Blizzard and Valve at War Over DOTA Name

[randomizer]

test comment, just ignore this

 

[NuclearShadow]

[citation][nom]Zeppelingcdm[/nom]Most of you really didn't read the article. Blizzard says right in it that the only want to stop Valve from Trademarking the IP. They said nothing about stopping the game or even taking money off of sales. (" The full Notice of Opposition, which was filed on November 16, 2011, can be read here. Blizzard merely wants the trademark office to block Valve's attempt.")Blizzard is just simply making sure that the trademark to a franchise they gave birth to isn't lost to them. It's the smart move, next thing you know Valve would be claiming that Blizzard should be paying them to use their own brand, i.e the original DOTA IP's. It seams to me to be really stupid. Valve should have been happy with being able to make and release the game. Trademarking it seems like a slap in the face to Blizzard and greedy.[/citation]

Incorrect, it is clear that they are trying to block Valve from using the name DOTA is goes beyond the trademark. Also how are you claiming that Blizzard gave birth to it? Sure Warcraft 3 was used as a tool to make DOTA but Blizzard themselves did not make DOTA. Your stance makes no sense you may as well be arguing that paint shop pro should own all content created with the program despite it being a product of the artists work.

To show that they clearly want the rights of DOTA and to block Valve from using it at all.

"firmly associated in the mind of consumers with Blizzard." Even more, Blizzard argues that the original DOTA needs the Warcraft 3 Frozen Throne expansion pack to play. The company has even licensed the DOTA label to other companies even though it never filed for a trademark.

Note that they admit to licensing the label out, which likely can lead them to get sued. They assumed ownership despite no legal right to and profited off of it. If they do not secure the trademark (and presumably the copyrights as well) They are in trouble, they have to pursue all control over it now.
This trademark battle is just the first step it will lead to more.

causing consumers to falsely believe that Valve's products are affiliated, sponsored or endorsed by Blizzard and are related or connected to Warcraft 3

It is clear that they want DOTA to be seen as only a Blizzard associated name from this bit. Because even if the name goes without trademark this "conflict" (it is really just a BS excuse that has been used before in other cases) would still exist if Valve releases a game named DOTA2 with or without the trademark of the name. This bit right here clearly shows their true intentions.

 

[t_wilson]

I hope they are both denied the use of it.

 

[Guest]

DotA community has been asking Blizzard for years to provide them with support for competitative play... And what did Blizzard? Nothing. Players have been forced to use third-party solutions like Garena for ladder games.

And now Valve comes with updated graphics, support for reconnecting to games (disconnects and drophacks are the plague of WC3 Dota), dynamical live observing, friend&party support, broadcasting support,...etc.

And to everyone who says that it's just a name conflict - it's much more important than that. The real reason behind Blizzard's claims is fear of Dota overtaking SC2 as most popular eSport!

 

[d-isdumb]

I will side with HL2 and Valve any day over Activision/Blizzard

 

[horaciopz]

[citation][nom]Smackus Maximus[/nom]DotA community has been asking Blizzard for years to provide them with support for competitative play... And what did Blizzard? Nothing. Players have been forced to use third-party solutions like Garena for ladder games.And now Valve comes with updated graphics, support for reconnecting to games (disconnects and drophacks are the plague of WC3 Dota), dynamical live observing, friend&party support, broadcasting support,...etc.And to everyone who says that it's just a name conflict - it's much more important than that. The real reason behind Blizzard's claims is fear of Dota overtaking SC2 as most popular eSport![/citation]

#TrueStory

Gotta say that Blizzard is developing a "blizzard DOTA" that actually will use Heroes of WoW-Warcraft Universe-Stracraft

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx1JDEnrVK8

Blizzard is only trying to get the right of something they DID NOT MAKE.. fore sure W3 were made by them, BUT blizzard said that DOTA was a just a bastad child of Wacraft on its early days... And now that the DOTA is famous worldwide they claim that it is a product derivated off of them... and so it belongs to them..

You greedy Blizzard, WHY!!

 

[billybobser]

I'd like to hear form the guy/team who actually made the DOTA mod, and HIS trademark.

 

[tolham]

NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERDS

 

[GNCD]

Blizzard should have supported the DOTA community when they had the chance. Now a different company is doing what they should have done years ago. Love it or hate it, this game is huge. Blizz should have moved their a$$es when DOTA clones started popping up. Anyway, I'll wait for the reviews and decide if it's worth buying. I'll stick with League of Legends aka The Poster Boy of F2P.

Valve will win this one. They patented the word Dota not the acronym DotA/DOTA. Good luck Blizzard, I still love you.

 

[egmccann]

Blizzard argues that the DOTA name has been used by Blizzard and its fans for seven years, that it's become "firmly associated in the mind of consumers with Blizzard."

... well, maybe with Blizzard consumers. I have WC3, and this is the first time I've heard of this.

Besides, if it were *actually* a Blizzard product, I'd expect its "full" name to include the parent game (much like, say, "Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty" or, say, "Warcraft III: DOTA") which would rule out any confusion.

 

[moon02]

"DOTA name has been used by Blizzard and its fans for seven years"

Wow really? Blizzard didnt give a shit for Dota for seven years.
Those fans are fans of Icefrog not Blizzard
So GTFO Blizzy

20million dota players know who to support

 

[moon02]

And FYI guys I believe Valve already hired Eul, the original creator of the mod.
They are smart to do that
So the current dev ( Icefrog ) and the original dev ( Eul ) is in Valve

So WTF Blizzard? money grubbing much?

 

[msgun98]

While I agree in principle that Blizz is in the wrong, I fear that legally they will be able to win this if their EULA for WC3 explicitly states that all mods created for WC3 are the sole property of Blizzard. I'm afraid Valve and the original creators of DOTA might get pwn'd by a stupid, unethical EULA.

 

[elbert]

As DOTA was neither origanly developed by either then neither should have rights. This is like Apple and Microsoft trying to patient Xerox's GUI. Only "Eul"(2003), Steve "Guinsoo" Feak (2003-2005), or "IceFrog" (2005-present) would have shot at patients. A company who hires them may copyright the name to a game like Valve did with counter strike source. These company's cant claim owner ship as at the time the developers did not work for either.

 

[foxmulder_ms]

This time Blizzard is right. Valve definitely does not have right to patent the name.

 

[therabiddeer]

[citation][nom]moon02[/nom]And FYI guys I believe Valve already hired Eul, the original creator of the mod.They are smart to do thatSo the current dev ( Icefrog ) and the original dev ( Eul ) is in ValveSo WTF Blizzard? money grubbing much?[/citation]
Eul is working with Riot on League of Legends (maybe with guinsoo too, the other original developer). The only dev that valve has is icefrog.

Also, Blizz only wants to stop the trademark... they dont care if valve calls their game DotA 2.

 

[moon02]

What are you talking about?
You got your facts wrong
Guinsoo is definitely with Riot games
Eul according to this http://www.1up.com/previews/dota-2-valve-fanboys-developers is in Valve

 

[vilenjan]

HoN did the right thing and renamed thier game, evewn though the creator for HoN was also the creator of Dota. Dota used is WCIII mod, and as such, the moders agreed to BLIzzard's usage contract when the created the mod. DOTA 2 is a direct copy of DOta, and DOta uses 100% blizzard content (in terms of art and style), so in essence Dota is a 100% of a BLizzard art. Again HoN did the right thing and changed a lot of stuff (minor changes in some cases, but still) so they would infringe on any Blizzard property, Valve did not.

And lastly, Blizzard/Activision will barry Valve in court, while Valve might be a sizable company, it is nothing compared the juggernaut that Activision/Blizzard is, so unless they want to spend years in costly court (base case scenario) they should rename the game.

 

[dgingeri]

Note: Blizzard isn't trying to shut down the DOTA2 product, only opposing the DOTA trademark registration. They never filed for a trademark on it. They didn't stop others from using the name. (Honestly, I think they think like me in this matter, and "defense" and "ancients" could be used to describe a great many things, and shouldn't really be nailed down to any one product, product line, or company.)

They're playing very fair on this. they don't seek to dominate the product, only to keep others from dominating it.

 

[dstln]

[citation][nom]amdfangirl[/nom]If Blizzard wanted to give gamers 'goodwill' they would let DOTA 2 release.[/citation]
Reading comprehension, people.

Blizzard just wants to block Valve's trademark request for DOTA. Valve is trying to trademark the name, where if anyone has the rights to it, it's Blizzard since it was a mod of their game, of which they essentially have full control.

Blizzard's saying they've been using goodwill and allowing the community to use the name, and Valve cannot have it for themselves. Blizzard is NOT trying to block DOTA 2, they're just saying Valve can't have legal control of the name DOTA.

This sounds more than fair to block the trademark, I'm sure Blizzard will prevail in this case.

 

[dstln]

[citation][nom]billybobser[/nom]I'd like to hear form the guy/team who actually made the DOTA mod, and HIS trademark.[/citation]

It's honestly Blizzard's trademark if anyone's, since it was made in their game, and they have full rights to all content created in there. But Blizzard's not trying to take the trademark, they just don't want any company to control the name, as they've been letting the community use it this whole time.

 

[Desertlax]

[citation][nom]NuclearShadow[/nom]Sounds like Valve is in the wrong right? Nope, they did the right steps and hired the creator of DOTA who is the legal copyright holder of the first game. With obviously having the blessing of their new employee who is leading the project. Blizzard has no case they could have done this years ago but failed to and once again Valve snatches up a creative and intelligent individual who will further make Valve even greater.[/citation]


This is exactly what I feel like this should hinge upon, who was the creator of the mod (I felt pretty sure it wasn't blizzard), that person should have control of the name at least. If he/she wants to take their IP elsewhere, then I think they should be able to.

That said unfortunately I think blizzard will still manage ot wrestle away control. It's kind of like the grad students at many universities, even though they do the work (the writing, the research, and often foot a large portion of the bill), the research and advancements that they make are often considered property of the university that they are attending. The University then gets to sell, license, and make money off the advancements, students are lucky if they see a portion of that money.

 

[acarin]

[citation][nom]whitey_rolls[/nom]Dota was a mod for Warcraft 3 not an official game or a copyrighted license so I don't see Blizzards Beef[/citation]

Dota was created with Blizz's map maker... which makes it ultimately owned by blizzard.. y'know.. all those pretty words in the license agreement that people just click through.

 

[jimmysmitty]

[citation][nom]whitey_rolls[/nom]Dota was a mod for Warcraft 3 not an official game or a copyrighted license so I don't see Blizzards Beef[/citation]

I would assume its Blizzards way of being POed since they didn't think of it. And if I remember correctly, DOTA2 was a second mod and VALVe hired the mod team to do it using Source.

Still, probably just Blizzard wishing they thought of it first.

[citation][nom]amdfangirl[/nom]If Blizzard wanted to give gamers 'goodwill' they would let DOTA 2 release.[/citation]

I agree. I have been playing the beta and its fun. I doubt I will ever be pro but tis a fun game that takes good teamwork and strategy.

 

[v1ze]

We're all in trouble if Blizzard and Apple unite. Run for your lives!!