Intellectual Property
Ongoing coverage on Intellectual Property.
Latest coverage
YouTuber who showcases "adult-oriented" Resident Evil Requiem and Stellar Blade mods claims Capcom's laywers asked him to take down over 1,000 videos
A YouTuber known for showcasing adult-oriented mods for games like Resident Evil 4 and Stellar Blade claims Capcom's legal team has demanded the removal of over 1,000 videos. The email cited unauthorized use of game assets for adult content, inconsistent with terms of service and copyright laws. The YouTuber has complied with the request and is questioning the specific targeting of their channel.
Hytale Dev Addresses Copycat
Hypixel Studios, the developer of Hytale, is pursuing legal action against a game that appeared on the Nintendo eShop last week, alleging it is a copycat. The studio is taking steps to address the unauthorized release.
Capcom Cracks Down On NSFW Resident Evil Requiem Mods With Mass Takedown
Capcom has issued a mass takedown notice targeting NSFW mods for Resident Evil Requiem, impacting over 1,000 videos created by YouTuber GrizzoUK. The company cited concerns about "reputational damage" and potential intellectual property infringement. While GrizzoUK's channel was temporarily terminated, he plans to continue creating content for other games like Stellar Blade and Tomb Raider.
The Gameplay of Gacha
Gacha games continue to dominate the mobile market due to their integration of popular intellectual properties and engaging role-playing game mechanics. These games leverage psychological elements like the chase and fear of missing out, combined with continuous content updates and competitive features, to maintain player engagement and drive monetization. While some gacha designs can be manipulative, successful titles demonstrate significant investment in ongoing development and player retention strategies.
Video game lawyer implores devs to understand ownership and swerve generative AI
Video game lawyer Nick Allan advises independent developers to prioritize understanding intellectual property ownership and to avoid generative AI. He stressed the importance of written agreements with contractors and freelancers to secure IP rights. Allan also cautioned against using AI-generated assets due to potential ownership issues and difficulties in preventing copyright infringement.
Popular WoW Private Server Turtle WoW Hit with Cease and Desist Order
Turtle WoW, a popular fan-run private server for World of Warcraft, has been issued a cease and desist order, forcing its closure. This event highlights the ongoing legal and community challenges surrounding private servers and the broader issue of game preservation for older or modified versions of games. Blizzard Entertainment, as the intellectual property holder, is legally obligated to protect its assets, leaving communities that rely on unofficial servers in a precarious position.
Temu-tier Palworld imitator Pickmon changes a single title letter 'to better align with our brand identity' and definitely not for any other reason, guys, honest
The creature-collecting survival game Pickmon, developed by NetworkGo, has been renamed Pickmos after changing a single letter in its title. The publisher claims the change is to better align with its brand identity and lore, though the move comes amid scrutiny for its visual similarities to existing games like Pokémon and Palworld, and potential legal concerns from Nintendo.
Pokémon, Palworld Rip-Off in Hot Water as Publisher Intervenes and Takes It Off Steam
Publisher Networkgo has intervened in the development of Pickmos, a game heavily criticized for ripping off Pokémon and Palworld, and has removed it from Steam. The publisher aims to ensure a "controversy-free experience" and will evaluate the game's artwork. Originally announced for PlayStation 5, the game's future is now uncertain.
Pokémon, Palworld Rip-Off Pickmon Returns with a New Name, You Won't Believe the Difference
The game previously known as Pickmon, a clear clone of Pokémon and Palworld, has returned with a new name: Pickmos. The developer, PocketGame, claims the name change better aligns with their brand identity and lore, representing a "grand ecosystem" and "great cosmos." Despite the name change, the game continues to face criticism for its blatant copying of monster designs from popular titles.
"You think we're stupid?" - Players react to Pokémon and Palworld lookalike Pickmon being renamed to "better align with our brand identity and lore"
The creature-collecting game Pickmon, noted for its similarities to Pokémon, has been renamed Pickmos by developer PocketGame to "better align with our brand identity and lore." This change has been met with skepticism from players who accuse the game of blatant plagiarism, with PocketGame defending its designs by stating outlines are not patentable.
Report: Epic hoping to reinvigorate Fortnite with Disney-themed extraction shooter
Epic Games is reportedly developing a Fortnite-based extraction shooter featuring Disney characters, slated for a November 2026 release. This project is part of a larger collaboration with Disney, which invested $1.5 billion into Epic. Despite internal concerns about originality and waning engagement in Fortnite, Epic Games maintains an ambitious timeline for building a new entertainment universe.
Pokemon and Palworld clone Pickmon changes its name by one letter to "better align with our brand identity and…
The creature-collecting game Pickmon, which faced accusations of being a clone of Palworld and Pokemon, has announced a name change to 'Pickmos' to better align with its brand identity. Developer PocketGame is also addressing concerns about creature designs, stating they are handled by a professional team and have undergone trademark searches, while also requesting proof of trademark rights from accusers.
Pickmon, Not To Be Confused With Pokemon, Changes Its Name But Still Looks A Lot Like Pokemon
Developer PocketGame has renamed its creature-collecting game from Pickmon to Pickmos, stating the change better aligns with its brand identity and lore. Despite the name change, the game continues to feature creatures that bear a strong resemblance to Pokemon, raising concerns about potential legal action from Nintendo and The Pokemon Company. Pickmos is also accused of using stolen fanart and features gameplay elements similar to Pokemon and Palworld, with a planned release for PC and Nintendo Switch.
World Championship Wrestling once spent millions on a gimmick ripping off Mortal Kombat’s Sub-Zero, before Midway threatened to sue and WCW immediately gave up: 'We were gonna lose big, like real big'
World Championship Wrestling (WCW) spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on a wrestler named Glacier, whose gimmick heavily borrowed from Mortal Kombat's Sub-Zero. Midway, the publisher of Mortal Kombat, threatened a lawsuit, leading WCW to quickly alter the character's appearance and entrance. Despite the significant investment and the legal threat, the Glacier gimmick ultimately failed to gain traction and was eventually abandoned.
PC Gamer's 'first can't-miss cozy game of 2026' has gone missing on Steam, and some players think…
The cozy game Starsand Island has been temporarily removed from Steam due to the unauthorized use of visual elements from a classic title, suspected to be Tetris, in its mini-game section. Developer Seed Sparkle Lab is submitting a new build with the offending content removed and will offer an in-game outfit as compensation to existing owners. This incident follows a previous issue with fake positive user reviews shortly after the game's February debut.
Bored Ape NFT Lawsuit Settles, Affects Crypto Community
Yuga Labs has settled its copyright lawsuit against artists Ryder Ripps and Jeremy Cahen concerning the RR/BAYC NFT collection. The dispute centered on whether the collection constituted parody or infringed upon Yuga Labs' trademarks. The settlement prohibits Ripps and Cahen from using Yuga Labs' trademarks and imagery, setting a precedent for intellectual property rights in the NFT sector.
The James Bond rights owners have opposed an application for a James Pond trademark
Danjaq LLC, the owner of the James Bond trademark, has opposed a UK trademark application for the "James Pond" video game series. The opposition follows a similar rejection of a European trademark application in 2012. The James Pond games were a series of platformer parodies from the 1990s, with rights currently co-owned by Gameware and System 3.
Ex-Nintendo marketing lead believes Illumination used Fox McCloud in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie as an "IP…
Former Nintendo marketing lead Kit Ellis theorizes that Illumination included Fox McCloud in The Super Mario Bros. Movie as an "IP landgrab" to secure rights to characters. Ellis suggests the animation studio wanted to claim as many potential movie IPs as possible, even if they weren't immediately planned for film adaptation. This discussion follows rumors of a new Star Fox game announcement.
Japans 12 Million Crypto Users Propel Web3 Gaming Growth
Japan's gaming industry is experiencing significant growth in Web3 gaming, fueled by over 12 million cryptocurrency users and a favorable regulatory environment. Major companies like Square Enix, Sega, Bandai Namco, and Konami are investing heavily in blockchain technology, aiming to leverage the nation's strong intellectual property in anime and manga. The government is also working towards a flat 20% tax rate on cryptocurrency gains by 2026 to further bolster the sector.
Supermicro 'committed to protecting America’s advanced technologies and intellectual property' as investigation into former employees over alleged AI tech shipments to China begins
Supermicro is under investigation following charges against three former employees accused of illegally shipping AI servers containing GPUs to China. The company has stated its commitment to protecting advanced technologies and intellectual property, initiating an internal review of its global trade compliance program. The alleged scheme involved diverting approximately $510 million worth of servers to China.
