Square Enix is squaring (horrible pun intended) off against California and four retailers that have been selling replica swords based on the Final Fantasy series. Square has been working with Homeland Security and Customs who have recently seized a crate of swords. The retailers of the swords refused to cooperate with Square Enix which caused them to go file the lawsuit.
In regards to this situation, Square Enix general counsel Yasuhiko Hasegawa stated:
"We are actively pursuing those who commit intellectual property infringement against our company ... While Square Enix appreciates the enthusiasm of its fans, and values its relationship with them, it is also obligated to protect its intellectual property rights or risk weakening or losing the very rights that enable the company to continue to provide its fans with an exciting entertainment experience."
I totally understand where Square is coming from. Last thing anyone would want is for someone to make money off of their property. Of course, this will hurt all future wanna be cosplayers ... which may or may not be a good thing.
Whatever. I used to be a sword guy, but now I'm all about the KNIFE EYE ATTACK!!!
[Via Wired -- Image via Dr. McNinja]
Hamza Aziz, Destructoid's Community Director, has been here since day one. He was born when a tiger coughed up a hairball into a pool of ooze. He was one of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles before budget cuts. Hamza works as a previews editor and manages a team in San Francisco. To date he has given away tens of thousands of dollars in prizes to readers. What a dick. Actually, Hamza is as kind as he is hairy.
Likes
Super Mario RPG, Halo, iPhone, Videogame cover bands, Super Nintendo
Meet the rest of the team
| BBcode help |
| [b]Bold text[/b] |
Bold text |
| [i]Italic text[/i] |
Italic text |
| [url]http://www.dtoid.com/[/url] |
http://www.dtoid.com |
| [url=http://www.dtoid.com/]Web link[/url] |
Web link |
|
| [img]http://www.example.com/robot.jpg[/img] |
 |
Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
44 comments | showing # 1 to 44
|
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
Comments policy
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
11:35 PM on 02.13.2008
| 
Also, yeah, swords, mmm hmm.
Wut was the post about?
And GuitarAtomik's right; this blog was an elaborate ruse to use that pic.
Square Enix designed the swords and is therefore entitled to a share of the profit. Even though I'm sure Square has no intentions of producing replica swords, if someone else uses their IP to generate a profit they are entitled to a licensing fee.
Also, I blogged about this earlier today on my video game law blog... I really just wanted an excuse to post a picture of a ridiculous cosplayer.
Also, there is nothing wrong with making the swords, only selling them, right? So why not just sell a FF7 hat that comes with a FF7 sword for free?
did you buy those two as a set? I think i bought the same set... at the renfest. even came with a stand that they both fit on, and has a crappy knock off of the final fantasy 7 logo on it.
That's actually his dad.
HAHAHAHAH....nice
All these are for is cosplay anyway. Square make a lot of money from FF merchandise, so they should seek to meets foreign fans needs too.
Laws of Play
@ Crunshii, very nice. Guess I should tell my friend to go bury his Keyblade until things are safe
Looks like someone is profiting off companies paying our government to track down these horrible people that commit the deadliest crimes!
where did you learn how to write?
Na not really, first I got Sephiroth replica at a anime convention in Micosukee South Fla. Then the cloud one I found it on ebay when it was first released. Sephi's sword is almost as tall as me, im 6'3, Buster weights allot lol, can't hold it with one. Idk how Cloud does it :/
lol, that's the most uncool person I've ever seen. Thanks for the laugh.
You are made of pure WIN for introducing me to the awesomeness that is Dr. McNinja!
Also, Squeenix is being a bitch about this.
@ king3vbo:
That guy from the pic surely gets poontang on a daily basis. Thanks indeed for the laugh.
Butsecks for everyone!