Game manufacturer King – the maker of the popular social puzzle game Candy Crush Saga – got an approval from the US Patent and Trademark Office on a trademark claim which they submitted one year ago, for the word ‘Candy’.
This trademark is expected to create problems for developers who have or are planning to release a game which includes the word ‘Candy’ in the title. For the majority of people this might sound silly, as the word ‘Candy’ is a very common one. A spokesperson for King said, “We have trademarked the word ‘CANDY’ in the EU, as our IP is constantly being infringed and we have to enforce our rights and to protect our players from confusion.”
Media reports say that a number of developers have already been asked to remove their application or submit some kid of proof that their game does not infringe upon the trademark. Benjamin Hsu is one of the developers who are stuck in an awkward situation. Hsu said that he finds it difficult to believe that the word ‘Candy’ would cause a confusion to the King’s Candy Crush Saga.
Due to the new trademark claim, indie developers like Hsu have very few resources to defend themselves and to find new ways around it.
Photo Credits: Shacknews
