Joystiq

Mojang wins interim injunction battle, can keep using 'Scrolls' name for now

Justin McElroy — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 08:55:00 EST

As ZeniMax and Mojang begin their back alley knife fight, it seems that Notch and Co. has drawn first blood. The indie studio won the right to continue to use the "Scrolls" name -- which Bethesda claims infringes on its Elder Scrolls copyright -- until the case goes to trial. The decision, as Notch pointed out in his Twitter feed, can still be appealed by Bethesda parent company ZeniMax.

Should that go badly, we've prepared some less contentious names that will still really irritate Bethesda.

Gloom
FRUSTRATION
Tectonic Event Arena Live
Remaining Radioactive Material 3
Edge
Slippery
Rogue Warrior (note: Bethesda will probably let this one slide)
Breeders Cup World Thoroughbred Championships (note: ditto)
Remaining Radioactive Material: New Atlantic City

Mojang wins interim injunction battle, can keep using 'Scrolls' name for now originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bethesda: Nobody enjoys being 'forced' to sue Mojang

Jessica Conditt — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 20:30:00 EST

Bethesda VP of marketing Pete Hines is providing some context for its case against Minecraft-dev Mojang's coming title, Scrolls, saying Mojang hasn't fairly presented Bethesda's side of the fight (probably because it's on the side against Bethesda). "Mojang's public comments have not given a complete picture as it relates to their filings, our trademarks, or events that have taken place," Hines said.

Bethesda has an obligation to protect its trademark -- Elder Scrolls -- at the risk of diluting or losing it entirely. In that regard, this isn't something Bethesda wants to do, but it is something it has to do: "Nobody here enjoys being forced into this," Hines said. "Hopefully it will all be resolved soon." I bet that Quake 3 duel is looking pretty good to both sides right now.

Bethesda: Nobody enjoys being 'forced' to sue Mojang originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 08 Oct 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bethesda vs. Mojang: 'Scrolls' case going to court

Justin McElroy — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:19:00 EST

So ... no Quake 3 then?

Despite Notch's offer to engage in deathmatch against a team of Bethesda's choosing over the matter, it seems that the battle for use of the "Scrolls" name will take place in court instead. As the Mojang boss tweeted, "The Scrolls case is going to court! Weee! :D"

If you remember, Bethesda claimed that Mojang's upcoming collectible card game, Scrolls, was too close in (trademarked) title to the publisher's Elder Scrolls series of games. Mojang business developer Daniel Kaplan called the suit "really silly" while speaking with Gamasutra, but said that, in the worst case scenario, Mojang would be forced to change the title.

Since a name change would be the toxic leftovers from this legal wrangling, we'd suggest changing the name to "Fallout." You can thank us later.

Bethesda vs. Mojang: 'Scrolls' case going to court originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Notch challenges Bethesda to Quake 3 deathmatch for 'Scrolls' trademark

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:10:00 EST

Look, sometimes the traditional justice systems of the world just can't get it done. Some kerfuffles require alternative forms of arbitration -- like, for instance, the recent trademark dispute between Mojang and Bethesda over the former's upcoming game, Scrolls. Notch from Mojang has an interesting suggestion for solving the dispute once and for all: "I challenge Bethesda to a game of Quake 3," he said in his blog earlier today.

"Three of our best warriors against three of your best warriors," Notch added. "We select one level, you select the other, we randomize the order. 20 minute matches, highest total frag count per team across both levels wins." The stakes for this contest would be fairly high, as Notch added, "If we win, you drop the lawsuit. If you win, we will change the name of Scrolls to something you're fine with."

In related news, we've been sitting here for like, an hour, trying to turn this whole scenario into a parody song of Charlie Daniels' "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." Our two hang-ups are that we're not comfortable characterizing either party as Satan, and also that we're just not Weird Al-clever.

Notch challenges Bethesda to Quake 3 deathmatch for 'Scrolls' trademark originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Minecraft studio threatened with suit by Bethesda over 'Scrolls' title

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:20:00 EST

Not exactly unexpectedly, about four hours ago Markus "Notch" Persson -- creator of Minecraft and head of Mojang Specifications -- received a letter from a Swedish law firm representing Bethesda Softworks. It claimed that his company's trademark of the word "Scrolls" for use with a currently-in-development game was infringing on Bethesda's own trademark, "The Elder Scrolls," and requested "a pile of money up front" before things could proceed. But Notch could've guessed it was coming.

Writing on his Tumblr page, Notch explains that "about half a year ago," his company's legal team suggested registering "Minecraft" as a trademark. In the process, Mojang also filed to register "Scrolls," killing two birds with one stone. Notch writes that "A while later, out of the blue, we got contacted by Bethesda's lawyers. They wanted to know more about the 'Scrolls' trademark we were applying for, and claimed it conflicted with their existing trademark 'The Elder Scrolls.'" At the time, Mojang responded by offering what Notch calls a compromise: "We'd agree to never put any words in front of 'Scrolls,' and instead call sequels and other things something along the lines of 'Scrolls - The Banana Expansion.'" In his piece, he says that he's not sure if Mojang ever heard back.

Fast-forward to this afternoon, and a "15-page letter" from a Swedish law firm, on behalf of Bethesda, arrives for Notch (pictured above). He says it's threatening a lawsuit if Mojang refuses "to stop using the name 'Scrolls,'" and that Bethesda will sue should that be necessary. Regardless of the current situation, Notch notes at the top of his piece, "I love Bethesda. I assume this nonsense is partly just their lawyers being lawyers, and a result of trademark law being the way it is." Here's hoping that compromise works out, and Notch is somehow legally bound to name the first Scrolls DLC "The Banana Expansion."

Update: This piece was originally headlined "Minecraft studio being sued by Bethesda over 'Scrolls' title," and has since been amended to more accurately reflect the situation.

Minecraft studio threatened with suit by Bethesda over 'Scrolls' title originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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