Candy Crush Saga already owns your wallet, your Facebook feed and for many of you, your soul. And now King, the makers of the addictive, social, and free-to-play moneymaker Candy Crush Saga own the word “Candy.”
Or ta least they won the trademark for the name, when it comes to games and, oddly, clothing. They’re now looking to get all games on Apple’s iOS app store that feature the word “Candy” removed, or changed. Game developers that have games featuring the word have reported being hit with legal notices, asking them to remove their games, or prove that their games don;t infringe upon the trademark.
"Your use of CANDY SLOTS in your app icon uses our CANDY trade mark exactly, for identical goods, which amounts to trade mark infringement and is likely to lead to consumer confusion and damage to our brand," Sophie Hallstrom, King’s IP paralegal told Hsu, in an email published by Gamezebo, after he;d questioned the notice.
"The addition of only the descriptive term "SLOTS" does nothing to lessen the likelihood of confusion."
Hsu believes that he, and a number of other indie developers don;t have the money or resources to fight King, and may be forced to change their games names. That’s despite their games having nothing to do with Candy Crush Saga. King actually filed for the trademark last year in February, and it was approved last week.
People have the right to protect their work, but I think trademarking single, generic words that already exist is a step too far. Especially when, if you get right down to it, Candy Crush Saga is little more than a Bejeweled clone (itself heavily inspired by Russian “match 3” puzzler Shariki) wearing fancy clothes.
Last Updated: January 21, 2014
Sk3tz0
January 21, 2014 at 14:35
Think I’m going to start doing that.. copyrighting words ppl use can make money.. first word is YOLO.. copyright that shit and them charge ppl MIllions to use so that no1 can use it.. if that makes sense..
Kensei Seraph Moe Ninja
January 21, 2014 at 14:47
Hopefully they’d stop using it. Yeah, like I’d be that lucky.
Weanerdog
January 21, 2014 at 14:56
Sorry I already have YOLO Trademarked you owe me 10 bucks.
Her Highness the Hipster
January 21, 2014 at 15:09
no way! everyone who said YOLO has already died horrible deaths
Weanerdog
January 21, 2014 at 16:28
Ok I am going to TM YODO too.
Unavengedavo
January 21, 2014 at 15:03
Just do it man, you know what they say… #YOLO
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
January 21, 2014 at 15:07
You will be my hero
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 21, 2014 at 14:37
This is even worse than Scrolls…
Unavengedavo
January 21, 2014 at 14:40
This kinda reminds me about something I heard a while ago. Supposedly Orange wanted to enter the South African market and wanted companies in the Orange Freestate to change their names because they had a copyright on the word Orange
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 21, 2014 at 14:47
It’s like some French company trying to trademark Rooibos. Like anyone wants to own Rince.
Kensei Seraph Moe Ninja
January 21, 2014 at 14:47
Haha*cough* That’s mean.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 21, 2014 at 14:49
I’m only doing it to close one of the hell gates opened by our agreeing on something, not because I enjoy it.
Kensei Seraph Moe Ninja
January 21, 2014 at 14:52
Why close them? How else are we all supposed to get out of hell when we die?
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 21, 2014 at 15:00
I don’t want to cause the apocalypse, that’s Tim. Besides, I haven’t packed my hand basket.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
January 21, 2014 at 15:02
Woah woah woah. You can’t trademark a single generic word can you? Again, I am no trademark expert but I am sure I’ve read somewhere that generic single words cannot be trademarked.
Only specific names that have been made up and are single words can be.
For example Kirby (The vacuums) can be trademarked since it’s a made up name. But surely not Candy? No ways.
Alex Hicks
January 22, 2014 at 08:58
Windows?
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
January 22, 2014 at 10:16
Only applies in software. They can’t enforce it in any other industry. Unless you call your company windows and use the same colors.
Alex Hicks
January 22, 2014 at 10:26
isn’t Candy crush a game … so software? And aren’t they enforcing their copyright on other games?
I don’t agree with the tactic (in point of fact I will likely not install another king game) but surely it’s the same as with Windows …
Blame MS for this pretty state of affairs …
Rock789
January 21, 2014 at 15:06
Sheesh… If that’s the case, I shall copyright the use of the words “Hi”, “Hey” and “Hello”! I’ll make an absolute killing! Mwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
**swallows moth and chokes**
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 21, 2014 at 15:07
I wonder if I can retroactively copyright any name that starts with “Call”
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
January 21, 2014 at 15:08
Lol. Just copyright the word DUTY
Anon A Mouse
January 21, 2014 at 15:40
And Doody for that matter.