380°

Notch: Bethesda are suing us, here’s the full story

Notch: "A lot of people want more details about what is going on, so here is everything I know:

First of all, I love Bethesda. I assume this nonsense is partly just their lawyers being lawyers, and a result of trademark law being the way it is.

About half a year ago, our lawyers recommended us to register “Minecraft” as a trademark, so we did. I had voted against it initially, but we did it anyway. Better safe than sorry, and all that. At the same time, we also applied for “Scrolls”, the new game we’re working on. We knew of no similarly named games, and we had even googled it to make sure. I’m not even sure if you CAN trademark individual words, like “Scrolls”, but we sent in the application anyway."

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pangitkqb4640d ago (Edited 4640d ago )

I love Bethesda, and am a huge Elder Scrolls fan, but if this is legit, they need to pull their heads out of their litigious asses.

Only a jackass thinks that trademarking/copywriting every word is reasonable. There really is room enough in the creative world for everybody.

Best of luck to both companies and the games they produce.

JsonHenry4640d ago

Pfft. They patent our GENES in this country. Why can't they patent a word?

Yes, YOUR genes that God gave you are being patented by companies. NOT the process in which they isolate them BUT YOUR ACTUAL GENES.

Don't believe me? Google it! If you can patent a GENE then what can't you patent?

humbleopinion4639d ago

Absolutely right - Only god didn't give you you genes, evolution did....
Or is this some kind of religious nonsense psuedo-science creationists are pulling now?

Heartnet4639d ago

You couldnt patent a Gene othwerwise if u patented the Gene that gives us Blonde Hair you could sue any1 with blonde hair.. wouldnt stand up in court.. which makes ur theory invalid

gaffyh4639d ago

I don't think Bethesda's suit will hold up in court.

ultrapepe4639d ago

Only altered genes may be be patented. In order for anything to receive a patent it must first be proven that what is being presented was created by the people presenting it. So this means that yes genes are being patented, but those are not "our genes" they are altered genes.

gamingdroid4639d ago (Edited 4639d ago )

"So this means that yes genes are being patented, but those are not "our genes" they are altered genes."

What if those "altered" genes happen to be the genes that was given to me at birth? Can they sue me?

It's kind of like patenting random social security numbers. Because it isn't in use, doesn't mean it won't be in use.

PS, I didn't give you a disagree, cause I don't disagree.

@gaffyh

Minecraft can probably afford lawyers, but that is the problem of the court system today. Any moron lawyer with two quarters, can send you a piece of paper that would cost you tens of thousands for no reason at all.

SephirothX214639d ago

Let people believe in God if they choose to. I personally don't but have no problem with whatever fairy tales people like believing in.

thesummerofgeorge4639d ago

"The implication that you could own the right to all individual words within a trademark is also a bit scary."

^^^ This.

And on a side note: This ---> "God doesn't exist"

gamingdroid4639d ago

"Let people believe in God if they choose to. I personally don't but have no problem with whatever fairy tales people like believing in."

I only have issues with religion, when they constantly tell you to convert or how you should be.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 4639d ago
Micro_Sony4640d ago

Tell that to Apple who think think that the word app store belongs to them.

evrfighter4640d ago

they lost that battle thank goodness.

I'm still lost as to what kind of person actually went through the trouble of filing all this paperwork thinking a game called scrolls is infringing on the elder scrolls...

perhaps this person has some major beef with trees and is one upping environmentalists?

beastgamer4639d ago (Edited 4639d ago )

Well its like how Apple trademark their name Apple Inc.
App Store was something they wanted to call their selections of applications and since app is abv for application that can't be a trademark since companies use it, so they came up with app store and since it wasn't know or no one had that idea, Apple got it, no i find this one BS because Bethesda trademark The Elder Scrolls, not Scrolls. It's like how Microsoft wants App Store which is something Apple made up, a phrase but not a word so they can't claim app. So its like Microsoft just wants to use that name since they feel it brings success. Bethesda probably feels the same. Which I think is retarded.

I don't know what I just wrote o_O

gamingdroid4639d ago (Edited 4639d ago )

I don't know what you wrote either and some more paragraphs would be nice.

Kee4640d ago (Edited 4640d ago )

So I couldn't use the word Warfare in my game? Or Rings? Or Derby? (just some random examples but you get the idea) Or any other single word that's ever been in a game title?

That's lame and if this lawsuit goes through, the whole trademark system is a shambles.

gamingdroid4639d ago

Next thing, you can't use the letters either!

Bull5hifT4639d ago (Edited 4639d ago )

Kart, Super, III, GOW, i always thought God Of War shoulda Sued Gears of war.... Call Of Duty Shoulda sued Call of Juarez, Would Kenturkey Fry'd Chiggen be Sueable?

palaeomerus4640d ago (Edited 4640d ago )

Change the name of the upcoming game to "Scrolls: $#@# Bethesda, and the lawyers they rode in on, right in the Ear! "

Some useful synonyms for "scroll" might be parchment, annal, chronicle, codex, writings, scripture, manuscriptum, vellum, papyrus, canon, octavo, folio.

Pikajew4640d ago (Edited 4640d ago )

Hope Notch wins. Elders Scrolls and Scrolls are to different name. I doubt Bethesda copyright the name elder and scrolls differently, they copyright elder scroll as one word. Looks like we cant have a game called super elders

Bethesda will lose a lot of sales for doing this to an indie company.

Cajun Chicken4640d ago

Realistically, this situation doesn't suprise me. Look at the Fallout IP deal between Interplay and Bethesda, the agreement was for Bethesda to buy the IP on the conditions that Interplay could make a MMO of Fallout, (which was originally their IP before bankruptcy) and now what are Bethesda clamiming?

...That they can't use Fallout insignia such as Nuka Cola and other ingame products. Add to that, apparently Interplay's timespan to make the game is up soon and what are Bethesda doing?

...Trying to sue Interplay to gain the rights to make their OWN Fallout MMO.

Disgraceful. It's almost like they planned it from the start.

Horny Melon4640d ago

Except that last I heard it is likely that Interplay will win and if they do they are likely to win back the rights to Fallout.

Ardorme4640d ago

Bethesda owns everything Fallout now and the agreement was, as you said, that Interplay would be allowed to make a Fallout MMO.

As it turns out Interplay is broke (again!) but continue to use the prospect of a Fallout MMO to continue on and potentially gain funding to continue on with a nearly non-existent project.

Zenimax, tired of waiting around for something that at this point will never happen have been trying to use litigation to force Interplay's hand, allowing them to develop the MMO in-house.

Horny Melon4640d ago

Actually Interplay has a functioning alpha (documents submitted to court as evidence) when Bethesda told them to cease and desist, at this point the game is on hold due due to court proceedings.

What the court will be deciding is the validity of the contract. If the contract is determined to be null and void the rights to fallout revert back to interplay.

ElementX4640d ago

They shouldn't lose any money. The developers and the lawyers are completely different entities. Just because some corporate lawyer wants to be a jerk doesn't mean that the developers should suffer from less sales.

Shinuz4640d ago

All i have to say is fuck Bethesda!

Micro_Sony4640d ago (Edited 4640d ago )

I have reported you for bad language.

No need for those words on here.

Edit @ below: Your telling me to grow up because I told some one that he did not have to use a bad word to get his point across....my 13 year old brother visits this site and I dont want him seeing stuff like that.

Zikron4640d ago

I wish I could report you for posting unrelated garbage. This isn't Disney, grow up.

fr00ty-wizenhymer4640d ago

Dude, your brothers 13? I'm pretty sure he not only heard the word fuck, I'm sure he uses it. Don't try to shield him from reality.

TheBeast4640d ago

My thoughts exactly fr00ty. If he is "13" ten bucks says he knows every swear known to the teen kind.

Kishin4640d ago

@Micro_Sony fuck off :)

Quagmire4639d ago

Reported for being FUCKING off-topic.

Anyways, stick it to the man, Notch! Hope you win the lawsuit, a pretty stupid one at that.

Since when is Oblivion and Skyrim constantly referred to as THE ELDER SCROLLS: OBLIVION/SKYRIM?

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60°

Minecraft Meets Bloodborne With The Help Of A Stunning Mod

YouTuber Potomy has revealed new details about the new Bloodborne mod and that it is now in a playable state for Minecraft.

230°

All the Essential Video Games Everyone Needs To Play At Least Once

Given the medium's wild diversity, this primer of the essential video games everyone should try is a good place to start.

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thorstein37d ago

.... from the 2000s (mostly).

shinoff218337d ago

I can't fk with this list. They missed on alot of games probably before the writers times. Also I know people loved some portal but I was never a fan.

Cacabunga37d ago

Tomb Raider 1
Driver 1
Abe’s Odyssey
FF6
King of Fighters 94
Mortal Kombat OG
LINK 2 the past
Street Fighter 2
Resident Evil 1

Inverno37d ago

Infinite but not the first two games? Witcher 3 but not the first two games?? GTA V but not literally any of the games before it??? Portal 2 but not the first? Also if you're going to play Shadow of The Colossus play the remaster and not the remake. Can't say I disagree with the list but my man it's all over the place.

Name Last Name37d ago

I mean some sequels are objectively better and you don’t need to play the whole series.

Inverno37d ago

But most of these games have a story to follow, sure you can catch up with a YouTube vid but where's the fun in that?

LucasRuinedChildhood36d ago (Edited 36d ago )

A list like this isn't telling you not to play the previous games if you want to. It's just giving you legendary games to play.

But tbh, you don't always have to force yourself to play every entry in a franchise to get to the better ones.

- The vast majority of Witcher 3 players never played the first 2 and had a great time. The first 2 games aren't in the same league.
- The GTA games are self-contained with the odd fun reference. You can easily jump into any of them.
- The Shadow Of The Colossus remake looks and controls better than the original (plus it has a 60fps option while the remaster is just 30fps). New players will enjoy it more.
- Portal 2 is a lot better than Portal 1 and takes the concept much further gameplay-wise. Storywise, Portal 1 is fairly light too. Not that you shouldn't play it but realistically ... you'd love Portal 2 whether you play it or not (at lot of Portal 2 players have never played 1).

Bioshock 1 is the only one I agree with you on simply because it's one the best games of all time and arguably better than Infinite. No other setting like Rapture.

Looking at the list, I'd recommend playing Uncharted 1 before 2 but no doubt, 2 is the legendary one you have to play.

Inverno36d ago

I get it, but that's just my opinion on his opinion. I just think that before you play a sequel you should still play what came before it. Maybe it's just me but i find it fascinating playing through the first game in a series and seeing how it has evolved through its sequels. Like I said I don't disagree with the list, other than SoTC which I strongly believe the remaster of the original should be played above the remake.

AuraAbjure36d ago

Awesome list! Hot take on Fear (and it's hard af expansion Persaus Mandate!) Bioshock Infinite is stellar, so is the Witcher 3 and you nailed it by having Ocarina of Time. So many fantastic games! Gotta play 'em all! Next one on my list is Prey after I beat Dead Space 2 and Splinter Cell Conviction.

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130°

Minecraft Bedrock Introduces Official Add-Ons To Marketplace

Minecraft Bedrock is introducing add-ons to the marketplace. The add-ons can now be added to many existing and new worlds.

Jin_Sakai57d ago (Edited 57d ago )

Nice! Next up, shaders on consoles.

“A new update is improving how mods work for Minecraft Bedrock. Mojang has introduced add-ons to the marketplace.”

“These add-ons can now easily be added to new and existing worlds instead of being tied to a single world.
There are plenty of free and paid add-ons that will let you customize just about anything in your world.”

OtterX56d ago

So RayTracing is no longer locked to the NVIDIA maps? I know there was a workaround, but it will be nice to have easier access to all worlds.