Square Enix launches new lawsuit

Square Enix has announced plans to behead, in a legal sense of course, wholesalers ripping off the weapons featured in the Final Fantasy series.

The company has filed a lawsuit in California against "at least four wholesalers of unlicensed sword replicas" who have "willfully infringed at least four videogames" and one film. More names could be put on the list in future, apparently.

According to Square Enix, this marks the start of a renewed crackdown on piracy and theft of intellectual property. The company has already reached settlements with retailers of similar items, with "substantial financial penalties" handed over by the offending parties.

Square Enix is working together with the United States Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol, taking a break from finding terrorists and arresting Mexicans to seize a crate of replica swords. Together they were able to track down the primary wholesalers and retailers of the swords, and Square Enix has launched the lawsuit against those who were unwilling to "co-operate".

"We are actively pursuing those who commit intellectual property infringement against our company," said Yasuhiko Hasegawa, representing Square Enix.

"While Square Enix appreciates the enthusiasm of its fans, and values its relationship with them, it is also obligated to protect its intellectual property rights or risk weakening or losing the very rights that enable the company to continue to provide its fans with an exciting entertainment experience."