In a potential clash of gaming titans, Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, has filed a trademark lawsuit against Remedy Entertainment. Remedy Entertainment is the studio behind popular titles like Alan Wake and Control. The dispute centers around Remedy’s newly unveiled logo, a stylized “R,” which Take-Two claims bears a striking resemblance to their own iconic Rockstar Games “R” logo.
The update to the report here shows that this was handled a long time ago.
Take-Two’s claim rests on the potential for public confusion between the two logos (Thanks, Respawn First). A tweet shows the trademarks in question, and Take-Two argues that the similarities could lead consumers to believe that Remedy’s games are affiliated with Rockstar Games, causing potential harm to both companies’ brands. This marks the latest instance of Take-Two vigorously defending its intellectual property, following their high-profile dispute over the naming rights of Hazelight Studios’ game It Takes Two last year.
Remedy unveiled the logo in question in April 2023, describing it as a representation of their evolution beyond their Max Payne roots and signifying their broader portfolio of games. They further explained the logo’s design, stating that the bullet previously embedded in the “R” was meant to reflect the Max Payne era, while the new design symbolizes Remedy’s broader vision.
Take-Two filed their trademark opposition a month later, in May 2023, raising concerns about potential consumer confusion. As of September 2023, the trademark remained disputed in the UK, based on Article 8(1)(b) of the European Union Trade Mark Regulation. This article prohibits trademarks that could lead to a likelihood of confusion among the public.
We all definitely have our own opinions on this kind of stuff, especially because this is essentially the attempt to trademark a letter. With Take-Two’s massive resources, they can go against anyone trying to use the letter R in any instance. This is similar to when Bethesda sued the creators of Scrolls, Mojang.
The outcome of this legal battle is yet to be determined, but it really makes you think about the balance between protecting intellectual property and allowing for creative expression within the gaming industry.
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