While his opponents may have wish he had fled, as previously reported, Edge Games CEO Tim Langdell is back in the news and stirring up more trademark trouble.
Develop notes Langdell’s return and the subsequent removal of Mobigame’s Edge by Mobigame iPhone game from the iTunes Store for the second time. Langdell and Edge Games were not impressed with Mobigame appending their name to the name of the game, telling Develop, “Clearly, if Sony tried to use the mark ‘iPod by Sony’ they would hardly expect Apple not to take action to protect their mark ‘iPod’. In trademark law adding ‘by (name)’ to another company's registered trademark does not mean a company can use that trademark without being guilty of willful infringement.”
An Edge Games statement claimed that Mobigames has had an offer since May to change the name of the game in question, with no money exchanging hands, an offer that was "repeatedly refused."
In September of this year, Electronic Arts turned the tables and targeted Langdell and Edge Games with a Consolidated Petition for Cancellation over a series of trademarks registered to Edge Games, including “The Edge,” Gamer’s Edge,” “Edge” and “Cutting Edge.”
An Edge Games rep (or Langdell himself) told Develop that Edge has filed a petition to dismiss EA’s action, adding, “Despite rumors to the contrary, Edge Games has either won every dispute in the past 20 years over the mark Edge or has settled amicably with the other party ending the dispute with an agreement in Edge Games' favor.”
The Mobigames title in question reappeared in the iTunes store this morning (for the U.S. and U.K. territories), under the new moniker Edgy.
Comments
Re: Langdell and Mobigames Still At It
So did this Douche Bag sue the WWE over the Edge Character and his segment The Cutting Edge?
Re: Langdell and Mobigames Still At It
No.
The first rule about being a trademark troll is you don't go after people who will fight back. You need to go after people who either a) don't have the money to fight back or b) are trying to release a product that they have marketed in a timely manner and can't get into a lengthy legal battle.
Vince McMahon and the WWE have both the time and the money (and Vince's ego) to squash Langdell like a bug.
This is why Langdell initially going after EA over "Mirror's Edge" was a bit of a puzzle. EA has tons of money and numerous highly paid lawyers. Since they were able to release Mirror's Edge, they now have plenty of time on their hands to smack Langdell around before Mirror's Edge 2 comes out. Tim should have known not to poke a grizzly bear with a stick.
Re: Langdell and Mobigames Still At It
For such a level of sheer doucheness. Lets put him in a cage with a bear (Screw the Grizzly, lets go Kodiak!) and a stick, film that and call it "The Bear's EDGE!"
Sorry, I'm being a bit goofy ATM.
Hunting the shadows of the troubled dreams.
Re: Langdell and Mobigames Still At It
ok ok I get it I dont know anything about this ... seems it stinks all the same though
Re: Langdell and Mobigames Still At It
urghh you shouldnt be able to copy write a word
also this (check the land marks section) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worsbrough I grew up in worsbrough I think he was beaten to "cutting edge" not to mention its a common combination of words
Re: Langdell and Mobigames Still At It
Regardless of how one feels about this specific case, please keep copyright and trademark seperate.
Trademark is the exclusive use of a word or phrase within a specific industry. It is the rule that stops companies from claiming to be eachother or sell eachother's products. Trademark is why you are able to go into any store and know that what you are buying is built by who you think it is. The complexity of the company or product name has (and should not) have any baring on it's trademarkability.
The specific part is also why I get irritated at all these 'if I find an example anywhere it invalidates it!' or 'I will trademark 'the' and sue everyone!' remarks. There are rules in place for what can be trademarked and the extent of the context it applies in. Edge, while controverial in their overzealousness, is following the right basic pattern for how you apply and protect your companie's trademark. However they go well beyond the rules which is why they are so widly mocked.
Re: Langdell and Mobigames Still At It
ChaosEdge has interesting comments as usual.
Re: Langdell and Mobigames Still At It
TIm Langdell emodies much of what is wrong with the business world today. He's barely more worthwhile a person as a patent troll.
Re: Langdell and Mobigames Still At It
Oy will one of these edicks get soft and go home already.... oh and soemone lop offs EA's dick while there at it!
Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy! Stop supporting big media and furthering the criminalization of consumers!! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Let's renegotiate them.
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Re: Langdell and Mobigames Still At It
Awww, and my "Cease this faggotry" pic has already been used...
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Langdell and Mobigames Still At It
While I'm wishing for a Facepalm.
Hunting the shadows of the troubled dreams.
Re: Langdell and Mobigames Still At It
If Apple weren't so damn trigger-happy with its App store then Mobigame wouldn't have had to change their game's name unless ordered to do so by a court of law. I doubt Langdell would have won a trademark suit against Mobigame on a trademark as weak as "Edge". Until somebody finally challenges Langdell in court, he will continue to get away with his abusive behavior.
Re: Langdell and Mobigames Still At It
This is the kind of stuff in what copyright laws should be applied with all their weight, when morons like Langdell start to abuse of the system, instead of prosecute people for modding their consoles.
They will look up and shout "Give ROFLCOPTERS to us"... and I´ll whisper "NO". The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com
Re: Langdell and Mobigames Still At It
This is a trademark issue not a copyright issue.
Trademark: any name, symbol, figure, letter, word, or mark adopted and used by a manufacturer or merchant in order to designate his or her goods and to distinguish them from those manufactured or sold by others. A trademark is a proprietary term that is usually registered with the Patent and Trademark Office to assure its exclusive use by its owner.
Copyright: the exclusive right to make copies, license, and otherwise exploit a literary, musical, or artistic work, whether printed, audio, video, etc.: works granted such right by law on or after January 1, 1978, are protected for the lifetime of the author or creator and for a period of 50 years after his or her death.
E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
Re: Langdell and Mobigames Still At It
"An Edge Games statement claimed that Mobigames has had an offer since May to change the name of the game in question, with no money exchanging hands, an offer that was "repeatedly refused." "
The issue at hand is how Langdell does business. Although no money would exchange hands, Edge games wanted credit to Mobigame's work. Which that have absolutely NO RIGHT TO. I would refuse as well if I had spent months of hard work making a game and then have some trademark troll try to get producer credits simply because I had named it wrong.