One things is sure. The dispute between Games Workshop and MCA Hogarth is starting to make big waves. Now BBC is on to the case!
UK toymaker Games Workshop has been criticised for asserting a trademark claim to the phrase ‘space marines’.
The claim emerged when it was used to get an American ebook about the futuristic soldiers taken off Amazon.
Science fiction writers have called the firm “absurd” for saying it has a trademark to the use of the term in fiction.
A UK media lawyer said more and more firms were using trademark law to protect their creations.
Generic term
The row started in December 2011 when US writer Maggie Hogarth found out that her novel called “Spots the Space Marine” had been removed from the Amazon ebook store following a complaint from Games Workshop.
In emails sent to Ms Hogarth this week, Games Workshop claims that its entry into digital publishing gives it a “common law trademark claim” over the phrase.
Ms Hogarth wrote a blogpost about the row and expressed her fear that if Games Workshop started actively pursuing its claim, science fiction could lose one of its “fundamental” ideas. Ms Hogarth said a lack of funds meant she was unable to defend herself against the claim. However, she is now in touch with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which campaigns on digital rights, about the case.
Read the full BBC Article here!
#SpaceMarines
Moreover, feel free to tune in on the #spacemarines madness on Twitter!
Z.