Sony sued over Buzz! trademark

By Robert Purchese Published 29 January, 2008

"Copycat" accusations from US company.

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."

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.

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

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Comments (29) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Triggerhappytel #1 4 years ago

    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...?!

  • MrChigurh #2 4 years ago

    I had a cat called Buzz way before any of these guys were around, can I make money from this in some way?, I want to sue...

  • JamieR #3 4 years ago

    LOLz Americas pah always suing each other

  • TheDudesRug #4 4 years ago

    "seeks the recall and destruction of all infringing products."

    XD like that's going to happen. Sounds like a 419 chancer.

  • chrisjm #5 4 years ago

    yes im sure loads of people have bought buzz after playing a naff pub buzztime quiz. idiots.

  • Eraser #6 4 years ago

    The funny thing with these things is that it's always the unsuccessful company suing the successful company.
    No one will think of their Buzztime game when someone talks about Sony's Buzz! games.

  • X201 #7 4 years ago

    American Patents
    LOL

  • Moz #8 4 years ago

    How long have they had Buzz! in the states or has it been a europe thing up until now?

  • X201 #9 4 years ago

    @ Moz: They got their first Buzz! game in 0ct 2007. The Mega quiz was first and they should have had Hollywood quiz at xmas or shortly after.


    Edited by 2 at 29/01/08 @ 14:40

  • Royal Fool #10 4 years ago

    Haha, this will never hold up in a court of law. What a silly claim to make.

  • Razorus #11 4 years ago

    When I was a kid, I used to say Buzz and poke girls in the ribs all the time. Therefore I am suing Sony AND this other Buzz company, as well as Disney for stealing my girl-chirpsing method from the early 90s. Me, ftw.

  • miiiguel #12 4 years ago

    "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-san g.com/index.html
    Edited by 1 at 29/01/08 @ 14:51

  • goz #13 4 years ago

    Good job in not making a public statement Sony Europe.

  • JediMasterMalik #14 4 years ago

    @miiiguel - That was a completely different situation, he meant in cases of copyright infringement.

  • hana_fubuki #15 4 years ago

    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

  • Kami #16 4 years ago

    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.

  • miiiguel #17 4 years ago

    JediMasterMalik, ok..., here goes another one:
    Sony sues Apex for DVD patent infringement

    http://ww w.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Pri...

  • Machetazo #18 4 years ago

    what utter crap!

  • septimus #19 4 years ago

    More bollocks from shitty little US corporations who are skint.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #20 4 years ago

    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'.

  • Kryon #21 4 years ago

    Cool, the fuckers deserve it. That is all.

  • penhalion #22 4 years ago

    Scene-it is based on that board game so it'd be impossible to sue them unless they also sue the board game. Buzz looks and plays nothing like their pub quiz so it's only the lawyers that will be making any money.

    Maybe I should have gone into litigation law. Win or loose you still get paid.

  • bioreit #23 4 years ago

    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 #24 4 years ago

    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.

  • penhalion #25 4 years ago

    Nice info Bioreit. Seems like they are sueing over the concept as a whole not the name.

  • Kami #26 4 years ago

    But if they were there first, then they have a stronger case. That's basic fact.

  • SpeedyThing #27 4 years ago

    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.

  • joff #28 4 years ago

    @Eraser - it's not always that way around. I seem to recall McDonalds suing a sandwich shop (not even a burger bar) in Scotland for daring to name their business after their family name.

  • bioreit #29 4 years ago

    @ 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...