EA wants all EDGE Games trademarks

By Robert Purchese Published 25 March, 2010

Resubmits petition to bring Langdell down.

EA's legal team has resubmitted a petition to revoke Tim Langdell's hold on all EDGE trademarks.

"Pending cancellation" are "EDGE", "CUTTING EDGE", "GAMER'S EDGE" and "THE EDGE", according to the filing.

EA's lawyers alleged that "Registrant or its predecessor fraudulently obtained, maintained, and renewed the Subject Registrations".

Mirror's Edge was targeted by Langdell and EDGE Games for infringement of copyright in late 2008. EA said "Registrant continuously threatened to file suit".

Langdell and EDGE Games have notoriously and aggressively protected the EDGE trademark from videogame-related use. On the receiving end over the years have been Future Publishing for its well-respected EDGE magazine, and more recently Mobigame for its iPhone game EDGE (this has been well documented on Eurogamer).

EA's Mirror's Edge was also targeted, and so the publisher's legal squad were mobilised.

Those legal papers have a blow-by-blow account of what both sides have been submitting since the case began in November 2009.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (62) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • matrim83 #1 2 years ago

    Go EA! Burn the little turd's lawsuit empire to the ground.

  • Hypercube #2 2 years ago

    This is the EDGE of insanity. I bet EA is hEDGING their bets on this one. I plEDGE not to do any more crappy EDGE puns.

  • Eraysor #3 2 years ago

    Destroy him!

  • hardtech #4 2 years ago

    Langdell is tettering on the EDGE

  • the_sas_man #5 2 years ago

    If EA just draw out the case long enough he will have to shut down due to the huge legal costs.

    The smart money is on EA.

  • Vermillion3000 #6 2 years ago

    It's unusual, and slightly ironic, to find myself applauding EA has an industry hero.
    But on this issue I definitely am.
    (As long as EA don't then start doing exactly the same thing to everyone else... but I don't *think* that's what they have in mind.)

    Today I say - Thanks EA!

  • kinky_mong #7 2 years ago

    Kicks his ass Seabass!

  • MiniAmin #8 2 years ago

    He blatantly bit off more than he could chew when he targeted EA for Mirror's Edge.

    Not so tough when you try to bully multi-millionaire businesses instead of small indie devs, are you?

    Loser.

  • metalangel #9 2 years ago

    What a nut! It's not like it's an unusual word.

  • Jesus: Action Figure #10 2 years ago

    @Hypercube
    I can't believe you want to dredge all that up again...

  • CaptainQuint #11 2 years ago

    A rare case of David and Goliath were everyone roots for Goliath.

  • StooMonster #12 2 years ago

    ^ Crush him like a bug

  • Hypercube #13 2 years ago

    @Jesus: Action Figure - I know, it's like a slEDGEhammer to the mind.

  • rhinoxious #14 2 years ago

    Wow, such exciting news, I'm on the ...

    \loses will to live

  • Floppy #15 2 years ago

    Finish him!

  • geeza2020 #16 2 years ago

    lets just hope that EA dont go all crazy after this and start filing lawsuits of their own all over town. Lets just hope we've not inadvertantly created a worse monster than Langdell. But hats off to EA, Langdell deserves to lose every penny, and his innocence if he ends up behind bars.

  • PlugMonkey #17 2 years ago

    Who came up with the typeface that both EDGE games and EDGE magazine use? They are virtually identical.

  • macmurphy #18 2 years ago

    Just read this. Seen it around for a while, can anyone tell me if Edge magazine really had to deal with this? Surely they preceeded his trademarking? Did he really try and sue them for it, what happened?

    Surely it would be like me trademarking a random word that people use all hte time and then suing people. Oddly the only one I can think of is attitude, which Is a gay magazine. But what's to stop me from making an attitude brand and then suing everyone that uses the word? It's lunacy, did they get laughed out of court?

    As regards EA, I think Activision are the new industry fucktards. EA have been pretty good of late, and they've been turning over some top games (on my box on the last six months I have L4D2, Mass Effect 2 and BFBC2 - still a bit sequel orientated but they're all top drawer games).

  • menage #19 2 years ago

    I never thougtht I would root for a corporation.

  • loopy #20 2 years ago

    Langdell's corporate empire must surely be teetering on the EDGE of the abyss now!

    edit: hardtech kind of beat me to it, oh well...
    Edited by loopy at 25/03/10 @ 11:27

  • RobotRocker #21 2 years ago

    Just read this. Seen it around for a while, can anyone tell me if Edge magazine really had to deal with this? Surely they preceeded his trademarking? Did he really try and sue them for it, what happened?

    Future allegedly paid him for the use of the trademark at first and kept it quiet but are now ignoring him.

    Oh, most important part of this. EA entered the entire ChaosEdge blog as evidence against Langdell. That is going to be hilarious when brought up in court.

  • FogHeart #22 2 years ago

    A parasite works because it fools the host's system into believing it to be a legitimate part of that system.

    System needs changing.
    Edited by FogHeart at 25/03/10 @ 11:29

  • The-Bodybuilder #23 2 years ago

    I hope Langden gets stabbed by a sword with a very sharp edge.

    /no pun.

  • Beeper85 #24 2 years ago

    Geez; not a criminal matter, won't be seeing langdell 'behind bars' I'm afraid!

  • mingster #25 2 years ago

    Yay go for it EA .. squash him.

  • TheSnotGoblin #26 2 years ago

    @Beeper85

    A large part of EA's submitted evidence (supposedly) suggests that Langdell has commited perjury which if he gets done for will put him in jail.

  • seasidebaz #27 2 years ago

    @PlugMonkey:

    EDGE the magazine first used the typeface, then as part of the "trademark licensing" agreement, EDGE Games stole it and started using it as their own.

  • Skandalle #28 2 years ago

    One does not simply walk into court against EA...

  • Eighthours #29 2 years ago

    Should have written about the damning evidence in the document, Rob. Like the fake Edge cover Langdell submitted to "prove" his ownership of the mark under threat of perjury, for example.

    The filing really is a treasure trove of scum and villainy. Much of the evidence was uncovered by people on the Internet - the Chaos Engine website was particularly proactive in exposing Langdell for the compulsively lying charlatan that he is. Great that EA's lawyers have picked up on it.

  • geeza2020 #30 2 years ago

    not with 10,000 Langdells could you do this. It is folly.

  • Hyoscine #31 2 years ago

    Man, if I could go back in time and tell myself I'd be rooting for EA in a lawsuit... 2010, you're a strange new world.

  • Beeper85 #32 2 years ago

    @thesnotgoblin

    assuming we are talking about the same case, the papers filed and found here:
    [link url=http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno=92051465&pty=CAN&eno=1
    ]http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno=9...[/link]
    the USPTO dont have the power to dish out jail terms! Unless I've missed a seperate prosecution for perjury? (sorry if I have!)

    It's a cancellation case, much like the UK grounds of revocation/invalidity etc (which I am very much involved in). Not a murder case!!

  • PlugMonkey #33 2 years ago

    @seasidebaz: Thanks. Wow. Calling him a charlatan seems unfair to other charlatans.

    I can't believe he picked a legal fight with someone like EA. He's going to get buried.

  • JahB #34 2 years ago

    Never thought I'd find myself rooting for a publisher's law department, but hey, GO EA LAWYERS GO!!

  • TheSnotGoblin #35 2 years ago

    You're probably right; I certainly don't speak any legalese. Talk of perjury has been doing the rounds though and I suppose if Langdell loses this case (Which it looks like he has) then he's wide open for getting tried for perjury in the future; assuming anyone would bring the case against him.

    Wonder if Moby Games and the like could sue for lost revenue if/when he loses his trademarks?

  • Weezer #36 2 years ago

    Actually, if AE are following the fraud trail, there might be some 'behind bars' time for the lying, scheming, cheating, parasitical fucktard. I hope the shitbag gets anally fucked to death by some huge bodybuilder called Priscilla.

    From t'net...
    Q: can you go to jail for fraud?
    A: Short and simple...Yes you can go to jail! Fraud is a deception deliberately practiced in order to secure unfair or unlawful gain. This can be punishable by a sentence of incarceration as directed by the court.

    Better by some big tubes of lube, motherfucker...

  • Weezer #37 2 years ago

    Oh, and if my post seems a little... zealous, I have good reason to dislike this worm. Hopefully, all will be revealed...

  • Beeper85 #38 2 years ago

    @weezer/thesnotgoblin

    Definitely be interesting to see if further action (a 'fraud case') is taken following this cancellation case. One step at a time though!
    Edited by Beeper85 at 25/03/10 @ 12:24

  • Gastrian #39 2 years ago

    Post deleted at 17:56:43 13-04-2012

  • chiz #40 2 years ago

    Good luck E.A. (Not that you'll need it against this little fuck nugget).

  • phimister #41 2 years ago

    Is this the basis for the next Phoenix Wright?

  • CrawlingKingSnakes #42 2 years ago

    Best bit of PR for EA, ever.

  • icematt12 #43 2 years ago

    I would say it's all PR for his company, but I don't know to any game made by them or any in production. Could a record of income be asked by the prosecution to be used in court?

    The big bully picked on the wrong one and is now getting harassed himself. No mercy from me, unleash the legal monsters and let them rip him to bits.

  • poopmonster #44 2 years ago

    Hooah!

  • darleysam #45 2 years ago

    Ohh you have angried up the ents now, Mr Langdell. I expect nothing less than your complete and utter legal obliteration.

  • SAMagic #46 2 years ago

    You reap what you sow.

  • LazyNinjaUk #47 2 years ago

    Is it even legally permitted to copyright a commonly used word? Maybe EA need copyright 'Langdell'?

  • Beeper85 #48 2 years ago

    @LazyNinjaUk

    Let's not go over this again please; have a look at the previous comment sections in relation to this case. For one, you don't copyright a trade mark - two different IPRs....

  • Slipstream #49 2 years ago

    C'mon guys, Langdell is a lEDGEnd, look at all of the coverage he gets!

  • Vyggo #50 2 years ago

    This case is probably going to take years?

  • schnide #51 2 years ago

    @Vyggo

    Good if it does, it'll drain Langdell to death slowly over time which is what he deserves.

    I only signed in to say this despite it being said several times already in this thread and already by me before elsewhere - GO EA!

  • LazyNinjaUk #52 2 years ago

    @Beeper85

    Sorry mate, had my mind on other things at the time so didn't really check my terminology was correct.

    I didn't know you could trademark a commonly spoken word, unless it appears in a certain font or accompanied with a distinguishing symbol.

    Regardless, this guy is a total douche and for once I'm in EA's corner.

  • abrakababra #53 2 years ago

    This epic battle has me at the EDGE of my seat!

  • Bravestinsane #54 2 years ago

    They should vote for the Pirate Party....

    Either way makes me laugh i think EA are in the right here they shouldn't be in trouble for releasing a game with a word in it just stupid.

  • AphoticCosmos #55 2 years ago

    What a dick! Apparently this "EDGE games" company hasn't released a game in over sixteen fucking years

    EA has the legal muscle to destroy this man and everything he owns. He's lucky that he's just having his trademark petitioned.

    Don't. Fuck. With. EA.

  • zubnut #56 2 years ago

    In the words of Harry Hill... FIGHT!!!

  • Pickster #57 2 years ago

    "In the words of Harry Hill... FIGHT!!!"

    And this comments section was going so well untill he was mentioned

  • neems #58 2 years ago

    It's not so much the word he's attempting to trademark as its usage.

    Still, it's an odd world we live in where somebody could even attempt to act the way Langdell does. The law is an ass etc etc.

  • freakzilla #59 2 years ago

    Yeah fuck that that little shit till his asshole is bleeding.

  • ReaperOscuro #60 2 years ago

    You have to wonder though what turned him: after all he started as a game designer in a promising young company. He's obviously clever enough if he's managed this for so frigging long...i guess extortion and bullying have been bringing easier money than making games hu? Sad really...

    But it has gone on for far too long, and he's gotta pay for the consequences of his actions, no matter what possible sob story lies at the core. Crash and burn.

  • hazelam #61 2 years ago

    trademark squatter goes after ea?
    big mistake.
    maybe i'll create a company called of studios and sue every publisher that releases a game with of in the title, just think of the money i'll make.
    oh and eurogamer will have to pay me for having that word featured in these comments :)

  • Redeye #62 2 years ago

    Feed him to the Sharkticons!

    *still can't quite wrap the grey cells around the fact that EA's the hero on this one, but anything that sees the little troll burn...*