Blizzard is suing Valve over DOTA trademark

24 minutes ago - 9:20 AM on 02.10.2012   |   Jim Sterling

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MMO leader Blizzard has filed against Valve in an attempt to stop it trademarking DOTA, claiming the name has been used in exclusive association with the Warcraft series for more than seven years. It was filed late last year but just recently came to light. 

DOTA -- Defense of the Ancients -- started life as a mod of Warcraft III. The mod's creator, going by the name of Icefrog, was picked up by Valve to create a full-fledged sequel, and Blizzard isn't too happy about it.

"Valve seeks to appropriate the more than seven years of goodwill that Blizzard has developed in the mark DOTA and in its Warcraft III computer game," claims the suit, "and take for itself a name that has come to signify the product of years of time and energy expended by Blizzard and by fans of Warcraft III.

"Valve has no right to the registration it seeks. If such registration is issued, it not only will damage Blizzard, but also the legions of Blizzard fans that have worked for years with Blizzard and its products, including by causing consumers to falsely believe that Valve's products are affiliated, sponsored or endorsed by Blizzard and are related or connected to Warcraft III."

Double Fine reaps over $1 million in under 24 hours!

14 hours ago - 6:45 PM on 02.09.2012   |   Jim Sterling

72 comments

Rather than slowing down, the donations that gamers are sending Double Fine continue to be sent. For those just joining us, the studio is funding an adventure game through Kickstarter. It cleared its minimum goal of $400,000 in just over eight hours, and has now more than doubled it within 24 hours of initiation. 

Double Fine's game already has more backers than any other Kickstarter project, and the numbers just keep climbing. All funds earned over the now-tiny goal will be put back into the game and accompanying documentary, improving them both. 

The header image in this post, by the way, is already hopelessly outdated. That figure is rising quickly!

The outpouring of support, and the evidence that gamers are more than happy to pay for a product if they like the people making it, is a joy to watch. I am absolutely loving this. 

Double Fine Adventure by Double Fine and 2 Player Productions [Kickstarter]