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IKEA made a mod for Skyrim [video]

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Re: IKEA made a mod for Skyrim [video]

#172
post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, that seems like the type of thing that should at least in theory be fair use.

That's not how trademark works. If you don't defend your mark, you lose it.

Fair use is not how trademarks work? Why does the International Trademark Association seem to think it is then? https://www.inta.org/fact-sheets/fair-use-of-trademarks-inte...

Re: IKEA made a mod for Skyrim [video]

#173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, but I'm pretty sure the voice over in the video is Swedish world strongest man winner Magnus Samuelsson.

There are two VOs by Matt berry during the video. There’s more than one voice.

Yeah lmao, I get that.

Re: IKEA made a mod for Skyrim [video]

#174

IKEA bullied the developer of the indie game The Store is Closed into gutting the whole game. [0] It’s a shame how people can even acknowledge, let alone applaud IKEA’s “funny” gaming-related ad after their successful meddling with SCP folklore, not to speak of the chilling effect their actions may have had on indie gaming. [0]: https://www.escapistmagazine.com/the-store-is-closed-indie-s...

Just like the "chilling" effect the big bad evil Red Cross had on indie games? Shameful how you don't recognize the terrible evil the Red Cross has done.

https://www.pcgamer.com/how-the-prison-architect-developers-...

Re: IKEA made a mod for Skyrim [video]

#175
post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IANAL either, but could this be a trademark issue? My understanding is that if you don’t defend your trademarks you risk legally losing them.

You can only defend your trademark with respect to product categories that you actually market. Unless IKEA were in the business of selling parody video games, their trademark doesn't apply. Wait... is that why IKEA just put out a parody video game?

IKEA has made video games for a long time: https://store.steampowered.com/app/447270/IKEA_VR_Experience...

Re: IKEA made a mod for Skyrim [video]

#176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah sorry man, that's clearly IKEA so it's obvious they had to act on it. Can't sell IKEA-branded games without their permission. Even on their Steam trailer, the first second is clearly IKEA. Just changing the name is not enough. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1593010/The_Store_is_Clos... Sometimes it's not that deep. Sometimes the cute little indie dev just made a mistake. The game is also not out yet, even th…

No reasonable person would have been confused into thinking it was an official IKEA game; IANAL, but it seems unlikely to me that IKEA would have ultimately prevailed in court, though a simple change to the color of the logo would probably have been helpful to the devs of the game.

Depending of the court, if you don't protect your trademarks you can lose them.

Law is rarely remotely reasonable, just because you (or society) think a certain way, does not mean law does.

Re: IKEA made a mod for Skyrim [video]

#177
post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IKEA has a trademark on STYR?

Did you look at the screenshots? IKEA has a trade dress and the game matches their color scheme and font exactly . The building is clearly an IKEA with the exact same branding, just different four letter name.

That would apply to like a competitor, right? Another store that copies their motif to fool customers.

Has a court enforced trade dress with a mock version of a store within a game?

Would a reasonable person, seeing completely different letters actually think IKEA is sponsoring the game?

I would give IKEA almost a 0% chance of winning that case if both sides had equally sized pocketbooks. (see E.S.S. Entertainment v. Rock Star Videos (2008))

Re: IKEA made a mod for Skyrim [video]

#178

IKEA bullied the developer of the indie game The Store is Closed into gutting the whole game. [0] It’s a shame how people can even acknowledge, let alone applaud IKEA’s “funny” gaming-related ad after their successful meddling with SCP folklore, not to speak of the chilling effect their actions may have had on indie gaming. [0]: https://www.escapistmagazine.com/the-store-is-closed-indie-s...

I haven’t played The Store is Closed, but to everyone saying IKEA had some obligation to shut down a parody…videogames parody real brands all the time, including their colors? Why was this different? Some examples offhand: - Fallout’s Nuka Cola is an obvious parody of Coca Cola (also same colors: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuka-Cola ) and Cram is an obvious parody of Spam (same colors) - GTA is full of these: Spru…

> it looks like it was just a demand letter? My impression is that demand letters are nearly meaningless. No judge has to approve them, and they cost an hour or two of lawyer time.

A solo indie developer who is busy building their debut title is no match for the legal team of a global multi-billion corporation. The developer would run out of money way before the parties could reach any kind of settlement.

Re: IKEA made a mod for Skyrim [video]

#179

IKEA bullied the developer of the indie game The Store is Closed into gutting the whole game. [0] It’s a shame how people can even acknowledge, let alone applaud IKEA’s “funny” gaming-related ad after their successful meddling with SCP folklore, not to speak of the chilling effect their actions may have had on indie gaming. [0]: https://www.escapistmagazine.com/the-store-is-closed-indie-s...

Yeah sorry man, that's clearly IKEA so it's obvious they had to act on it. Can't sell IKEA-branded games without their permission. Even on their Steam trailer, the first second is clearly IKEA. Just changing the name is not enough. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1593010/The_Store_is_Clos... Sometimes it's not that deep. Sometimes the cute little indie dev just made a mistake. The game is also not out yet, even th…

> The game is also not out yet, even though rewards were promised in June 2024.

The game is in very active development. The most recent alpha was published just four days ago. [0]

[0]: https://steamdb.info/app/1845400/

Re: IKEA made a mod for Skyrim [video]

#180
post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's lots and lots of them. Have you ridden an escalator® lately? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_generic_and_genericize...

Very interesting link. I am now confused and intrigued that the trademark for "heroin" is listed as being revoked as part of the Treaty of Versailles after WWI.

Part VIII, Annex VI on reparations: Germany was forced to renounce trademark rights on pharmaceutical and chemical products in favor of the Allied powers, so Bayer's Aspirin and Heroin were included.
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