View Profile
View Forum Posts
Reply With Quote
Visit Homepage
Kind of ironic, I was going to start a thread asking about what names EA trademarked in relation to the System Shock series.Is there a list anywhere, by any chance?
Following a tip from krummi via David, I had a look at the December 15th trademark registration Electronic Arts took out for "System Shock" (serial # 78773880, if you want to go look for yourself... though it's nothing spectacular and all the pertinent info is in the quote box to follow)
"What would it be," I wondered. "Probably a combination of IP protection and getting ready for a budget version rerelease of SS2..." But that didn't sound quite right to me, seeing how -- as the publisher -- EA is perfectly within its rights to rerelease any games in its library as it sees fit.
Here's what I found as the Goods and Services descriptor:
Perhaps that strikes you the same way it struck me.IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Computer game cartridges; computer game discs; interactive multimedia computer game programs; downloadable computer game software via a global computer network and wireless devices; computer application software for mobile phones; computer game software and entertainment software for use on mobile and cellular phones, handheld computers, computers, video game consoles, both handheld and free standing, and other wireless devices
IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Providing a computer game that may be accessed network-wide by network users; providing an online computer game accessed and played via mobile and cellular phones and other wireless devices
That is to say,
Kind of ironic, I was going to start a thread asking about what names EA trademarked in relation to the System Shock series.
She's not a maniac, a raving thing, she just goes a little mad sometimes.
I'm not suffering from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.
Noooo!
So you think EA plans on System Shock - the Mobile Phone Game?
Somehow I can't imagine that, or my mind refuses me, I don't know.
Possibly they do that for all their (older) titles?
Certainly the first section of the G&S looks like a modern, standard clause covering pretty much all possible scenarios.
Well, at least someone owns the System Shock series now, instead of it being scattered all over the limbo.
Or did I misinterpret this?
Yes, but I'd rather it be lost forever than those fucksticks having it.
System Shock Online™! With Ultima Online™ engine!
OR some Fallout Brotherhood of steel-ish crap for the PSP, which is a wireless device. Or maybe some numbskull thought of the idea to go x360 with the license and make a multiplayer cyb0r-fragfest out of it.
EA have always owned the trademark. What they still don't own is the IP or copyrights, which are split between Irrational and whoever bought that particular slice of Looking Glass.Originally Posted by Spitter
Keeper
Right, thanks for clearing that up.
Irrational own some of the rights to System Shock 2 but to they own any IP to the System Shock series itself?
Any characters and storyline that occured in SS2 are the property of Irrational.
What about SHODAN? She's in both.
She's the property of Looking Glass (and whoever now owns them). Actually, I'll rephrase my last post as "Any characters or storyline that first appeared in SS2".
What about Citadel Station? Or plain old Citadel? Did they do anything with that name?
I would hope not, or KOTOR 2 is in serious trouble. Probably too generic.
So, let's imagine I want to create a game involving an exploration of an orbital station : where's the limit with copyrights ?
Ok I can't use names, but every aspects of the scenario can be found in other games or medias : is the fact of bring too much of all the elements together illegal ?
That reminds me a little of this User Friendly comic.
Not exactly the same thing, though.
Hmm . . . EA, what are you up to? Simply enforcing a patent, to prevent anyone from making System Shock mods for free?
Trademark, not patent.
D'oh! I meant trademark.
Sadly this gives me the chance to quote myself.
You seem to think that the name System Shock actually means much. Unfortunately, especially outside PC gaming circles, it doesn't.
Posting Permissions