?
Instead of wasting time and money on lawyers focus on making sure Skyrim performs properly on PC, with all the bells whistles my hardware can push rather than hoping that the modding community will once again fix all Your mistakes.
Instead of wasting time and money on lawyers focus on making sure Skyrim performs properly on PC, with all the bells whistles my hardware can push rather than hoping that the modding community will once again fix all Your mistakes.
Didn't you know that becoming filthy rich suddenly changes you into a posh Brit, including monocle, top hat and butler? 'Tis true!Arker said:
I bolded that just so you can identify for yourself the frivolity involved. Nice to see that a Minecraft related thread doesn't go without the usual 'Notch is lazy' whining.MajorDolphin said:
okay time for a lawyer joke.
A lawyer dies and goes to hell. when he meets satan, satan says to him that he's been such a bad person by getting murderers/ rapist's etc. that he's being taken to the lowest level of hell. as they are descending at about the 7th level or so the lawyer looks over and see's another lawyer having sex with a very attractive woman. he then asks Satan "if this is hell then why is that lawyer having sex with such an attractive woman?" Satan looks at him and says "WHO ARE YOU TO QUESTION HER PUNISHMENT!?"
A lawyer dies and goes to hell. when he meets satan, satan says to him that he's been such a bad person by getting murderers/ rapist's etc. that he's being taken to the lowest level of hell. as they are descending at about the 7th level or so the lawyer looks over and see's another lawyer having sex with a very attractive woman. he then asks Satan "if this is hell then why is that lawyer having sex with such an attractive woman?" Satan looks at him and says "WHO ARE YOU TO QUESTION HER PUNISHMENT!?"
I haven't seen anyone saying that.. do people say that?5t3v0 said:
Because that's moronic. About the dumbest thing I can imagine anyone saying about New Vegas. New Vegas had some really serious problems, but the story wasn't among them.
You HAVE to be kidding. While I'll agree that I like the Elderscrolls series, and that Bethesda can do some good story-writing and they make good character-building systems, as a development company, they are horseshit. Every game they have ever put out. EVERY GAME. Has been a buggy pile of shit outside of the aforementioned good character-building and interesting stories. If Bethesda were a pen-and-paper RPG company, I'd be right there with you saying that they are the bee's knees. As video game developers though, they are terrible. As the mantra goes; Bethesda makes the game, and the community fixes the game.MrJKapowey said:
Name even one product with Bethesda's name on it that wasn't buggy as hell. Heck, even Brink had it's fair share of bugs, and Bethesda only published that one. It's like they ruin games just by touching them.
well I'm not sure if it was a Beth Fanboy, but a while ago there was this article that was posted about "Why fallout 3 is better than new Vegas" and the guy who posted it said everything that was obviously his opinion as fact. Those 2 things were part of the list. All of his points were void by anyone who has any sense as well.Pandabearparade said:
And the Extra Credits episode on Fallout New Vegas and amnesia stories (But again, thats not Beth fanboyism.). I love extra credits, but they showed a lot of ignorance with that video.
Well that was more targeted at those who love fallout 3 more and cite reasons that make no sense. They way I can see it, the only true argument about Fallout New Vegas being worse in an area is the stability, but even then that can be argued with the fact that NV ran different for different people, even on the same console/system and Fallout 3 being around the same with its stabiltiy for many users as well, just not as reported due to everyone being "Blown away"
So... would they also sue anyone who used the term "Elder"? Or is it just scrolls? So no other video game in existence can have the world Scrolls in its title now? Isn't that stupid?
Bethesda's "reason" for doing this is that people might become "confused" and mistake Notch's game for an Elder Scroll's game.
That.
Is.
Ludicrous.
Only a brain damaged Chipmunk could actually think that just because a game is called Scrolls it is linked to the Elder Scroll's series. No person with the intelligence to read could mistake the two.
What's next? Going after Fruit Roll ups, because Roll is a part of Scroll?
Bethesda should drop this suit. Even if it's an automated response, it should still be dropped. Besides, I have NEVER heard anyone call it "Scrolls". I've heard people say "Oblivion" when referring to Oblivion and "Morrowind" and I have heard of people referring to it as "Elder scrolls", but I have never, EVER heard of anyone say "So, you gonna buy Scrolls?" or "Have you played Scrolls?".
Maybe I should make a game called "The Scrolling Scrolls of Scrolland: On the Edge!" just to spite them. In fact, get 200 indie developers together to make some indie games incorporating Scroll in the title - let's see Bethesda try to sue all of them.
Bethesda's "reason" for doing this is that people might become "confused" and mistake Notch's game for an Elder Scroll's game.
That.
Is.
Ludicrous.
Only a brain damaged Chipmunk could actually think that just because a game is called Scrolls it is linked to the Elder Scroll's series. No person with the intelligence to read could mistake the two.
What's next? Going after Fruit Roll ups, because Roll is a part of Scroll?
Bethesda should drop this suit. Even if it's an automated response, it should still be dropped. Besides, I have NEVER heard anyone call it "Scrolls". I've heard people say "Oblivion" when referring to Oblivion and "Morrowind" and I have heard of people referring to it as "Elder scrolls", but I have never, EVER heard of anyone say "So, you gonna buy Scrolls?" or "Have you played Scrolls?".
Maybe I should make a game called "The Scrolling Scrolls of Scrolland: On the Edge!" just to spite them. In fact, get 200 indie developers together to make some indie games incorporating Scroll in the title - let's see Bethesda try to sue all of them.