Sony sued over Buzz! trademark News
PlayStation 2 PlayStation 3 News by Robert Purchese
Sony is facing a legal headache over its Buzz! series of quiz games.
US company Buzztime Entertainment believes the platform holder has confused consumers into thinking that Buzz! is a part of its electronic trivia games catalogue which appears in restaurants and bars.
The suit claims Sony is guilty of "malicious, fraudulent, knowing, wilful, and deliberate" violation of trademarks, according to GameSpot, and seeks the recall and destruction of all infringing products. Gulp.
Buzztime also wants the US Patent and Trademark Office to refuse registration for the still-pending trademarks for Buzz!, and to reimburse legal fees and maybe buy it a boat or something.
Sony Europe has remained cagey over the issue, telling GamesIndustry.biz, "We are aware that a complaint has been made against Buzz in the United States, but as is our normal procedure in matters like these we will not be making any public statement."
Are you excited about Buzz! The Schools Quiz on PlayStation 2?
View Eurogamer readers most anticipated games
Related Games
Buzz!: The Music Quiz
Buzz!: The BIG Quiz
Buzz! Junior: Jungle Party
Buzz Sports
Buzz! The Mega Quiz
Buzz! The Hollywood Quiz
Buzz! Junior: Monster Rumble
Buzz! The Schools Quiz
Latest Features
Latest Videos
No videos found.
Want to comment on this article? Log in, or register!
Comments: 1-30 of 30 in total
|
Triggerhappytel
29/01/08 @ 14:13
0
Why the fuck has it taken them two-and-a-half years to lodge this complaint?! If it is a trademark (somehow, I suspect not...), then fine, but if it isn't they can fuck off. I don't think being called Buzztime automatically grants you the trademark Buzz!. Do Microsoft hold the rights to the name Micro?!
Besides, if I've read this correctly surely this would only encourange more people into their stores, albeit in error...?! |
|
TheDudesRug
29/01/08 @ 14:17
0
"seeks the recall and destruction of all infringing products."
XD like that's going to happen. Sounds like a 419 chancer. |
|
Royal Fool
29/01/08 @ 14:38
0
Haha, this will never hold up in a court of law. What a silly claim to make.
|
|
0
"The funny thing with these things is that it's always the unsuccessful company suing the successful company."
Not always, there was a company called lik-sang... http://www.lik-sang.com/index.html
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 29/01/08 @ 14:51
|
|
JediMasterMalik
29/01/08 @ 14:56
0
@miiiguel - That was a completely different situation, he meant in cases of copyright infringement.
|
|
hana_fubuki
29/01/08 @ 14:58
0
One of their arguments against Sony is the use of multi-coloured controllers. Apparently, they have a patent on red, green, blue and yellow. o_O
|
|
0
This isn't patent law though (although it's time Patent Law was changed because it's merely used as a moneymaking exercise now). This is trademark/business name infringement. They may have a case, they may not, but it's a slightly more valid case. Note the use of the word "slightly".
As for Sony not making a statement, nice to see them investing in duct-tape to stick around the mouths of their Execs. |
|
0
JediMasterMalik, ok..., here goes another one:
Sony sues Apex for DVD patent infringement http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Pri... |
|
Mentalist(air)
29/01/08 @ 16:15
0
They must be feeling espescially sore since they neglected to sue Microsoft over Scene It :)
Still, this sort of thing happens all the time, or rather it's avoided by changing the name of your title to something like 'Lylat Wars'. |
|
0
RTFA guys....
"Buzztime Entertainment filed suit against Sony Computer Entertainment Europe in the Southern District of California last week, alleging that the Buzz! line of games and the "It's time to get buzzing" tagline violate several of its own trademarks." with a wee bit more info from later on... "Buzztime does not have a trademark on the word "buzz" for use in games, but it does have a variety of similar trademarks registered as far back as 2001, including "Buzztime," "Buzzhead," "Share the Buzz," and "Buzzkids." SCEE has filed for a trio of trademarks for "Buzz!" (one with the exclamation point, two without)." This part is also quite pertinent, particularly the last part (which I have thoughtfully emboldened): "The company [Buzztime] also runs quiz services over mobile phones, digital cable and satellite systems, and even offers home versions...that hook up to a TV and include differently colored wireless controllers." Not, repeat NOT saying the case has merit. Just pointing out that any 'huh-huh - these company am stoopid' comments are a little off-base. |
|
JediMasterMalik
29/01/08 @ 17:11
0
No, it is stupid. The Buzz controllers are not different colours, the Buzz controller has 4 different colours with which you select answers. If they don't have a TM on the word Buzz, only suffixed derivatives, they don't seem to have a case at all.
|
|
SpeedyThing
29/01/08 @ 18:46
0
If Buzztime were (in 2001) the first quiz-based product to use the word 'Buzz' then I'd be amazed. The word 'buzz' and quizzes have been entertwined for decades.
|
|
0
@ joff
And Virgin's lawyers went after a tradesman (plumber I think) for calling himself "Virgin and Sons" or somesuch. The fact that it was a) his own surname and b) the third or fourth time he had received 'cease and desist' notices from them prompted Branson to make a proper apology. Apparently, it was that every time a new lawyer got taken on, he'd spot the name and get a tad over-eager... |
Comments: 1-30 of 30 in total
Want to comment on this article? Log in, or register!
