Bethesda’s Sense of Good Public Relations is Scrolled

Koku writes: "If Bethesda were really successful in this case, who is to say that they could not then sue virtually any other producer of fantasy related games that use the word “scroll” to any extent without Bethesda’s permission? What about books, or movies?"

[ThatGuyInTheHat]

That's so stupid. Bethesda doesn't own the word "scrolls". Nobody does. If that were the case, they would be suing Webster's Dictionary too...which would also be stupid.

[Cinotix]

Don't you know it's a new way of bringing more profit to a publisher. Lawsuits are hot today.

[ThatGuyInTheHat]

Regardless, profiting off of other people's pain is just as bad as the 3rd Reich if not worse.

[Dramscus]

If all their after is profits I'll show em what for.

When Skyrim comes out I'm totally going to buy it...

USED! (or possibly when it falls to a price of $20 and then I'll get it used.)

Wonder what those greedy guts will think of that.

For the record I generally do not support the sale of used games as it hurts developers.

[ChrisW]

If I wasn't so damn anxious to get the next Elder Scrolls, I'd propose a boycott!

[Ziriux]

Yea it is a sad state, esepcially with our economy and the tightness of money.

[beastgamer]

If I make paper company called Paper Scrolls will I get slap with a lawsuit?

[Ziriux]

It's a dictionary word for fuck sake, come on, this is crap.

[-LUKE_SKYWALKER-]

Yeah but you have to understand where Bethesda is coming from to some degree.

What if MS was to make a game called Uncharted Temples and release it around the same time as Uncharted 3 - this game would automatically ride the marketing train from Sony because the name Uncharted is in it.

Yeah we hardcore gamers know which one is the real Uncharted but soccer moms and casuals dont which means that they will just pick up a game called Uncharted.

Also do you think Sony would just let MS use the word Uncharted to make a game Or MS would let Sony use the word Halo for a PS3 game - these names are all in the dictionary but I bet that they both own those names.

[ChrisW]

I'm only disagreeing because, from what I understand, Scrolls will only be Internet based and thus soccer moms won't have the opportunity to convey their retardedness.

[gameseveryday]

Rage, Skyrim come on Bethesda, do you really need more money this holiday season.

[Ziriux]

I think for the most part they think that the person using the name will profit and sell more copies but they don't know it all falls in the hands of quality of the game.

[Singu1arity]

I'm hoping that this is a decision that was made by someone in the ZeniMax (Bethesda parent) corporate hierarchy who doesn't know the details and doesn't care to know, and just saw the word "scrolls" before hitting the lawsuit button.

If there's really developers who are this tone-deaf to the playerbase, then my faith in the industry's down a few notches.

[limewax]

You sir are correct in your hopes, it is indeed Zenimax, Bethesda were not originally aware of the case (we at N4G knew before them) and they even stated they hope it works for the other devs.

Was on N4G about a week or two ago

[Singu1arity]

This will be thrown out. You can't trademark a dictionary word.

[Cinotix]

Exactly so the winner is the poor defendant.

[-LUKE_SKYWALKER-]

Yes you can and Apple is a good example.

Apple trade marked the word Apple and no one else can use it to some degree.

http://www.apple.com/legal/...

[beastgamer]

Apple, App Store (MS is going crazy over that name, don't know what's wrong with "marketplace", but MS is turning necks to make a judge remove apple from owning app store) I don't see Google complaining.