Intellectual Property
Ongoing coverage on Intellectual Property.
Latest coverage
Xbox After The Layoffs: Studios Left And What They’re Making
Xbox has undergone significant restructuring, including layoffs and the divestment of five studios, as it aims to increase profitability and focus on major intellectual properties. This shake-up impacts numerous development teams and projects across Xbox Game Studios, Activision, Blizzard, and Bethesda, with a renewed focus on core franchises and a shift in business strategies like the exclusion of Call of Duty from Xbox Game Pass day-one launches.
After years of Nintendo lawsuits and many millions of sales, Pokémon baiter Palworld is out in 1.0 today
The creature-collecting survival game Palworld, developed by Pocketpair, has officially launched its 1.0 version after a successful early access period. The game, which has sold 40 million copies, faced legal challenges from Nintendo over its similarities to Pokémon. Despite these issues and some adjustments to game mechanics, Palworld's success has led Pocketpair to explore publishing and develop a spin-off card game and a farming simulator.
IO Interactive regains ownership of Project Fantasy IP following end of Xbox deal, shuts down Istanbul studio
IO Interactive has regained full ownership of its Project Fantasy intellectual property after Xbox withdrew from a funding deal. This development has led to the closure of the studio's Istanbul branch and staff layoffs, with the company now focusing on its internal core titles. Project Fantasy, described as an online fantasy RPG, will continue to be developed and funded independently by IO Interactive.
AI Yi-Yi!
The article discusses the rapid advancement of AI voice cloning technology, noting that it can clone voices in minutes. It highlights concerns about intellectual property rights, using Taylor Swift's efforts to protect her voice as an example, and questions the rights of individuals regarding their AI-cloned voices. Additionally, it briefly mentions DeepSeek's development of its own AI chips.
IO Interactive regains full ownership of Project Fantasy following end of Xbox deal, shuts down Istanbul studio and lays off developers "to find a new balance"
IO Interactive has regained full ownership and control of its upcoming game Project Fantasy following the end of a publishing and funding deal with Xbox. To find a new balance for the studio's long-term future, IO Interactive is closing its Istanbul studio, laying off developers, and refocusing on internal core titles rather than external projects or mobile derivatives.
Tencent is apparently the latest owner of the PlanetSide IP, according to new copyright filing
Tencent America has reportedly acquired the intellectual property rights for the PlanetSide franchise, including PlanetSide, PlanetSide 2, and PlanetSide Arena. This follows a previous sale from Daybreak Game Company to Bay Tree Tower Ltd approximately two and a half years ago. The future plans for the franchise under Tencent's ownership remain unclear, with fans expressing mixed anticipation and concern.
Epic Games settles a court case against former contractor accused of leaking Fortnite collaborations
Epic Games has settled a lawsuit against former contractor Hayden Cohen, who was accused of leaking unannounced Fortnite collaborations. The settlement includes a judgment barring Cohen from sharing Epic's confidential information. The article also briefly mentions Epic Games' Unreal Engine 6 demonstration for Rocket League and its partnership with Disney.
How a South Korean intern saved Valve from a Vivendi lawsuit
A South Korean intern named Andrew played a crucial role in resolving Valve's 2002 lawsuit against Vivendi, which threatened the company's existence and the release of Half-Life 2. The intern discovered evidence of Vivendi destroying documents related to their deal, leading the court to side with Valve and secure ownership of Half-Life and Counter-Strike, paving the way for Steam's creation.
Plans to revive the 3DO are already dead, with the publisher claiming it "did not anticipate such fragmentation of…
Empire Interactive has cancelled its plans to revive the 3DO console and remaster retro games due to fragmented ownership rights. The publisher acquired the rights to 'The 3DO Company' brand but not the console itself, leading to disputes with other parties. Empire Interactive will now focus on developing new games.
A strange attempt to revive the 3DO is already dead
A defunct developer attempted to revive the 3DO console but quickly abandoned the effort. The company realized it did not possess the necessary rights to proceed with the revival, leading to the premature end of the project.
Quoteworthy
The creator of Minecraft, Markus 'Notch' Persson, has spoken out against the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), calling their stance on private servers 'illegal'. This statement comes amid ongoing discussions about intellectual property rights and server hosting for popular games.
The ESA quietly starts walking back baffling statements about private servers being 'illegal', though it's still tutting and wagging its finger
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has softened its stance on private game servers, clarifying that concerns primarily relate to those that host or distribute copyrighted content without authorization. While still asserting publishers' rights to enforce intellectual property, the ESA's updated statement acknowledges that private servers are not inherently illegal and that publishers may approach them differently. This follows earlier, more condemnatory statements made by the ESA regarding private servers for games like Minecraft.
33 years later, the 3DO could make an unexpected comeback, but the '90s console revival is already being branded as…
Empire Interactive has announced its acquisition of the 3DO trademark and selected intellectual property rights, sparking a potential revival of the 1990s console. However, the legitimacy of this claim is being contested by Throwback Entertainment, which asserts ownership of the assets, and former Limited Run Games CEO Josh Fairhurst has expressed skepticism about the revival's validity due to the complex web of rights and trademarks involved.
Private Minecraft servers are "illegal," game industry lobbyists declare as another Stop Killing Games effort…
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has declared private Minecraft servers illegal, arguing they infringe on Microsoft's intellectual property rights and lack safety standards. This statement comes as the 'Stop Killing Games' campaign faces setbacks with the failure of the Protect Our Games Act in California and similar legislative inaction in the EU. Despite these challenges, 'Stop Killing Games' remains determined to pursue legislation for community server support.
ESA Tries To Walk Back Calling Private and Community Servers Illegal
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has walked back its earlier statements calling private and community game servers illegal. Initially, the ESA's vice president stated that unauthorized servers are illegal and akin to piracy. However, the ESA has since clarified that while unauthorized servers infringe on intellectual property rights, publishers may approach enforcement differently, and they are concerned about the lack of publisher oversight and safety standards on such servers.
Minecraft, Call Of Duty Community Servers Are “Illegal,” Claims ESA Rep
An Entertainment Software Association (ESA) representative claimed that private community servers for Minecraft and Call of Duty are illegal and constitute piracy. Jennifer Gibbons, the ESA's vice president of state government affairs, argued that these servers are not affiliated with Microsoft and do not adhere to the same safety standards as official servers. The 'Stop Killing Games' movement has vowed to continue advocating for game preservation and the legality of community servers in future legislation.
Blizzard moves ahead with its Project Ascension rogue server lawsuit by sending motion summons requests
Blizzard Entertainment has initiated legal proceedings against World of Warcraft rogue server Project Ascension by filing official summons requests. This action follows their previous shutdown of Turtle WoW and indicates a continued effort to protect the World of Warcraft intellectual property. Failure to respond within 21 days could result in a default judgment for Blizzard.
Dbrand skrotar Companion Cube-skalet till Steam Machine
Accessory manufacturer Dbrand has discontinued its Companion Cube case for the Steam Machine less than a week after its launch. The decision came after Valve's legal department stated that the design is protected intellectual property and Dbrand lacked the necessary license. Dbrand admitted to developing the product without seeking Valve's permission first, a move that led to the cancellation of sales and a refund for all customers.
Io Interactive Laying Off Staff After Partner Withdraws from Project Fantasy
IO Interactive has announced layoffs following the withdrawal of funding for their new intellectual property, Project Fantasy, by an external partner, rumored to be Microsoft. Despite the setback, the company remains committed to the project's completion. This decision comes amid broader shifts within Xbox's business strategy under new leadership.
Planescape: Torment 2 could've happened, Baldur's Gate 2 veteran says – but Wizards of the Coast didn't want to fund the RPG even though "they were really into what we were doing"
Beamdog CEO Trent Oster revealed that a sequel to the acclaimed RPG Planescape: Torment was discussed with Wizards of the Coast, but the company ultimately declined to fund external development. Despite initial interest, Wizards of the Coast cited a lack of funds for external projects, and the studio was unable to secure funding from other sources, leading to the cancellation of Planescape: Torment 2.
