[Master O]

TerminX, on 02 June 2019 - 11:57 AM, said:

Nah, that's bullshit. We responded to the C&D and they just didn't like the response. "Ignoring" it in this context means we didn't do what they told us to. They received a proper letter in response to the original C&D saying that we weren't going to change the name.

I'll ask again: Is this frivolous lawsuit going to delay the release of the full game? I saw 3DR's twitter post that says it will not, but has anything changed since then?

[Forge]

TerminX, on 02 June 2019 - 11:57 AM, said:

Nah, that's bullshit. We responded to the C&D and they just didn't like the response. "Ignoring" it in this context means we didn't do what they told us to. They received a proper letter in response to the original C&D saying that we weren't going to change the name.

Fair enough.
August 14, 2018 trademark publication for Ion Maiden confirmed.
"If no party files an opposition or extension request within thirty (30) days after the publication date, then eleven (11) weeks after the publication date a certificate of registration should issue."

Apparently Iron Maiden Holdings filed a grievance by September 13th.

3DR lawyers responded.

Iron Maiden Holdings didn't respond

So the natural thing to do was to file Request for Express Abandonment, because it's okay to abandon the name trademark after telling the aggrieved party you weren't going to. Registered trademarks are for suckers.

And the plan afterwards was to................??????
Keep using the name anyway. Maybe Iron Maiden Holdings won't notice the second time.


I'm not trying to grief you, but from the outside that's what it looks like, and those are the types of things that are going to be brought up if it goes to court.

[Outtagum]

Mark, on 02 June 2019 - 08:58 AM, said:

How about "Bombshell Re-thinked"

Bombshell: Preloaded

[Forge]

Anyway. I have nothing else to say about the matter. Speculating from the sidelines isn't helping any, and it's probably not a good idea to discuss a pending case in public.

I hope the outcome, whatever it may be, is favorable to Voidpoint

[MusicallyInspired]

oasiz, on 02 June 2019 - 11:06 AM, said:

Can't wait for you guys to get your hands on the game...

Effort and tricks that have gone to this are just stupid.

Even if everybody ends up hating the full game, damn is it a showcase on what the engine can pull off.

I'm surely going to try to document and explain a bunch of stuff, It's just stupid how much more control you have over duke now.

Lol I appreciate this attempt to re-steer the thread, even if that expectation might be a bit unrealistic. Really looking forward to the game. I've been wanting to finally drop the money on this but there's so much going on and coming up for me right now. Especially in August. But I had a freaking blast with the bonus demo and I really enjoy going back to it. Love to see what the engine can do after release!

[oasiz]

MusicallyInspired, on 02 June 2019 - 06:26 PM, said:

Lol I appreciate this attempt to re-steer the thread, even if that expectation might be a bit unrealistic. Really looking forward to the game. I've been wanting to finally drop the money on this but there's so much going on and coming up for me right now. Especially in August. But I had a freaking blast with the bonus demo and I really enjoy going back to it. Love to see what the engine can do after release!

Nah, I just did that for the free reputation points and it seems to work.

Glad to hear it!

[Crazyboy88]

How about Bombshell VS the Terrorists?

[OpenMaw]

Crazyboy88, on 03 June 2019 - 07:57 AM, said:

How about Bo-

[Doom64hunter]

Master O, on 02 June 2019 - 12:20 PM, said:

I'll ask again: Is this frivolous lawsuit going to delay the release of the full game? I saw 3DR's twitter post that says it will not, but has anything changed since then?

I imagine it wouldn't exactly speak in 3DRealms' favour to release the game under the current name while the lawsuit is still going.

[OpenMaw]

Actually, not waffling and sticking to their guns would be the better move.

[TerminX]

Forge, on 02 June 2019 - 12:46 PM, said:

So the natural thing to do was to file Request for Express Abandonment, because it's okay to abandon the name trademark after telling the aggrieved party you weren't going to. Registered trademarks are for suckers.

Eh? We agreed to abandon the trademark registration as a goodwill gesture to show our intent to not dilute the band's trademark (not that it would have), but they still wanted us to change the name which we declined to do. Abandoning the trademark doesn't really matter much here because trademarks are for enabling you to bring suits against others for infringement, and not explicitly for defending against them.

Quote

I'm not trying to grief you, but from the outside that's what it looks like, and those are the types of things that are going to be brought up if it goes to court.

This is actually not true--in court, the correspondence would be "EXHIBIT X" and nobody would be drawing conclusions based on what they imagined it said.

[NightFright]

What would be your personal assessment regarding the chances of Ion Maiden being able to keep its name, including all other disputed assets (main char name, graphics etc)?

Personally I have already grown quite attached to the name and everything that comes with it and wouldn't like to see everything change, especially during the final stages of game development.

[NNC]

I think they will modify the title, but keep the character name and the graphics, and the case will be closed. Still a tremendous damage as the whole game was recognised by this title, not by something else.

[Zaxx]

TerminX, on 03 June 2019 - 02:22 PM, said:

Eh? We agreed to abandon the trademark registration as a goodwill gesture to show our intent to not dilute the band's trademark (not that it would have), but they still wanted us to change the name which we declined to do.

Honestly I don't think that was a good decision because now you have a lawsuit against you where their only point that could end in their favor is the similarity of the title... and to be frank I'm 99.9999% sure that you'll lose the title.

[Aristotle Gumball]

 Zaxx, on 04 June 2019 - 12:27 PM, said:

Honestly I don't think that was a good decision because now you have a lawsuit against you where their only point that could end in their favor is the similarity of the title... and to be frank I'm 99.9999% sure that you'll lose the title.

Yeah, agreed honestly. Suing is an aggressive act and if your first move is to make concessions, they'll just keep moving forward. Giving up the trademark gave legitimacy to their claims.

[Zaxx]

To be clear: I did not mean giving up the trademark (though that's a weird one for sure too since having your title trademarked is really fucking useful for brand / franchise building but guess 3DR has Bombshell for that... lol), I meant not caving in and not changing the title because if 3DR / VP can - and will - lose something with the lawsuit it's the title.

[Aristotle Gumball]

I just don't get the "act of goodwill" in this case. It's like if someone punches you in the face and explains they were only doing it because you were so ugly and have no friends and your response is "well, it's true - I am actually quite hideous". When all their claims are essentially bogus, you can't make concessions on just one, hoping to appease the aggressor, because you're essentially validating their reality, which unfortunately in matters of law is entirely subjective and up to the whim's of whoever's interpreting it. Psychology really matters here.

[TerminX]

They were just complaining about the name and logo at that point and hadn't progressed to making up stories about the origins of the character yet.

[Zaxx]

Too bad for them that the character has 2 decades of documented development history as its origin, huh?

Really the "they ripped us off entirely" part of their argument is really fucking weak because IM is a retro shooter = every aspect of its origin is clear as daylight and supported by a ton of evidence.

[Forge]

 TerminX, on 03 June 2019 - 02:22 PM, said:

This is actually not true--in court, the correspondence would be "EXHIBIT X" and nobody would be drawing conclusions based on what they imagined it said.

Very well.
You have enough things on your mind than to deal with some rando idiot on the internet.

I wish you, your family, and your development team the best of luck. I hope things turn out in your favor. Really, I do.

[Aristotle Gumball]

 TerminX, on 04 June 2019 - 02:26 PM, said:

They were just complaining about the name and logo at that point and hadn't progressed to making up stories about the origins of the character yet.

It's hard to be prepared for these things, but that's how these power games work pretty much. Not saying they would've just gone away had you not relented, but it could've been a little less messy. I mean it's like fucking school bullies, they'll keep pushing you and you keep moving back, until you're completely cornered. The best time to fight back was at the moment they decided to mess with you.

Anyway, I too wish you good luck.

[NightFright]

Well, at the end of the day it's all about getting the game out of the door. If it's required to rename it for that, so be it.

[OpenMaw]

I'm not concerned about them changing the name. Iron Maiden is outright fabricating shit with no proof. That will fall apart if this goes to court.

They're in the wrong.

[Tekedon]

 NightFright, on 05 June 2019 - 09:14 AM, said:

If it's required to rename it for that, so be it.

Third time's the charm then, maybe? Wasn't it called something else before Ion Maiden?

[MusicallyInspired]

Not that I know of?

[Jim]

So I wanted to ask, is Ion Maiden going to have texture filtering? Please at least have this as an option. I know that some people prefer the smooth graphics. Thanks!

[MusicallyInspired]

Doesn't the current demo already have that?

[OpenMaw]

 MusicallyInspired, on 05 June 2019 - 01:03 PM, said:

Doesn't the current demo already have that?

Yeeep.

[johnnythewolf]

Wait, there is a demo available? Or are you just referring to the Early Access campaign?

[Micky C]

I had a look for the option yesterday and couldn't see texture filtering. This was the steam version.

I assume he meant early access.