EA And Ubisoft Fight Over "Ghost" Trademark

Steven Bogos

The Taco Man
Jan 17, 2013
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EA And Ubisoft Fight Over "Ghost" Trademark

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EA games is trying to trademark the word "Ghost", almost as ridiculous as trying to trademark "Candy". [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/131475-Candy-Crush-Saga-Studio-Trademarks-the-Word-Candy]

Trademarks in video games can get pretty ridiculous some times. I'm sure you've by now hard about Candy Crush Saga developer King's ludicrous claim to the word "Candy" [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/131475-Candy-Crush-Saga-Studio-Trademarks-the-Word-Candy], but recently, EA games has tried to pull the same thing with the word "Ghost." Obviously, ghost is a fairly common word in games (especially those modern military shooter types), and as such, Ubisoft has raised its hand to say, "uh, no. You can't do that."

The filing, which the boys at NeoGAF dug up over here [http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1177577], opposes EA's claim to the word "Ghost," stating that if such a trademark was granted, it would hurt several of Ubisoft's own properties, most notably its Ghost Recon series. EA Games has until March 9 to respond to the opposition, after which it will head to court.

Just for the record, the EA filing isn't completely without merit, as it is trying to protect its Ghost Games [http://ghostgames.com/] studio - the folks behind the Need for Speed series these days. That said, a trademark for "Ghost Games" would have probably made things a lot simpler.

Perhaps Activision would also like to throw its claim to the word "Ghost," just in case it wants to make a sequel to Call of Duty: Ghosts [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/tag/view/call%20of%20duty%20ghosts].

Source: NeoGaf [http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1177577]

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thewatergamer

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Aug 4, 2012
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Can we please stop trying to copyright everyday words? What's next? Nintendo copyright's the word "party" because of its mario party franchise?
 

Tanis

The Last Albino
Aug 30, 2010
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Never thought I'd see the day that UBISOFT could be an hero in a story.

Pretty amazing stuff.

It's like the whole Donald Trump vs Fox News/Megan Kelly.

It's not that Fox News/Megan Kelly are actually any GOOD, it's that Donald Trump is just WORSE.

*slowclap*
 

Valkrex

Elder Dragon
Jan 6, 2013
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thewatergamer said:
Can we please stop trying to copyright everyday words? What's next? Nintendo copyright's the word "party" because of its mario party franchise?
The FineBros (youtubers who popularized reaction videos on youtube) recently tried to trademark the word "React" as well. This shit's getting out of hand.
 

dragongit

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Feb 22, 2011
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Why not just bloody copywrite the entire dictionary while you're at it? Sell us off packs of words to use to start with, with additional adjectives and nouns as DLC. How about you stop trying to own the English Language and let us title stuff the way we want to!
 

Zontar

Mad Max 2019
Feb 18, 2013
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This is like the Special Olympics as interpreted in a painting by a post modernist interpreted by a drunk layman who's coming down with a cold.

I have no idea what I just said means, but I feel it's an accurate statement of this fight.
 

TelosSupreme

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Dec 8, 2015
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Oh for heaven's sake. First the Fine Bros. fiasco, now this. Can we just abolish trademark law once and for all? Copyright law is already such an outdated pain in the ass to deal with in as it is.
 

Mike000

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Nov 22, 2007
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thewatergamer said:
Can we please stop trying to copyright everyday words? What's next? Nintendo copyright's the word "party" because of its mario party franchise?
Trademark,not copyright. 'Twas hilarious when McDonald's got slapped down in Scotland.
 

snekadid

Lord of the Salt
Mar 29, 2012
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Steven Bogos said:
Just for the record, the EA filing isn't completely without merit, as it is trying to protect its Ghost Games [http://ghostgames.com/] studio - the folks behind the Need for Speed series these days. That said, a trademark for "Ghost Games" would have probably made things a lot simpler.
No, This is EA being Evil Assholes, as per usual. Like stated, if they were legitimately attempting to TM their studio, they would have went for "Ghost Games". What they are doing is using TMing the studio as a excuse from attempting to be scum bags and claim a COMMON ENGLISH WORD while trying to negate the fall out of EA doing exactly what we all know they're doing.

There is no excuse. I'd also urge for people to keep from putting this into terms of "EA bad vs ubi good", because we all know ubi would do it too and still might try.
 

Micah Weil

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Mar 16, 2009
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...anyone else wanna go arm Emmanuel Lewis with a war hammer made of dictionaries and sick him on these clowns trying to trademark basic words?
 

Space Jawa

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Feb 2, 2010
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Tanis said:
Never thought I'd see the day that UBISOFT could be an hero in a story.

Pretty amazing stuff.

It's like the whole Donald Trump vs Fox News/Megan Kelly.

It's not that Fox News/Megan Kelly are actually any GOOD, it's that Donald Trump is just WORSE.

*slowclap*
Honestly, if you really felt a need to link this to Donald Trump and use it as an excuse to to badmouth him, it would have been a lot easier to bring up the time he tried to - or at least talked about trying to - get the phrase "You're Fired!" trademarked.

Plus, it would actually fit in context!
 

Briggins

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Mar 22, 2009
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http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/166171-EA-Wants-PC-Gamers-to-Trust-it-Again

You lasted 3 days EA, 3 days.
 

Jeteye

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Feb 7, 2011
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Oh EA, clearing off a spot for another "Worst Company in America" award are we.
 

Barbas

ExQQxv1D1ns
Oct 28, 2013
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The two biggest turds in the industry going at it? Well, pass the popcorn.
 

ChaplainOrion

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Nov 7, 2011
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I have to wonder, what started this? I mean, trademarks I get, but who started this whole trademarking common words thing? And how high are these CEOs that they think they would actually get away with this shit? I mean one day we'll live in a world with no words, because companies have bought all the rights to those words.