Tim Langdell Files Trademark Complaint Against Killer Edge Racing
- Thread starter Andy Chalk
- Start date
Looks like we're walking the razor's edge with some of these jokes. Wouldn't want to edge anyone out.Gaderael said:
Maybe I should have read all the other threads about this, but why the hell is someone allowed to trademark a common word like EDGE...
I mean, Transmorphers [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0960835/] didn't get sued for it's name being a clear rip-off of Transformers(that might have a different reason though [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/DarthWiki/Ptitlew9bltta3dv6n]) My point is that there should be a distinction between a work being called "Transmorphers" and "The [sup]unofficial[/sup]Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen", something this thing with Tim Langdell shows is clearly needed.
I mean, Transmorphers [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0960835/] didn't get sued for it's name being a clear rip-off of Transformers(that might have a different reason though [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/DarthWiki/Ptitlew9bltta3dv6n]) My point is that there should be a distinction between a work being called "Transmorphers" and "The [sup]unofficial[/sup]Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen", something this thing with Tim Langdell shows is clearly needed.
I don't agree with him as I mentioned the last time this came up if I recall. However before jumping on the situation, understand that he DOES have some legitimate points. As does the guy who claims he filed a patent on the concept of MMOGs back in like the 1980s along with pictures about how it would look. It might be the same guy, but I don't think it was.
Like it or not one of the points of copyright law is to be able to stake out a title, or concept, and not have to defend it from imitators or people stealing your name. I believe the issue isn't so much that Tim copyrighted the word "Edge" in all contexts, but rather within the context of video games and comic books, and what's more the copyright applies to titles more than general usage of the word. Looking at his site it seems that he is claiming he developed a lot of C-64 software in like the 1980s, while before the time of most gamers that does give him a degree of legitimacy especially if he's claiming his company has kept it's trademarks active despite not having capitol.
Don't get me wrong, I think he's responsible for what amounts to cyber-squatting (when someone gets a domain name in a celebrity's name for example and then tries to sell it to them), BUT one of the things is that the law is supposed to remain neutral on motivations.
I hope he loses, because he's being a jerk, BUT he does deserve his day in court (again).
The situation with MMOGs was a connected issue and scarier in a way (not sure what happened to that) since inventors and such can trademark/copyright concepts that they lack the capitol to develop. Patenting ideas and then trying to convince people to hire you/invest in you to develop them being an old, old idea and perfectly legitimate. If the guy had been shopping around the idea for a decade or more and then say Sony decided "hey let's produce this thing called Everquest, based on these ideas, but we won't bother to get the patent holder involved" that can be a problem, even if they didn't know about him specifically.
Copyright laws are one of those things that are easily abused, BUT there have also been situations where the copyright/patent holder has been correct and was a victim of theft.
Like it or not one of the points of copyright law is to be able to stake out a title, or concept, and not have to defend it from imitators or people stealing your name. I believe the issue isn't so much that Tim copyrighted the word "Edge" in all contexts, but rather within the context of video games and comic books, and what's more the copyright applies to titles more than general usage of the word. Looking at his site it seems that he is claiming he developed a lot of C-64 software in like the 1980s, while before the time of most gamers that does give him a degree of legitimacy especially if he's claiming his company has kept it's trademarks active despite not having capitol.
Don't get me wrong, I think he's responsible for what amounts to cyber-squatting (when someone gets a domain name in a celebrity's name for example and then tries to sell it to them), BUT one of the things is that the law is supposed to remain neutral on motivations.
I hope he loses, because he's being a jerk, BUT he does deserve his day in court (again).
The situation with MMOGs was a connected issue and scarier in a way (not sure what happened to that) since inventors and such can trademark/copyright concepts that they lack the capitol to develop. Patenting ideas and then trying to convince people to hire you/invest in you to develop them being an old, old idea and perfectly legitimate. If the guy had been shopping around the idea for a decade or more and then say Sony decided "hey let's produce this thing called Everquest, based on these ideas, but we won't bother to get the patent holder involved" that can be a problem, even if they didn't know about him specifically.
Copyright laws are one of those things that are easily abused, BUT there have also been situations where the copyright/patent holder has been correct and was a victim of theft.
In completely unrelated news; I will now start production on the independant video game; Edgy Edgerton and the Edged Edge of Edgyness.
Obviously not to be confused with the Travis Taylor (working)title; Edgy Edgerton and the Edge of Edgyness. Without the "edged".
I expect a lawsuit from both Travis Taylor and Tim "Go F*ck Yourself" Langdell. Though I never intend to create, or patent, this game or title.
That is all.
Obviously not to be confused with the Travis Taylor (working)title; Edgy Edgerton and the Edge of Edgyness. Without the "edged".
I expect a lawsuit from both Travis Taylor and Tim "Go F*ck Yourself" Langdell. Though I never intend to create, or patent, this game or title.
That is all.
I'd love to see him try to sue someone who can really fight back [http://www.edgemartialarts.com.au/index.php].
This whole escapade was train wreck from the beginning. Langdell hasn't got a leg to stand on in this case. Filing for the trademarks of the games he's suing? Please, somebody get this guy soft toy to hug. He's obviously doing it for attention, like a child who screams until they gets dem sweeties. Problem is, attention is exactly what he's getting. Who had honestly heard about Langdell, or Edge Games for that matter, before the whole Mobigames fiasco? 'Cuase I sure as hell hadn't.
This whole escapade was train wreck from the beginning. Langdell hasn't got a leg to stand on in this case. Filing for the trademarks of the games he's suing? Please, somebody get this guy soft toy to hug. He's obviously doing it for attention, like a child who screams until they gets dem sweeties. Problem is, attention is exactly what he's getting. Who had honestly heard about Langdell, or Edge Games for that matter, before the whole Mobigames fiasco? 'Cuase I sure as hell hadn't.
It's clear what Langdell is at. He's made a career out of bullying small developers unable to defend themselves against his spurious litigation. It may look monunmentally stupid to us that he did the same thing again after losing his last case, but I'm sure he's lost cases before and gone on to win more after.
However, he doesn't seem to have realised that the mobigame case was so high profile that he is never going to be able to get away with doing the same thing unnoticed again. I think we can probably all sleep soundly now in the knowledge that Tim Langdell is going to have to get a real job.
However, he doesn't seem to have realised that the mobigame case was so high profile that he is never going to be able to get away with doing the same thing unnoticed again. I think we can probably all sleep soundly now in the knowledge that Tim Langdell is going to have to get a real job.
Ppppht.
I am SO going to copyright "the".
Eehh... that was lame...
I am SO going to copyright "the".
The limits of your puns are edgeless.dragontiers said:
Eehh... that was lame...
Puns are like any sport, you have to keep in practice or you lose your fighting edge, and then it just becomes dull and pointless.FROGGEman2 said: