Intellectual Property
Ongoing coverage on Intellectual Property.
Latest coverage
Even WWE's Biggest Star Wasn't Safe From Nintendo's Lawyers
Nintendo issued a cease and desist letter to WWE star Cody Rhodes for using the Triforce symbol from The Legend of Zelda on his wrestling boots. Rhodes, a noted gamer who will appear in the upcoming Street Fighter movie, complied with the request. The article also mentions other wrestlers incorporating gaming elements and Nintendo's general aggressiveness in protecting its intellectual property.
Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for $15 million
Singer Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for $15 million, alleging the tech company illegally used her likeness to promote and sell its televisions. The lawsuit claims Samsung used unauthorized images of the artist in their advertising campaigns.
Devil May Cry showrunner rallies against the "Marvel-ification" of IP, but says Capcom and Netflix's instructions were refreshingly different: "Go and execute your vision"
Devil May Cry showrunner Adi Shankar praised Netflix and Capcom for granting him significant creative freedom, contrasting it with the 'art by committee' approach often seen in IP adaptation. He expressed gratitude for the trust placed in his vision for the series.
Nintendo FY sales soar 98.6% to $14.6bn following launch of Switch 2
Nintendo reported a 98.6% increase in net sales, reaching $14.6 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, driven by the successful launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. The company also announced price adjustments for the console and subscriptions in several regions. Despite strong initial sales, Nintendo forecasts a decline in Switch 2 hardware sales for the next fiscal year, though software sales are expected to grow.
Atari Doesn’t Own Wizardry Game IP, Drecom Clarifies
Drecom has officially clarified that Atari does not own the intellectual property rights to the entire Wizardry franchise, despite some reports. Atari has acquired the rights to the first five games in the series from the original rights holder, but Drecom retains ownership of the overall Wizardry trademark and other titles in the franchise.
Who owns the Wizardry RPGs? We do, say both Drecom and Atari as an unusual IP acquisition splits custody of the genre-forming series
A dispute has arisen over the ownership of the Wizardry RPG intellectual property, with both Atari and Drecom claiming rights. Atari announced acquiring rights to the first five games for re-releases and remakes, while Drecom asserts they own the copyright and trademark for the entire series. Original rights holder Robert Woodhead is quoted in Atari's announcement.
Atari acquires Wizardry IP
Atari has acquired the intellectual property rights for the first five Wizardry games. This acquisition includes the core Wizardry IP, expanding Atari's portfolio.
Atari acquires rights to first five Wizardry games
Atari has announced its acquisition of the intellectual property rights for the first five games in the classic Wizardry series. This move signifies Atari's intent to potentially revive or re-release these influential role-playing titles.
Game and Mod Development
Epic Games and Disney have launched a new set of tools enabling creators to build Star Wars games within Fortnite. This initiative represents the largest intellectual property toolset to date, facilitating user-generated content creation.
What colour car would James Bond never drive? IO had to have multiple meetings just to figure it out for 007 First Light while huge plot decisions went down easy
IO Interactive's franchise art director Rasmus Poulsen discussed the development of 007 First Light, noting that while big plot decisions like making James Bond younger were easy, minor details like what color car Bond would never drive required extensive meetings. Poulsen highlighted the ease of working with Amazon's license due to a strong foundational understanding of the character.
Steam stops indie developer from releasing a game for infringing the copyright of his own work
An indie developer's game, Wired Tokyo 2007, was blocked from release on Steam due to alleged copyright infringement of third-party intellectual property. The developer claims to own the copyright for all assets, including board game elements used within his own game. Steam support is reportedly demanding proof of licensing or IP ownership, which the developer finds unreasonable and difficult to provide.
Issues and Activism
An independent developer claims that Steam is blocking their game due to an intellectual property infringement claim, despite the IP belonging to the developer themselves. This situation highlights ongoing issues with IP disputes on digital storefronts.
Ragnarok Online’s 30-Year IP Renewal Could Keep Prontera Alive Until Players Reach Senior Age
Gravity has secured a 30-year renewal for the Ragnarok Online intellectual property, extending its rights until at least 2056. This move ensures the continued development and longevity of the MMORPG franchise, which has been a flagship property for the company for over two decades. The renewal allows Gravity to pursue new projects within the Ragnarok universe without immediate concerns about license expiration.
Magic: The Gathering artist gets dinged at MagicCon because one does not simply rip off their colleague to depict the most popular item in all of media
Magic: The Gathering artist Dan Frazier has admitted to using fellow artist Marta Nael's artwork for The One Ring as a reference without proper credit in the upcoming The Hobbit expansion. Wizards of the Coast has apologized for the oversight, stating Nael will be compensated. The incident has sparked discussion about the pace of new set releases and quality control within the company.
007 First Light could be a magnificent reinvention of the Bond IP
The article discusses the potential for '007 First Light' to be a significant reinvention of the James Bond intellectual property. It suggests that the game could offer a fresh take on the iconic spy franchise.
MMO vet Matt Firor was going to make Fallout Online in 2007, but Interplay 'went totally dark on me' and he…
MMO veteran Matt Firor revealed in an interview that he was close to developing Fallout Online in 2007, having secured investment and a publisher in Brash Entertainment, but Interplay, who held the IP rights, went silent. This project ultimately never materialized as Bethesda later acquired the Fallout IP wholesale and engaged in legal battles with Interplay over the rights to create a Fallout MMO. Firor instead went on to found ZeniMax and develop The Elder Scrolls Online.
Inkle's Jon Ingold on why self-publishing is where it's at
Inkle co-founder Jon Ingold argues that self-publishing offers greater freedom and control over intellectual property, despite potential benefits from publishers like marketing and distribution. Ingold highlights Inkle's success with titles like 80 Days and TR-49, emphasizing the ability to experiment with game design and pricing without publisher interference. While acknowledging the marketing advantages publishers can offer, Ingold ultimately advocates for developers to maintain ownership and flexibility.
Evening Gatherings and Events
Evil Empire has successfully organized effective indie showcase events while managing Castlevania, live operations, and developing its own intellectual property. The company is noted for its approach to indie game promotion.
Evening Legal Briefs
Pop star Taylor Swift is seeking to trademark her likeness, a move highlighted by the emergence of TikTok advertisements using deepfake technology. This situation raises questions about intellectual property protection in the digital age and the potential misuse of celebrity images.
Take-Two CEO says "there's nothing to announce" about an LA Noire sequel after acquiring its creator's studio, but "the teams are always looking at what we have"
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated there is currently nothing to announce regarding an L.A. Noire sequel, though the company is exploring future opportunities for its intellectual properties. He noted that Rockstar Games would be the entity to announce any such project. The acquisition of Video Games Deluxe, led by L.A. Noire director Brendan McNamara, by Rockstar Games has fueled speculation about a potential return for the detective series.
