1UP is reporting that LucasArts has become embroiled with social news aggregator Digg over a trademark dispute. LucasArts claims that Digg's name bears a little too much resemblance to The Dig, their 1995 point-and-click adventure title based on the same SCUMM engine as classics such as the Monkey Island series, Sam & Max Hit the Road, and Full Throttle. You guys remember The Dig, right?... uh, anybody?
Well, even if a 12-year-old adventure title doesn't exactly spring to life in our collective memory, maybe LucasArts' claim has some merit. Let's take a look-see:
"THE DIGG mark is confusingly similar in sound, meaning, and appearance to the Opposer's THE DIG mark. The Applicant's registration and use of the DIGG Mark would likely create confusion, mistake, or deception in the minds of prospective purchasers as to the origin or source of the Opposer's Goods associated with THE DIG Mark."
Nevermind, this is absolutely baseless. LucasArts' claim somehow insinuates that those even remotely aware of The Dig (all four of us) are in danger of being duped -- maybe even hornswaggled -- into believing that Digg.com is somehow representative of their game. I know we're not the sharpest knives in the drawer, but give us a little credit, LucasArts; none of us are going to lay eyes upon that extra G and imagine a world in which a 12-year-old point and click adventure game has somehow been magically reconfigured into a link network. G is a wonderful letter, but not so wonderful that it might have the power to make your fanciful world of gumdrops, unicorns and ridiculous trademark disputes into a glittering reality.
Hey, LucasArts: grow up and get back to scrapping Full Throttle sequels in favor of whatever wretched Star Wars title is next in line so I can continue to ignore you.
[Via 1UP]
Contest:
8:45 PM on 02.26.2007
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What game was that again? I hardly remember that one at all.
might as well close up shop dtoid, its been a good run.
the lawsuit is flippin' stupid though.
I wonder if Lucas is trying to market a remake of the game? wink wink nudge nudge?
if not then these guys are fucking morons bringing a great games name into this baseless dispute, Point and Click Space expeditions FTW!
Those of us that played your old adventure games will buy more. I've been picking up the Sam & Max episodes as soon as they come out. I don't care if you put out sequels or not, although I would kill to get more Monkey Island or Full Throttle. Just deliver the brilliant comedy and clever tricks you shared back in the day and I will hand you money.
I'll play devil's advocate...this is a stupid lawsuit. Just as stupid as the Cisco iPhone lawsuit and the Blackberry lawsuit. Okay, probably stupider...but the point is that it got them in the news and people talking about their games for probably the cost of a new Armani suit for one of their corporate sharks. Not such a bad move, really.
I think its more likely the result of Kevin Rose getting more silicon valley honeys than George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch can wrangle. Last time I checked the Bay Area's snobby rich people magazine 'Gentry', George Lucas was listed as one of the most eligable bachelors in the Bay. Sad, but true.
A completely unassociated product or service....DESTROY!
But seriously, can I make a point in LucasArts' defense? They are fucking retards.
Pretty stupid in my opinion. It's as if some bigwig just did a comparative google search to see what websites have similar names to their own IPs. Baseless and a waste of time.