Zynga to sue DC over the name 'SmallVille'

[Canadamus Prime]

"Zynga has spent years on researching and developing innovative and original games. It's very unfortunate when other studios try to leech off our efforts. We must bring an end to these endeavors."

I second this.

Also if I understand this correctly, they're getting upset over a letter. A FUCKING LETTER! Doesn't Zynga's legal department have better things to do?

 

[xplosive59]

Looks like V caused a vendetta.

Very well done, have a cookie.

OT: Zynga are are around 60 years late to claim that SmallVille is infringing on their copyright, because as we comic book nerds know, this is where superman grew up which predates to the comic books of the late 1940's.

 

[Alluos]

It's not an outrageous demand, just dropping the capital V, after all I've never seen the name "Smallville" spelled with a capital V before.

At first I thought it was just them defending their IPs like Bethesda are, but the way he seemed to be CERTAIN that DC was trying to leech off of them makes that seem unlikely.

 

[Brian Hendershot]

There is no meme or Youtube video that can properly convey how stupid of an idea this is and how funny I think it is.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Smallville has always been spelt with a lower case v since as you so kindly pointed out 1947.

Funny, because on the radio show I mentioned, it was never lower or upper case in speech. The defence rests.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

There is no meme or Youtube video that can properly convey how stupid of an idea this is and how funny I think it is.

Oh, I think there's one on this page that adequately expresses it

You have checked the OP I assume?

 

[SidingWithTheEnemy]

[...]

"Zynga has spent years on researching and developing innovative and original games. It's very unfortunate when other studios try to leech off our efforts. We must bring an end to these endeavors."

My thoughts exactly!!! Well done, sir, well done indeed!


Comparing that to the discussion of the "The Elder Scrolls vs. Scrolls" debacle I'm all game for an oldschool Duke Nukem CoOP Deathmatch, in which the two winners take all.

 

[RA92]

Also a bit of an issue with telling the truth.

There is indeed.

There is no meme or Youtube video that can properly convey how stupid of an idea this is and how funny I think it is.

Oh, I think there's one on this page that adequately expresses it

You might be onto something, root.

 

[Qitz]

... as the name Smallville has been tied with the Superman franchise for over seven decades.

My thoughts exactly. I would have thought DC had the Copywrite on Smallville already. Should be rather fun watching this one go down.

Though the "They stole our idea to capitalize the letter V in Ville!" argument is hilarious.

 

[Daaaah Whoosh]

I'm actuslly siding with Zinga on this one. To the best of my knowledge, and based more on simple logic, it's supposed to be spelled Smallville, not SmallVille. There is a difference, and it does sound to me like DC was trying to pull a fast one in order to get the attention of the embarassingly massive fanbase for -Ville games.

However, I would like to see what would happen if Disney tried to make a game about the villian from 101 Dalmations...

 

[ShindoL Shill]

neither one has a case unless DC makes/has made a browser MMO-RPG.
DC would still get a settlement in court though.

Apple Corps v Apple Computer precedent.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

My point still stands that in writing it has always been with a lower case v.

My points stands in that "look and feel" will rest with the originator.

If you disagree with me then I challange you to give me a single valid reason as to why DC would suddenly want to change how they spell Smallville after so long.

The DC Reboot?

 

[ChildofGallifrey]

Really? They think they own a suffix? My hometown is called 'Marksville', do we have to start paying Zynga royalties now?

Gotta admit though, capitalizing the vee-diddly-ee is a bit of a noodle scratcher.

 

[Jack and Calumon]

Really Zynga? I mean wow...
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
How does that even work? Are their lawyers high?
Very good, OP, very good! I applaud you sir!
I guess that DC will have to pay up to Zynga.
For those of you who don't fully know what I'm talking about, the source holds all.
Calumon: Why can I see white here?

 

[ToastiestZombie]

Seriously, the people who would play Zynga games would not want to play an MMO (albeit browser based) based on Super Heroes, they probably wouldn't even know that it existed if it never was advertised on Facebook. So my opinion is that by doing this case then they are basically advertising SmallVille because they are putting word out for it instead of just leaving it alone.

 

[Cyrax987]

I heard CityVille is a completely original idea and has no similarities to another game series that started out in the '90s oh wait...

 

[Trippy Turtle]

If this game is anything like farmville then it won't be worth suing over anyway.