Why the Skyrim boycott is a waste of time and missing enjoyment.

[Spencer Petersen]

If Notch could trademark Scrolls without opposition, then he has the exact same grounds to sue Bethesda for using the name. Trademarks are opposed all the time, the process is to essentially apply for a trademark and then defend against opposition based on other trademarks or laws, at which point you are approved if you can go unopposed. Bethesda's legal team is financially and occupationally obligated to oppose the trademark, as if it goes unopposed then Bethesda would be under threat of trademark infringement for any games they make using the word Scrolls in a copyrighted manner IE "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim."

If I trademark the name Call to Duty, it may not be the same as Call of Duty, but I would be infringing on Activision's trademark just as much, and if I were to get that trademark I would have full legal rights to sue Activision for using my trademark for their game. No lawyer with a working brain would give away a copyright, so calling Bethesda's lawyer's greedy is just propaganda, and implying that they are cowardly for not accepting a Quake 3 deathmatch when they are absolutely legally in the right is just stupid. Notch can call his game whatever he wants, but he can't trademark words that are already covered by other trademarks, otherwise the whole concept of the trademark simply falls apart.

 

[Versuvius]

The OP doesn't strike me as being quite as flagrant with the hand wringing and self-aggrandizement of the "I AM BOYCOTT THE SKYRIM" crowd.

I AM BOYCOTT THE... is going to become my official response to every "boycott" thread that pops up in the foreseeable future. Yes, yes, it will.

Spoiler

Muahahaha

You sir are a cad, a blaggard and an utter genius. You should start an I AM BOYCOTT THE... cult to drive the asinine threads to extinction with your rapier wit (and memegenerator)

 

[AnotherAvatar]

Zenimax are dicks, who only get my money because they bought my beloved fallout franchise, raped it to death, skinned it's corpse and occasionally dance around in it, and some times they get the old creator to dance around in it, and I'm not willing to let the series go, so I say: Sure, dance away...

This lawsuit is so petty, because, you know, it's not like the term "Scrolls" was EVER used before The Elder Scrolls. Simple fact: Zenimax are a money hungry corporation just like all the others, and they are suing for market share. Their product doesn't loose any money by the word Scrolls appearing in the title of another work, so they are just being evil, and attempting to muscle around (yet another) smaller company.

But you know, I understand your backing them, you know, lots of people cheered for the QB of the football team at my High School, but that didn't make him any less of a dick. Zenimax may be running home touchdowns for some gamers (even if there are those of us who only seem to be seeing fumbles), but that doesn't mean they're right to poke their competitors with petty law suits.

They're just playing this whole industry a little hard and dirty for me, which ironically is what they aren't doing enough of in their games...

 

[Khada]

The only problem I see on Notch's part is that he is releasing the game on the same date. Why not offer to release the game a couple weeks earlier/later.

Other than that, Zenimax is being silly.

 

[viking97]

well if i had actually been planning on buying skyrim, i certainly wouldn't be now. this is completely retarded. and, if i'm not mistaken, the point of a boycott is to un-subtle-y let the creators of the boycotted product know that whatever shit they're pulling will not fly.

And this, i feel, is a big enough issue to let bethesda know i'm displeased. (you know if i had been planning on buying the game. i wasn't, because my laptop can barely run things from 2007 and i imagine the console ports are a waste of time compared to the pc version)

 

[remnant_phoenix]

Boycotting Skyrim would deal more punishment to the amazing and talented people that designed the game, and they're not responsible for all this mess.

It's a bunch of stick-up-the-jack lawyers in the legal department who see a game named "Scrolls" as a threat to the Elder Scrolls IP.

So, yes, while boycotting Skyrim MIGHT send a message to the jacks in the legal department, it would dish out even more unjustified hurt to the creative minds at Bethesda that have put their blood, sweat, and tears into making Skyrim great, and how is that right or fair?

 

[Centrophy]

I just don't understand why Notch just doesn't change the name to "Magic: the Gathering." As far as I know it's a game where you play a wizard and you attack by using cards to summon monsters and to use spells. Oh wait... that IP exists already... right. Well, how about a Japanese spin? Let's call it something catchy like... uhm... "Yu-Gi-Oh!" With an exclamation point for emphasis!

You see it's really the wrong argument, indeed, the wrong lawsuit here. Bethesda is clearly in the wrong, "Scrolls?" Really? I'd understand it if he wanted to call it "Elder Scrolls" but one real word? This is like that guy with the "Edge" trademark. Now not to say that Notch is without guilt... He didn't need to act like GeoHot and post the C&D and everything else relating to his business with Bethesda/Zenimax. No if anything, the card game makers should be suing him for making an almost identical game to Yu-Gi-Oh or Magic: The Gathering. Now I could be wrong about the facts here about Scrolls (the game) and Notch/Bethsoft's actions, these are just my observations from my limited following of this story on this forum. If so, take this is the ranting of another of the uninformed and move on.

I for one will be buying and enjoying TES:5.

Edit: After reading more about trademark law, I'm now with Zenimax on this one. They have no choice but to do so or risk losing the use of Scrolls, which would include using it in The Elder Scrolls. Still seems to me like trademarking a real single-use word is stupid like Edge or Scrolls or The. Should probably see about changing the law so that it can't be done, but for now Zenimax has no choice.

 

[Versuvius]

The OP doesn't strike me as being quite as flagrant with the hand wringing and self-aggrandizement of the "I AM BOYCOTT THE SKYRIM" crowd.

I AM BOYCOTT THE... is going to become my official response to every "boycott" thread that pops up in the foreseeable future. Yes, yes, it will.

Spoiler

Muahahaha

You sir are a cad, a blaggard and an utter genius. You should start an I AM BOYCOTT THE... cult to drive the asinine threads to extinction with your rapier wit (and memegenerator)

Mmm, yes. And BloatedGuppy can be our unwilling messiah.

I am off! I have boycotts to quell!

He's not the Messiah. He's a very naughty boy!

 

[Normandyfoxtrot]

As many have stated already if they have the trademark on scrolls, they don't have a legal choice in the matter they have to defend it or lose it period that's just how US copyright laws work and if they lose it they can be sued by who ever picks up the scrolls trademark next.

 

[GoddyofAus]

Oh look, another boycott that won't work.

 

[brainslurper]

I am not going to boycott skyrim, but I never buying anything on origin. Ever.

That's not even remotely on topic. Keep your bile in the relevant threads, please.

Aren't you exited about the iPhone 4s?

 

[Aprilgold]

Well lets see. Probably would be my experience with Skyrim.
I get the Game
5 minutes in: I'm into a very long, torturess tutorial.
30 or so minutes in: Finally leave the first place.
50 minutes in: Get to a key area, promptly getting arrested, followed by not being able to leave prison.
3 months later: I pick it up again since the new patch is out, I leave the prison.
3 months and 2 hours later: I'm actually enjoying combat now, but there seems to be no point when I can just sneak past everything or hit it with a stealth missile, insta killing them, or if things get bad, I just use my OP Scream attack witch does A BIZILION damage and kills everything in the dungeon.
3 months and 2 hours and 30 minutes later: Give up because it becomes a grind and / or game breaking bug occurs.

OR I could get Saints Row the Third, here would be my experience.
Starts Game: Go through Customization.
5 Minutes: Game shows tutorial while making feel like a badass.
30 Minutes: Get into Steel Port, I fuck up all the pedestrians on the streets.
3 hours later: Get a Furry Hat and find the Apoco-Fists, decide to take down the Dekker gang.
5 hours later: Still loving it.
8 Hours Later: I beat the Dekkers. Enjoying brand new toys and enjoying new outfits to go with my Cat head.

Yeah, I'm going with Saints Row on this one.

 

[Normandyfoxtrot]

Well lets see. Probably would be my experience with Skyrim.
I get the Game
5 minutes in: I'm into a very long, torturess tutorial.
30 or so minutes in: Finally leave the first place.
50 minutes in: Get to a key area, promptly getting arrested, followed by not being able to leave prison.
3 months later: I pick it up again since the new patch is out, I leave the prison.
3 months and 2 hours later: I'm actually enjoying combat now, but there seems to be no point when I can just sneak past everything or hit it with a stealth missile, insta killing them, or if things get bad, I just use my OP Scream attack witch does A BIZILION damage and kills everything in the dungeon.
3 months and 2 hours and 30 minutes later: Give up because it becomes a grind and / or game breaking bug occurs.

OR I could get Saints Row the Third, here would be my experience.
Starts Game: Go through Customization.
5 Minutes: Game shows tutorial while making feel like a badass.
30 Minutes: Get into Steel Port, I fuck up all the pedestrians on the streets.
3 hours later: Get a Furry Hat and find the Apoco-Fists, decide to take down the Dekker gang.
5 hours later: Still loving it.
8 Hours Later: I beat the Dekkers. Enjoying brand new toys and enjoying new outfits to go with my Cat head.

Yeah, I'm going with Saints Row on this one.

I never did like either of the saints rows I just can't play a character who is a twat. I never beat God of war for the same reason I'd much rather play a guy stabbing Kratos Mc'asshole in the scrotum.

 

[Aprilgold]

I never did like either of the saints rows I just can't play a character who is a twat. I never beat God of war for the same reason I'd much rather play a guy stabbing Kratos Mc'asshole in the scrotum.

I like my guy because hes british, and I think british accents are funny, especially when swearing. I like the guy, also, because he just wants a good time.

 

[DustyDrB]

I haven't heard anyone say they were boycotting Skyrim because of this.
Then again...I'm don't care about Minecraft or Notch, so I'm not likely to hear anything from these people.

Let people boycott if they wish, though. I prefer that over gamers who do nothing when they see something that troubles them.

 

[ecoho]

If you inhabit the internet you know about Zenimax suing Mojang over the word "Scrolls"

And you've most likely heard how everyone Notch fanboy from here to the moon is going to boycott Skyrim because Bethesda is beating on the little man!

Ok, for one, Notch isn't little, stop defending him.

Second, Zenimax has all the right to sue Notch over this if they want to.

Third, No, Zenimax isn't the only one to blame, they sent him a cease and desist letter, his reaction? Post it on twitter and laugh about it.

Fourth, a article went up recently (This one: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.316261-Mojang-Offered-Up-Scrolls-Trademark-Bethsoft-Said-No)
and more butt hurt and flames were sputtered by Notch fanboys. Apparently Notch said that he was willing to change "Scrolls" to 'Scrolls: [some subtitle]' and now he's confused as to why he's getting sued still.

BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GET RID OF THE SCROLLS PART.

That's what Zenimax is peeved about, the Scrolls part, so adding a subtitle doesn't solve their problem.

Now is Zenimax guilt free? Of course not, they're being stupid about the lawsuit to, but Notch is being just as equally (if not more so by bringing the public into it) about the whole thing.

My overall point? Boycotting an awesome looking game because your overlord says hes completely innocent is just being stupid, please for the love of god use your brain.

Ok first off your right there is no reason to boycott skyrim(anyone who does over this is just shooting them selves in the foot) but Zenimax as a company is being really stupid about this and Notch is just using them to make them look bad. In all truthfulness they should have done the quake 3 match it would have made Zenimax look good with them looking reasonable, gotten good publicity and Notch and his team would have gotten the same, it was best solution.

 

[SoulSalmon]

Its really funny, because in all of this, I have yet to see Notch present that there was a legitimate market for his "Scrolls" game... most of his supporters that I've seen are more concerned with "hey, its the guy who made minecraft" rather than "hey, that game sounds like something I'd play..."

A boardgame style CCG?
Do you honestly think no-one could want that?

Quite frankly Notch doesn't make games he thinks there's a 'market' for anyway, both Minecraft and Scrolls are games he made because he thought it'd be a fun idea.
THIS is why Indie devs are thriving nowadays, because they make the kinds of games THEY want to play rather then go: "Oh... FPSes are popular right now, lets make one of those."