SubSpace name usage by Novaleaf software

[»doc flabby]

I noticed back in June, Novaleaf Software had registered the trademark "SUBSPACE"

 

They now seem to be in the process of launching a XBOX Live game called "Subspace"

 

Not that i'm hating on their game, and i'd like some sensible discussion before you guys decide to bombard their site with hatemail

but i mean cmon its a name already in use:

 

http://games.novaleaf.com/subspace

 

My concern is that it could harm our game (it will get lost in a sea of google searches) regarding the new game. I'm thinking the loss of subspace.net coule be related

[Gravitron]

Enemy power up: detected.

Heat levels: critical.

[Samapico]

Their game fails:

http://games.novaleaf.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/solar-angel-layout.png

 

A spelling mistake on the ship's name for a promo pic?

(And yes, it's meant to say 'solar', check the URL )

 

I'm sending them a message, see what they'll say

[L.C.]

So why didn't someone in the community register the trademark to Subspace before some company like Novaleaf would?

[Hakaku]

Btw Doc, you knew about it slightly earlier than June, take a look at Polix's post in this thread:

http://www.ssforum.net/index.php?showtopic=22766

[»doc flabby]

Btw Doc, you knew about it slightly earlier than June, take a look at Polix's post in this thread:

http://www.ssforum.net/index.php?showtopic=22766

lol memory is funny thing...and it was polix who spotted the registration, not me as I thought , it was unregistered for a while though.

 

The trademark probably shouldn't have been granted, because the game is so similar (its in space, with spaceships) to an existing one with the same name....

Edited November 10, 2009 by doc flabby

[MillenniumMan]

Haven't been paying attention to most of the news in a while. With that said, one word comes to mind.

 

FUCKERS!!!

 

They have a ship called the SHARK, and it looks from the top a whole hell of a lot like the Leviathan!

http://games.novaleaf.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/astronica-layout.png

 

This is just too blatant a ripoff!

 

*Stares away from the monitor*

*Stares at Savannah*

*Muuuust... clean.... yellow... puddle.....*

[MillenniumMan]

P.S. I just wrote a letter to their development team. The message is as follows:

 

"Title: Copyright Infringement

 

 

 

Your game SubSpace is a blatant ripoff of an existing game also called SubSpace which has been around since 1999.

 

There is more information about the one I'm referring to at subspacedownloads.com and ssforum.net.

 

There is infact a move to create a sequel to the game called SubSpace2 and a spinoff (created by myself) called ThirdSpace, which has already accomplished what you've unknowingly tried to duplicate.

 

Yours truly,

MillenniumMan"

 

 

 

As you can see, it was breif and to the point.

 

*Stares away from the monitor*

*Stares at Savannah*

*You're planning something, aren't you...?*

[L.C.]

Right on Mill!

 

The Apollo reminds me of that 9th or 10th Subspace ship...

 

EDIT :: Sent an e-mail myself via contact form at http://games.novaleaf.com/contact

Edited November 10, 2009 by L.C.

[»doc flabby]

Lol before you guys go all crazy lets see what they say.

 

The biggest problem we have is them using the same name, if they are willing to give their game a different name, or credit SubSpace/Contiuum sufficently

i think it would be the best solution.

[whalz]

haha, if they gave continuum credit on their game, we'd population boom like a motherfucker.... well if anyone even buy's their game.. looks pretty shitty

[rootbear75]

How can you even say that? There's no promo videos or any gameplay/teaser trailers.

 

EDIT: Sent an email to them as well using their contact form. I invited them to comment in this topic as well.

Edited November 10, 2009 by rootbear75

[Samapico]

I think they're getting spammed by us now lol

That's at least 4 messages from us they received today

[»jabjabjab]

If this were to become legal, EA would be the one sueing them, being that they bought the trademark from VIE.

[rootbear75]

I don't think EA knows they own subspace..

[Hakaku]

If this were to become legal, EA would be the one sueing them, being that they bought the trademark from VIE.

EA? EA owns nothing in regards to anything SubSpace, so they would have no say in sueing. I went over who owns the right to SubSpace in-depth before, see this topic: http://www.ssforum.net/index.php?showtopic=20115&view=findpost&p=217884

[»jabjabjab]

Found something interesting while looking up continuum on fed trademark archives...

 

Typed Drawing
Word Mark 	CONTINUUM
Goods and Services 	(ABANDONED) IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: computer game software and related instruction manuals sold together as a unit
Mark Drawing Code 	(1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 	76111714
Filing Date 	August 17, 2000
Current Filing Basis 	1B
Original Filing Basis 	1B
Published for Opposition 	January 28, 2003
Owner 	(APPLICANT) Electronic Arts Inc. CORPORATION DELAWARE 209 Redwood Shores Parkway Redwood City CALIFORNIA 94065
Attorney of Record 	Electronic Arts Inc.
Type of Mark 	TRADEMARK
Register 	PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator 	DEAD
Abandonment Date 	October 23, 2003

 

saw no priit in any continuum trademark of the 328 listed. this was the most simular one i can find.

[L.C.]

Also, it is important to remember that "Continuum" is merely the name of a client, not the name of the game. The same applies to the old SubSpace v1.34 client. Both clients are for the game called SubSpace (Discretion [client] | Continuum [client] | SubSpace [client] != SubSpace [game]). Edited November 11, 2009 by L.C.

[Gravitron]

The people Priit worked for on Kazaa/Skype (Brilliant Digital Entertainment) are the people who own Subspace's copyrights.

EA only bought the Westwood division from VIE, because VIE had weak-knee lawyers who couldn't stick to their guns.

There were also some deals that fell through the cracks because of VIE idiots or Viacom idiots, I forgot which, Jeff would remember, but lets not go there, now.

 

So, basically, Priit only needs to make a small phone call and the lawyers come raining down.

Edited November 11, 2009 by Ori Klein

[whalz]

no one will do anything.

 

for all we know priit is the one working on 'subspace' .lol

[L.C.]

The people Priit worked for on Kazaa/Skype (Brilliant Digital Entertainment) are the people who own Subspace's copyrights.

EA only bought the Westwood division from VIE, because VIE had weak-knee lawyers who couldn't stick to their guns.

There were also some deals that fell through the cracks because of VIE idiots or Viacom idiots, I forgot which, Jeff would remember, but lets not go there, now.

 

So, basically, Priit only needs to make a small phone call and the lawyers come raining down.

Wait a minute, so PriitK does indeed own the rights to the game? If so, whoever made up the excuse that PriitK wouldn't be able to submit Continuum to Steam's (steampowered.com) game listing should be slapped in the head.

 

EDIT: And if so, the community should go 'all out' on Prii to have him at least submit the game to Steam. It'd give the game a fighting chance to get some population back.

Edited November 11, 2009 by L.C.

[PoLiX]

He does not own the rights to the game. BDE does.

 

Grav is just saying he needs to call BDE and they'd be all over this new subspace team.

[L.C.]

Then would it be somehow possible to get BDE to authorize the community to get Continuum published in Steam?

 

EDIT :: I am going to try send a letter...

 

EDIT2 :: Corporate headquarters

14011 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 501

Sherman Oaks, CA 91423, USA

Fax: (818) 386-2179

Edited November 11, 2009 by L.C.

[rootbear75]

I'm moving to Los angeles, and if that address is right, i'll be living 20 minutes away from that office building. If you want me to go visit them in person, i'd be happy to.

[Gravitron]

My apologies, I've provided inaccurate information, which is the worst.

 

The people who own BDE also own an asset cache company called Ozaq2 (or Ozaq3?) which is where the assets they've acquired from VIE, alongside SubSpace, are stored.

BDE itself, as a company, has nothing to do with, and no knowledge of, SubSpace's copyrights. Were you to approach them they'd likely be baffled.