Mojang Offered Up Scrolls Trademark, Bethsoft Said "No"

[thethingthatlurks]

Dear ZeniMax/Bethesda,
This is getting ridiculous. Look, you are not longer just in a pissing contest with an incredibly successful Indie studio, you're fucking with the whole goddman internet. We by and large stand with Notch, because of the image we have of you (the big guy) attempting to beat up the little guy (Notch) over an entirely irrelevant issue. Nobody is going to confuse your (presumably) awesome game "Skyrim" with "Scrolls" just because there's the word "Scrolls" in the former's full title. And please don't fool yourself, I'd wager that less than a tenth of your customers actually know the full title, and even fewer will know the significance of the "Elder Scroll" according to ingame lore. Notch is not alone, and there will be more parodies of the name 'Scrolls' now than ever before.
Look, the people you are after are the people you depend on. We buy your games, we fix your bugs, we mod your engine, we expand your stories. We guard you against trolls on the interwebs while you sleep. Do not fuck with us.

Dear Notch,
hang in there man.

 

[Formica Archonis]

but none of that is true. Legally, you can only make such assumptions from facts, and based on Notch's history of lying about this whole thing, I'm more inclined to side with Bethesda.

Idle curiosity... what lies has he told about the case so far?

 

[sinterklaas]

There has to be more to this story then what we know.

 

[lacktheknack]

So they are suing with out a reason? Can they counter sue for a waste of their time and money?

I can't take Bethesdas side...

Please answer this immediately: did you read the entire article?

You know what, you don't have to answer, because clearly you didn't. Bethesda is suing because they're using the title "Scrolls" in their title.

Oh was that the same reason as before? Yea, my bad, I guess the Escapist forgot and just wants more web traffic.....

Men in glass houses...

Mojang offered to drop the trademark and add a subtitle, everything short of removing the word "Scrolls" from the name. Zenimax doesn't appear to give a damn, and have thus securely entered WTF Lawsuit territory, officially making them the next Tim Langdell (if Notch isn't lying).

You know, NOT what we were told before.

It's all in the OP.

but none of that is true. Legally, you can only make such assumptions from facts, and based on Notch's history of lying about this whole thing, I'm more inclined to side with Bethesda.

There is not one shred of a document that points to this article being true. Not a shred.

There are pages and pages of documents pointing to the fact that Zenimax has a right to file suit and should.

Read this blog if you haven't: http://www.falsegravity.com/

"Based on Notch's history of lying about this"

Um, documentation please?

Anyways, the most likely reason this is happening is because they applied for a general trademark without think it all the way through. That's kinda how Mojang operates, I find. Also, for Mojang to attack Bethesda maliciously with this would require Notch to be lying about EVERYTHING HE EVER SAID ABOUT BETHESDA EVER. He's a raving fan of them and plans to buy and play the crap out of Skyrim. Even during this, he's said MULTIPLE TIMES how he still will buy Skyrim.

Most damning of all is that Notch claims that he offered to DROP THE TRADEMARK, leaving Bethesda without a threat. Sure, he could be lying, but only a true idiot would lie like that with the public spotlight on them shortly before going to court to verify. Also, referring to your claims that he's a compulsive liar: I'm flat out skeptical. He's gone and blabbed off a few times, but he hasn't lied.

 

[Clonekiller]

Just wondering... What does Bethesda have to say about all this? Seems to me that all we're getting is a steady stream of info from Mojang. It kinda seems obvious to me, but isn't taking Mojang's word on everything a bad idea? Especially since Mojang has a very real motivation to discredit Bethesda in any way possible? Just saying, the other side of the story might be worth seeing.

 

[dave1004]

http://kotaku.com/5846111/mojang-v-bethesda-or-i-hate-it-when-mommy-and-daddy-fight

Sums it up. Notch linked it, go check it out on his blog. (http://notch.tumblr.com/)

 

[JediMB]

Wait, did I get this right? The Elder Scrolls is that game from Notch isn't it?

Screenshots of these kinds of posts is exactly the sort of evidence Bethesda has been submitting to court. >_>

 

[Use_Imagination_here]

Bethesda no. Bad dog. Bad.

...What did i just write?

Anyway, you suck betheseda! why? Just why?

And since when could you trademark a plural of a common word? Since where you allowed to sue over one common word without being lauched out of court?

SINCE WHEN DID ONE OF MY FAVOURITE GAME COMPANYS ACT LIKE A BUNCH OF FUCKING DOUCHEBAGS?

I don't want to live on this planet anymore. I'll go find jack, see whats up on mars. (i'm drunk)

 

[Majorlagger]

My, this is becoming a regular "he says, she says" situation, huh?

Though I never quite got why Bethesda went after Notch in the first place. I mean really, is all of the bad press and really worth having free-reign over the word "Scrolls" in their game titles? Do they really think Notch is that much of a threat? Last I checked, people call it the "Elder Scrolls" series, not the "Scrolls" series. And it's not like he's directly copy/pasting their gameplay and scenarios.

the game name wasnt the problem, it was the trademark, with the trade mark notch would have been able to sue beth for the elder SCROLLS series because they would have control of the word SCROLLS... now its hey how dare you do that now there gonna take everything.

 

[rda_Highlander]

I don't like Notch. It's my personal taste, I don't like how he always asks for protection from his fans.
Whatever you say, I might be really wrong, but I think that ZeniMax knows something we don't know, or Notch doesn't want to share. They've got this trademark for two decades, and said themselves, that they don't need more fans than they already have to satisfy their budget. Why the sudden fear of some unknown game, that isn't even being made yet? Also, I don't remember them being dicks before, so there's that.

Also. It's ZeniMax who is suing Notch, not Bethesda, so shut the hell up about them.
Also also, do you know how fucking expensive it is for one company to sue the other? To pay lawyers to arrange documents, to prepare for legal action, etc? If they do it "for kicks" as some of you suggest, then they clearly have more money than brains.

 

[Beryl77]

Wait, did I get this right? The Elder Scrolls is that game from Notch isn't it?

Screenshots of these kinds of posts is exactly the sort of evidence Bethesda has been submitting to court. >_>

And if the judges believe them because of this, then they don't deserve to be judges anymore.

 

[Davih]

I just don't even know anymore. I can see where Bethesda is coming from to be honest. If Mojang make a scrolls game, and they trademark it then they could cause difficulties for others trying to make a game starting with scrolls, claiming they own the rights.
On the other hand, they offered to drop the trademark, meaning it is about something else other than what I said above, putting Bethesda in the wrong. If Mojang do not have the trademark, someone else can use scrolls willingly in their title, meaning that the problem would be avoided.

So why is this still happening?

 

[Sehnsucht Engel]

I hate bethesda now. They seem to be doing it because they can and no other reason.

 

[lacktheknack]

So they are suing with out a reason? Can they counter sue for a waste of their time and money?

I can't take Bethesdas side...

Please answer this immediately: did you read the entire article?

You know what, you don't have to answer, because clearly you didn't. Bethesda is suing because they're using the title "Scrolls" in their title.

Oh was that the same reason as before? Yea, my bad, I guess the Escapist forgot and just wants more web traffic.....

Men in glass houses...

Mojang offered to drop the trademark and add a subtitle, everything short of removing the word "Scrolls" from the name. Zenimax doesn't appear to give a damn, and have thus securely entered WTF Lawsuit territory, officially making them the next Tim Langdell (if Notch isn't lying).

You know, NOT what we were told before.

It's all in the OP.

but none of that is true. Legally, you can only make such assumptions from facts, and based on Notch's history of lying about this whole thing, I'm more inclined to side with Bethesda.

There is not one shred of a document that points to this article being true. Not a shred.

There are pages and pages of documents pointing to the fact that Zenimax has a right to file suit and should.

Read this blog if you haven't: http://www.falsegravity.com/

"Based on Notch's history of lying about this"

Um, documentation please?

Anyways, the most likely reason this is happening is because they applied for a general trademark without think it all the way through. That's kinda how Mojang operates, I find. Also, for Mojang to attack Bethesda maliciously with this would require Notch to be lying about EVERYTHING HE EVER SAID ABOUT BETHESDA EVER. He's a raving fan of them and plans to buy and play the crap out of Skyrim. Even during this, he's said MULTIPLE TIMES how he still will buy Skyrim.

Most damning of all is that Notch claims that he offered to DROP THE TRADEMARK, leaving Bethesda without a threat. Sure, he could be lying, but only a true idiot would lie like that with the public spotlight on them shortly before going to court to verify. Also, referring to your claims that he's a compulsive liar: I'm flat out skeptical. He's gone and blabbed off a few times, but he hasn't lied.

I provided you with documentation. Clearly you, along with most people on this forum, can't actually read.

And you're right, my bad. It's not like head's of corporations/any other large entity that wants copious amounts of your cash hasn't used a good PR tactic to get more airtime/money. I'm CLEARLY the ignorant one here...

I read the whole damn thing, and found nothing about Notch lying. Misunderstanding? Yes. Misleading? Possibly. Lying? No.

And the PR tactic (Notch declaring his love for Bethesda) started loooooong before Scrolls was even announced. That's quite some forward thinking they have there.

I can't help it if you want to declare yourself brilliant analyzer of Notch when you clearly haven't followed his blog and Twitter feed.

 

[Formica Archonis]

Wait, did I get this right? The Elder Scrolls is that game from Notch isn't it?

Screenshots of these kinds of posts is exactly the sort of evidence Bethesda has been submitting to court. >_>

So, read the torrent too, huh? I quite like the part where they hint that that Minecraft's 11/11/11 release date [http://notch.tumblr.com/post/4423138657/11-11-11] (as it stood then) is proof that Scrolls is infringing, like they can't tell the difference between Mojang's games. If you can't tell the difference between Minecraft and Scrolls, I wonder what right you have to claim people will get confused by Scrolls and The Elder Scrolls.

 

[fenrizz]

So they are suing with out a reason? Can they counter sue for a waste of their time and money?

I can't take Bethesdas side...

Please answer this immediately: did you read the entire article?

You know what, you don't have to answer, because clearly you didn't. Bethesda is suing because they're using the title "Scrolls" in their title.

Oh was that the same reason as before? Yea, my bad, I guess the Escapist forgot and just wants more web traffic.....

Men in glass houses...

Mojang offered to drop the trademark and add a subtitle, everything short of removing the word "Scrolls" from the name. Zenimax doesn't appear to give a damn, and have thus securely entered WTF Lawsuit territory, officially making them the next Tim Langdell (if Notch isn't lying).

You know, NOT what we were told before.

It's all in the OP.

but none of that is true. Legally, you can only make such assumptions from facts, and based on Notch's history of lying about this whole thing, I'm more inclined to side with Bethesda.

There is not one shred of a document that points to this article being true. Not a shred.

There are pages and pages of documents pointing to the fact that Zenimax has a right to file suit and should.

Read this blog if you haven't: http://www.falsegravity.com/

"Based on Notch's history of lying about this"

Um, documentation please?

Anyways, the most likely reason this is happening is because they applied for a general trademark without think it all the way through. That's kinda how Mojang operates, I find. Also, for Mojang to attack Bethesda maliciously with this would require Notch to be lying about EVERYTHING HE EVER SAID ABOUT BETHESDA EVER. He's a raving fan of them and plans to buy and play the crap out of Skyrim. Even during this, he's said MULTIPLE TIMES how he still will buy Skyrim.

Most damning of all is that Notch claims that he offered to DROP THE TRADEMARK, leaving Bethesda without a threat. Sure, he could be lying, but only a true idiot would lie like that with the public spotlight on them shortly before going to court to verify. Also, referring to your claims that he's a compulsive liar: I'm flat out skeptical. He's gone and blabbed off a few times, but he hasn't lied.

I provided you with documentation. Clearly you, along with most people on this forum, can't actually read.

And you're right, my bad. It's not like head's of corporations/any other large entity that wants copious amounts of your cash hasn't used a good PR tactic to get more airtime/money. I'm CLEARLY the ignorant one here...

That is just uncalled for.

There is no need to accuse all other users of this here fine forum of illiteracy just because you are having an argument with one user.

 

[tycho0042]

How can you trademark an actual word? Makes no sense

George Lucas trademarked the word "Droid" so all those phones that are droid: whatevers (I have a droid X for example) there was a payout because they used his word. It's a shitty system but I imagine there's little we can do about it at this point...

 

[Fightgarr]

So much for my new game: Scrolly-McScrollerson's Scroll Roller.

 

[fenrizz]

So they are suing with out a reason? Can they counter sue for a waste of their time and money?

I can't take Bethesdas side...

Please answer this immediately: did you read the entire article?

You know what, you don't have to answer, because clearly you didn't. Bethesda is suing because they're using the title "Scrolls" in their title.

Oh was that the same reason as before? Yea, my bad, I guess the Escapist forgot and just wants more web traffic.....

Men in glass houses...

Mojang offered to drop the trademark and add a subtitle, everything short of removing the word "Scrolls" from the name. Zenimax doesn't appear to give a damn, and have thus securely entered WTF Lawsuit territory, officially making them the next Tim Langdell (if Notch isn't lying).

You know, NOT what we were told before.

It's all in the OP.

but none of that is true. Legally, you can only make such assumptions from facts, and based on Notch's history of lying about this whole thing, I'm more inclined to side with Bethesda.

There is not one shred of a document that points to this article being true. Not a shred.

There are pages and pages of documents pointing to the fact that Zenimax has a right to file suit and should.

Read this blog if you haven't: http://www.falsegravity.com/

"Based on Notch's history of lying about this"

Um, documentation please?

Anyways, the most likely reason this is happening is because they applied for a general trademark without think it all the way through. That's kinda how Mojang operates, I find. Also, for Mojang to attack Bethesda maliciously with this would require Notch to be lying about EVERYTHING HE EVER SAID ABOUT BETHESDA EVER. He's a raving fan of them and plans to buy and play the crap out of Skyrim. Even during this, he's said MULTIPLE TIMES how he still will buy Skyrim.

Most damning of all is that Notch claims that he offered to DROP THE TRADEMARK, leaving Bethesda without a threat. Sure, he could be lying, but only a true idiot would lie like that with the public spotlight on them shortly before going to court to verify. Also, referring to your claims that he's a compulsive liar: I'm flat out skeptical. He's gone and blabbed off a few times, but he hasn't lied.

I provided you with documentation. Clearly you, along with most people on this forum, can't actually read.

And you're right, my bad. It's not like head's of corporations/any other large entity that wants copious amounts of your cash hasn't used a good PR tactic to get more airtime/money. I'm CLEARLY the ignorant one here...

That is just uncalled for.

There is no need to accuse all other users of this here fine forum of illiteracy just because you are having an argument with one user.

I'll make an exception for you fenrizz, because I like you.

Ah, I see.
Carry on then.

 

[SidingWithTheEnemy]

Hey, guys? Did anyone notice who wrote the Kotaku article? It's a republish from some guy's blog [http://www.falsegravity.com/]. Ahem:

Mojang v. Bethesda, or: I Hate it When Mommy and Daddy Fight
By Russ Pitts Oct 3, 2011 3:00 PM 106,141 291

Heh.

Very interesting article. Thanks for sharing...

On Topic: Considering the outcome of Mommy Bethesda vs. Daddy Mojang I hope that Uncle E.A. loses but sadly that won't happen. Why couldn't we just drop that stupid stupid stupid Trademark thing and limit it to the actual content propertety not to ridicules names. If the consumers are moronic enough to confuse "Oblivious: the Elmer Scrolls" or "Miners'haft: My Axe" with their highly prized originals, than tough luck. Learn to read!
And you my dear stupid companies: Maybe instead of WASTING F*CKING truckloads of money on lawyers incite a spelling bee contest or build some public schools for the illeteral poor sods who want to play your game(s).


On a total unrelated note:
Skyrim remains peordered - and when evil Satan himself turns out to be Bethesda I'm going to order another copy... Grow up boycott people - you already threw money at worse companies...