Another good reason why Bethesda doesn't have any right to the word Scrolls

[GonzoGamer]

Besides the fact that it's a pretty common word... especially for particular genres,

nobody associates it with them anyway.

I don't think I know anyone who calls Elder Scrolls games "Elder Scrolls..."

Whenever I hear someone talking about an Elder Scrolls game they tend to call the game Morrowind, Oblivion, or Skyrim. I don't get why they're so protective of a word that they barely use.

EDIT:
I really wasn't expecting this much of a response to some random brain static I posted here. I understand why lawyers give a crap, I don't understand why everyone else gives a crap...and there are some people here that seem pretty passionate on the subject.
It's not like Bethesda will never make another fantasy game if they have to call it The Elder Documents. I think people will figure it out. And if Mojang can't use the word, I'm sure they'll figure out something else to call their new IP.

It's such a small word to get so much attention.

 

[Kolby Jack]

And no, I refuse to use the Pink Floyd song because a) I don't especially like Pink Floyd, and 2) I LOVE me some funk!

 

[chstens]

Because in America, if they don't protect their copyright at every oppurtunity, the copyright is forfeit, or some such nonsense.
Don't trust me on this, because I know nothing of copyright laws and just heard it from a guy who heard it from a guy sorta.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I love how a lot of people think Bethesda are sueing Mojang for no other reason than greed.

If you saw what Notch wanted to cover with his copyright of 'Scrolls', then people would probably think differently.

 

[ckam]

It's lawyers being lawyers. The fucking money hoarding dicks.

 

[ToastiestZombie]

To be honest this thread is basically just a post that would be put into another Bethesda vs Mojang thread. This point has been hammered in so much that pretty much everyone on the Mojang side thinks in your way of thinking.

 

[Bluntman1138]

Whenever I hear someone talking about an Elder Scrolls game they tend to call the game Morrowind, Oblivion, or Skyrim. I don't get why they're so protective of a word that they barely use.

Barely Use? The Elder Scrolls is the title given before any of the others. The "Scrolls" are mentioned in each of the games, in the form of conversation and the books in the games. Just because people forgo the Elder Scrolls before mentioning which game, means nothing.

New Hope, Empire, Jedi, Menace, Clones, Sith is how these movies are referred to when people are talking about them. That doesnt mean that the title STAR WARS, shouldnt be defended as a trademark as well.

Again, all the arm chair lawyers need to wait until REAL details of the lawsuit are actually made available to the public, and first arguments are heard. There is no need for all the speculation and assumptions, that logically just doesnt hold up. Much like your argument.

PS. Before Oblivion, Morrowind was referred to as Elder Scrolls, because it was the only one at the time. Just as "A New Hope" was simply called Star Wars before Empire.

 

[Maeta]

from reading things around the site, they want to protect the scrolls bit to prevent mojang from trademarking it and then being able to prevent bethesda from using the title of 'the elder scrolls' for any future releases.
though most people will just refer to the games by oblivion and skyrim, it's the idea of their linkage by the elder scrolls in the games. plus, when they announce TES6, if they just called it something random, would you know that it was related to them without thorough research, or would you initially think it was something different, like brink, and thus ignore it? Not saying brink is bad, because I haven't played it, but people may get confused and look at it for the wrong reasons, or miss it by mistake

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Again, all the arm chair lawyers need to wait until REAL details of the lawsuit are actually made available to the public, and first arguments are heard.

People educate themselves before jumping to idiotic conclusions and making stupid threads about a topic they barely understand?

THE HELL YOU SAY.

 

[The Funslinger]

I love how a lot of people think Bethesda are sueing Mojang for no other reason than greed.

If you saw what Notch wanted to cover with his copyright of 'Scrolls', then people would probably thing differently.

I knew he had a broad claim on it, and mostly I jumped into this thread to facepalm, and deliver my opinion unto the masses with my +5 ring of backhanding, but what was his specific claim, anyway?
This is the fifth Mojang/Bethesda thread I've seen in the past two days, not counting Escapist coverage.

 

[PrinceOfShapeir]

Whenever I hear someone talking about an Elder Scrolls game they tend to call the game Morrowind, Oblivion, or Skyrim. I don't get why they're so protective of a word that they barely use.

Barely Use? The Elder Scrolls is the title given before any of the others. The "Scrolls" are mentioned in each of the games, in the form of conversation and the books in the games. Just because people forgo the Elder Scrolls before mentioning which game, means nothing.

New Hope, Empire, Jedi, Menace, Clones, Sith is how these movies are referred to when people are talking about them. That doesnt mean that the title STAR WARS, shouldnt be defended as a trademark as well.

Again, all the arm chair lawyers need to wait until REAL details of the lawsuit are actually made available to the public, and first arguments are heard. There is no need for all the speculation and assumptions, that logically just doesnt hold up. Much like your argument.

PS. Before Oblivion, Morrowind was referred to as Elder Scrolls, because it was the only one at the time. Just as "A New Hope" was simply called Star Wars before Empire.

Uhh...

No.

No.

No.

Do you think they called Morrowind 'Elder Scrolls III' for the lulz? Have you heard of Daggerfall? Arena? Jesus Christ, man.

 

[EternalFacepalm]

from reading things around the site, they want to protect the scrolls bit to prevent mojang from trademarking it and then being able to prevent bethesda from using the title of 'the elder scrolls' for any future releases.
though most people will just refer to the games by oblivion and skyrim, it's the idea of their linkage by the elder scrolls in the games. plus, when they announce TES6, if they just called it something random, would you know that it was related to them without thorough research, or would you initially think it was something different, like brink, and thus ignore it? Not saying brink is bad, because I haven't played it, but people may get confused and look at it for the wrong reasons, or miss it by mistake

Mojang offered to give up the name "Scrolls" as a whole, and Bethsoft is still taking it to court.

 

[ShindoL Shill]

OK, i will say this: do you associate the word Apple with the Beatles? probably not, except they were signed to Apple Records, who are owned by Apple Corp who sued Apple Inc over the word apple. and won. repeatedly.
the reason Apple Inc didnt have to change name is because they agreed not to enter the physical music business (digital was a loophole, they won that one). and they still had to pay an $80,000 settlement fee. Mojang and Bethesda ARE in the same business. Legally, Mojang is boned.

 

[Johnson McGee]

Maybe they originally meant to trademark the phrase "Elder Scrolls" but due to a bug it ended up just being "Scrolls."

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I love how a lot of people think Bethesda are sueing Mojang for no other reason than greed.

If you saw what Notch wanted to cover with his copyright of 'Scrolls', then people would probably thing differently.

I knew he had a broad claim on it, and mostly I jumped into this thread to facepalm, and deliver my opinion unto the masses with my +5 ring of backhanding, but what was his specific claim, anyway?
This is the fifth Mojang/Bethesda thread I've seen in the past two days, not counting Escapist coverage.

I don't know the specifics, but it covers a lot of things.

For instance, if Bethesda wanted to release an Elder Scrolls movie, they wouldn't be able to call it that.

Bethesda are forced to protect the copyright or they lose it. If they permit Mojang the use of 'Scrolls', then he's completely able to name a game 'The Eldest Scrolls', or 'The Aged Scrolls'.

Legally, they have to protect that copyright or face a wave of 'The Elder Scrolls' clones.

Not saying Mojang would do that, but that's the general idea. It's not that Bethesda want to go to court. They have to.

(I'm not an expert on copyright law, so if any of what I said is wrong, feel free to correct me).

 

[BloatedGuppy]

Here's a blog post regarding the lawsuit worth reading for all the boycott crusaders:

http://howtonotsuckatgamedesign.com/?p=3327

Not that anyone is likely to. God knows, reacting randomly and stupidly is so much more visceral and fun than reading things.

 

[Maeta]

from reading things around the site, they want to protect the scrolls bit to prevent mojang from trademarking it and then being able to prevent bethesda from using the title of 'the elder scrolls' for any future releases.
though most people will just refer to the games by oblivion and skyrim, it's the idea of their linkage by the elder scrolls in the games. plus, when they announce TES6, if they just called it something random, would you know that it was related to them without thorough research, or would you initially think it was something different, like brink, and thus ignore it? Not saying brink is bad, because I haven't played it, but people may get confused and look at it for the wrong reasons, or miss it by mistake

Mojang offered to give up the name "Scrolls" as a whole, and Bethsoft is still taking it to court.

I thought they had just offered to add an extension or subtitle? Anyhow, if I'm wrong then I apologise, though I was more saying why Bethesda cared in the first place. If the word Scrolls comletely goes from the title then they have no call to sue, unless Mojang changed the name to The Elder Cards or something...

 

[Bluntman1138]

Do you think they called Morrowind 'Elder Scrolls III' for the lulz? Have you heard of Daggerfall? Arena? Jesus Christ, man.

Yes i have heard of them, and played Daggerfall myself. But it was Morrowind that really catapulted the series into a mainstream RPG. I doubt most people that play the Elder SCrolls games these days was even old enough to touch a keyboard in the mid-90's. Much less have a computer that could run the games.

And ask them about Daggerfall or Arena, and they will simply ask what are those? Sure Morrowind wasnt the "first", but it was the first of the series that made people actually take notice to the games. Symantics yes, but true none the less.

 

[Catchy Slogan]

from reading things around the site, they want to protect the scrolls bit to prevent mojang from trademarking it and then being able to prevent bethesda from using the title of 'the elder scrolls' for any future releases.
though most people will just refer to the games by oblivion and skyrim, it's the idea of their linkage by the elder scrolls in the games. plus, when they announce TES6, if they just called it something random, would you know that it was related to them without thorough research, or would you initially think it was something different, like brink, and thus ignore it? Not saying brink is bad, because I haven't played it, but people may get confused and look at it for the wrong reasons, or miss it by mistake

Mojang offered to give up the name "Scrolls" as a whole, and Bethsoft is still taking it to court.

No they didn't. They offered to change it to "Scrolls: somethingsomethingsomething." Which completely misses the point of changing the name.