Intellectual Property
Ongoing coverage on Intellectual Property.
Latest coverage
'It would be a lie to say there's no pressure taking on this great IP from this massive corporation' — Pico Park president says working with a huge company like Sega for its Sonic crossover was 'a little risky'
Pico Park president Shintarou Shimazu discussed the challenges and risks involved in collaborating with Sega for the upcoming Sonic Pico Park crossover. He highlighted the pressure of working with a major IP and a large corporation, but also noted that the shared childhood experiences with Sonic and the guidance from Sega's Takashi Iizuka made the development process smoother.
The Simpsons joins Fortnite’s IP Partner Program allowing developers to create “fully authentic” Simpsons games
Disney has granted Epic Games the intellectual property rights for The Simpsons franchise, allowing third-party developers to create authentic Simpsons games within Fortnite. This announcement was made at Epic's Unreal Fest Chicago 2026, signaling new opportunities for game creation based on the popular animated series.
Vampire Survivors Dev 'Reviewing' Fortnite Collaboration Due to Epic's Use of Generative AI
Vampire Survivors developer Poncle is reviewing its collaboration with Epic Games for Fortnite content due to Epic's public embrace of generative AI in its development workflow. Poncle expressed concern over the use of AI for creating game assets, including potential Fortnite characters based on Vampire Survivors IP. The studio will provide updates on the partnership's future.
EGDF WELCOMES THE COMMISSION’S INVITATION TO ENGAGE WITH THE GAMES INDUSTRY
The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) welcomes the European Commission's invitation to discuss industry practices regarding the end-of-life of video games. EGDF advocates for a code of conduct that addresses consumer protection and facilitates the transfer of games to memory institutions for preservation. They emphasize that while a blanket legal obligation to keep all games playable is not viable, proactive best practices for game preservation are crucial for cultural heritage.
The EU won't pursue a mandatory game preservation law
The European Commission has stated it will not pursue a mandatory law for video game preservation. The commission cited existing copyright and intellectual property laws as sufficient, indicating no new legislation is planned.
The European Commission will not legislate Stop Killing Games, but the campaign isn't dead yet, say its organisers
The European Commission will not legislate to mandate that video games remain playable after commercial support ends, citing intellectual property rights. Instead, they will initiate discussions with the industry and consumer representatives to create a code of conduct for managing game 'end of life' and raise awareness about existing consumer rights. The 'Stop Killing Games' campaign plans to continue advocating for similar protections through the European Parliament's Digital Fairness Act.
New Ultima trademarks filed by EA, but don't get too excited
Electronic Arts has filed new trademarks for the Ultima series, covering downloadable PC games and online experiences. While this suggests potential activity, it may also be routine intellectual property protection, as there have been no new single-player installments since 1999. Creator Richard Garriott has expressed interest in a revival, and Larian Studios has been mentioned as a potential developer.
Baldur's Gate 3 from the OG devs didn't happen despite years of trying because the money people thought "It's a single-player RPG, it's not going to do that big in numbers"
Former BioWare developer Trent Oster revealed that his team's attempt to secure funding for Baldur's Gate 3 years ago was rejected by investors who doubted the commercial viability of single-player RPGs. Oster's vision for the game was a smaller, $20 million project, in contrast to Larian Studios' eventual massive success. He notes that even after Baldur's Gate 3's triumph, the perception of what constitutes a successful RPG has shifted to require larger budgets and more extensive features.
Sunday Legal Briefs
Blizzard Entertainment is suing to shut down Project Ascension, a private server for World of Warcraft. The company has stated they have the resources to pursue the legal action to its conclusion.
Nintendo's legal battle with Palworld looks shakier than ever: It may only get '$30,000 chump change' if…
An IP expert suggests Nintendo's lawsuit against Palworld developer Pocketpair is unlikely to yield significant financial gains, potentially resulting in less than $30,000 in damages. The expert notes that much of Palworld's success predates patent approvals, limiting potential damages to a narrow window and specific regions. The outcome of the case, expected November 9, could also see Nintendo receiving nothing.
Nintendo Palworld lawsuit has "zero chance" at more than "chump change," expert says, but Pocketpair lead says it has "impacted morale" and development
An IP expert believes Nintendo's lawsuit against Palworld has minimal chance of significant financial gain, estimating potential damages at around $31,200 USD. Despite the low financial stakes, the lawsuit has impacted Pocketpair's team morale and led to changes in game mechanics to address patent concerns.
Nintendo’s Palworld lawsuit looks like a massive dud: ‘Zero chance’ of winning
Legal experts believe Nintendo has a very low chance of winning a lawsuit against Palworld developers due to a lack of clear evidence of intellectual property infringement. The article suggests that Nintendo's legal action is unlikely to succeed and may be a strategic misstep.
"We're going to see more hit games coming from publishers you've never heard of" – Pocketpair and the indie publishing revolution
John Buckley, head of publishing at Palworld creator Pocketpair, argues that traditional publishers are out of touch with the current industry, offering outdated deals. Pocketpair Publishing, established after Palworld's success, aims to offer more favorable terms to developers, focusing on marketing and support without ownership of intellectual property. Despite ongoing legal battles with Nintendo over alleged similarities to Pokémon, Pocketpair remains committed to its survival crafting genre and expanding the Palworld IP with spin-offs.
Nintendo May Only Win $30,000 Payout in Pokémon Legal Battle With Palworld Developer Pocketpair, IP Expert Says
An intellectual property expert suggests Nintendo may only receive a $30,000 payout in its legal dispute with Palworld developer Pocketpair. The expert also indicated that Nintendo is increasingly likely to lose the case.
Nintendo and The Pokemon Company update Palworld lawsuit, limited to older versions only
Nintendo and The Pokemon Company have narrowed the scope of their lawsuit against Palworld, now focusing only on older versions of the game that allegedly infringed on patents. The legal battle will not involve current or upcoming versions of Palworld, and the potential damages are limited. Evidence presentation is scheduled for October 1, 2026.
Stranger Than Heaven devs claim to have sought the approval of Tupac's family before including him
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio head Masayoshi Yokoyama stated that the team sought and received approval from Tupac Shakur's family before depicting the late rapper in the upcoming game, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. Yokoyama emphasized that the studio aimed to be respectful and honorable in their portrayal, envisioning what Tupac might have been like in the decades following his passing.
Morning Previews
Previews for upcoming games include Alien: Isolation 2, which is expected to continue the survival horror experience, and Turok: Origins, aiming to revive the Turok franchise. Both titles are highlighted for their potential to deliver new chapters in their respective genres.
The Duskbloods closed network test coming this summer
The article discusses the potential for FromSoftware to remake some of their older titles, including Otogi, King's Field, and Shadow Tower. It suggests Nintendo could fund a new Tenchu game, noting Kadokawa's ownership of FromSoftware and the IP. The author also mentions Acquire, the original developer of Shinobido, as a relevant studio.
Platinum is making a triple-A Ninja Turtles game because they're "huge fans" of the IP
PlatinumGames is developing a new triple-A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game titled The Last Ronin, published by the newly re-announced Paramount Games Studio. Studio head Dan Prigg stated that PlatinumGames were "huge fans" of the IP, which was a key factor in the collaboration. This announcement comes as Paramount Games Studio, which now incorporates Skydance's gaming teams, also continues development on previously confirmed titles like Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra.
Paramount unveils new 'unified' Paramount Games Studio
Paramount has launched Paramount Games Studio, a unified entity encompassing all its existing gaming studios, including Skydance Interactive and Skydance New Media. The studio aims to create games across various player types and leverage Paramount's intellectual property. Two games were announced: Platinum Games' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin and Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game.
