Telltale Games

RAnthonyMahan · 11/03/2011, 07:22 am

This is kind of stupid, but I thought I should bring it up.

As you probably already know, Lionhead Studios has a series of RPGs called Fable (singular). I realize Fables the comic predates Fable the game (and it's not like either of them created the word itself), but Telltale's still going to be releasing a game that's just one letter away from the title of an established game series.

There aren't any potential issues because of that, would there be?

Icedhope · 11/03/2011, 05:35 pm

I am not qualified to answer this but I'm going to be doing my best too. No there shouldn't be because Fables has a source material that is already copyrighted and telltale has a license for it.

Molokov · 11/04/2011, 05:08 am

However, I remember reading that the makers of the Elder Scrolls games were suing a company who was making a game called Scrolls... no idea if they'll be successful, but I can see where there could be a bit of confusion.

**puzzlebox** · 11/04/2011, 08:13 pm

Fun fact, Fable was an oldschool point-and-click adventure game 8 years before the unrelated Lionhead RPGs.

Psymantiss · 11/06/2011, 04:19 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Molokov

However, I remember reading that the makers of the Elder Scrolls games were suing a company who was making a game called Scrolls... no idea if they'll be successful, but I can see where there could be a bit of confusion.

That's what the common belief is but rather than Bethesda being evil they were responding to the maker of Scrolls (which isn't even out yet) trying to trademark the word 'Scrolls' (used by Bethesda since 1994). Most people assume the indie maker was being bullied by a large developer but how the heck the Scrolls developer (Notch) thought it was good idea to try to trademark Scrolls I'll never know. Unless it was a publicity stunt "Buy our game and stick it to the man!".

mjc0961 · 11/12/2011, 02:13 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psymantiss

That's what the common belief is but rather than Bethesda being evil they were responding to the maker of Scrolls (which isn't even out yet) trying to trademark the word 'Scrolls' (used by Bethesda since 1994). Most people assume the indie maker was being bullied by a large developer but how the heck the Scrolls developer (Notch) thought it was good idea to try to trademark Scrolls I'll never know. Unless it was a publicity stunt "Buy our game and stick it to the man!".

Sorry, but you're mistaken. Notch offered to give up his Scrolls trademark, and Bethesda did not agree to that solution. Thus it doesn't really fly that they just wanted him to not have that trademark, because if that's really what they wanted, they could have had that. Instead, they said no and are still suing. The "Bethesda's legal department are being dicks" theory looks a lot more likely by comparison.

SOURCE: http://notch.tumblr.com/post/1099016...short-response

Kainchild · 03/12/2012, 03:12 pm

Shouldn't be the other way around and Fable should be suing Lionhead?

DAISHI · 03/13/2012, 01:40 am

You cannot trademark a common word. With reference to game development i think there is only some slight legitimacy behind a lawsuit if a succeeding IP too closely overlaps with a preceding one in the same field.

Gibbeynator · 04/30/2012, 05:33 pm

It's going to be an interesting case if they decide to call it Fables. Fables the comic predates the Fable game, or at least it predates the Fable game being called Fable. I don't think Peter Molyneux cares, but Microsoft is probably going to throw a fit on his behalf.

*Silverwolfpet* · 05/02/2012, 08:35 am

Legally speaking, the titles have to be at LEAST two letters apart.
Besides, if Telltale names it: "Fables: The Game", they're good to go.

The fact that Fables the comic series appeared before Fable doesn't matter, since the entertainment fields are different.

Fun fact: I have a 5 year old secret project. I got an international trademark on its name, in various fields. Because of that, a foreign game had to change its name when it was localized in Europe some years ago. ^^

I would love to talk about this project, but I want to film it first. Unfortunately, I lack the funds to do so. It was estimated at over 1 million dollars by two different professionals, so I needed to find a smart way of reducing that price. Which I did. I'm just looking for actors now.

*Vainamoinen* · 11/10/2012, 11:51 am

The original Fable game from Lionhead had the greatest "storybook" website ever. But I can't even find it now... it's probably dead and never to be seen again.

*Jennifer* · 11/11/2012, 11:15 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vainamoinen

The original Fable game from Lionhead had the greatest "storybook" website ever. But I can't even find it now... it's probably dead and never to be seen again.

It's archived at archive.org

*Vainamoinen* · 11/11/2012, 12:36 pm

Ohhhhhhh thanks!!

I could imagine something like that for Fables... like, an hommage.

MrFerder · 01/28/2013, 11:34 pm

Wow, up until now I thought that TellTale was actually somehow adapting the Fable RPG into an episodic adventure game. It always seemed like a strange license, but this makes a lot more sense now!

*Jennifer* · 02/12/2013, 03:37 pm

Looks like the fears about the Fable trademark are founded: Dan Connors revealed Telltale's game based on Fables won't be called Fables.

corruptbiggins · 02/12/2013, 03:55 pm

I think it's more a case of thinking of a more interesting title than Fables: The Game.

LuigiHann · 02/12/2013, 04:01 pm

My tendency would be to go with something like "Bill Willingham's Fables," with the author's name in noticeably smaller letters, but that's just me

Not that it's a particularly famous name, but it would immediately signal to fans of the comic that yes, we are talking about the same Fables

*Vainamoinen* · 02/13/2013, 02:59 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by corruptbiggins

I think it's more a case of thinking of a more interesting title than Fables: The Game.

This is indeed the part of the interview where Dan doesn't finish his sentence. I'm fairly certain it's The Great Copyright Scare (TGCS™).

corruptbiggins · 02/13/2013, 03:16 am

Well I suppose it's better to be safe than sorry with something like this.

11/03/2011, 07:22 am	#1
RAnthonyMahan Hyperkinetic Humany Thing Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,625	Possible trademark issues?/ Lionhead's "Fable" This is kind of stupid, but I thought I should bring it up. As you probably already know, Lionhead Studios has a series of RPGs called Fable (singular). I realize Fables the comic predates Fable the game (and it's not like either of them created the word itself), but Telltale's still going to be releasing a game that's just one letter away from the title of an established game series. There aren't any potential issues because of that, would there be? __________________ None of your damn business, Sam. My new book! My old book! My writing blog!

11/03/2011, 05:35 pm	#2
Icedhope 007 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: IL Posts: 3,299	I am not qualified to answer this but I'm going to be doing my best too. No there shouldn't be because Fables has a source material that is already copyrighted and telltale has a license for it. __________________ Good things come to those who wait, bad things come to those who hate, girlfriends come to those who date, children come to those who mate. ~ Haggis "Requiescat in pace my father and nephew" Now Playing: ~~MGS3~~ - ~~Portable Ops~~ - Peace Walker - Metal Gear - Solid Snake - Metal Gear Solid - MGS2 - MGS4

03/13/2012, 01:40 am	#8
DAISHI TELLTALE STEALTH NINJA Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3,118	You cannot trademark a common word. With reference to game development i think there is only some slight legitimacy behind a lawsuit if a succeeding IP too closely overlaps with a preceding one in the same field. __________________ "Hah! It's like we don't even have feelings. Now pardon me while I recline in my huge executive chair and guffaw, cigar in-hand. " "ill just go with what Winslow always when something that funny about a location in monkey island is said"

05/02/2012, 08:35 am	#10
Silverwolfpet Wolfy Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Romania Posts: 3,043	Legally speaking, the titles have to be at LEAST two letters apart. Besides, if Telltale names it: "Fables: The Game", they're good to go. The fact that Fables the comic series appeared before Fable doesn't matter, since the entertainment fields are different. Fun fact: I have a 5 year old secret project. I got an international trademark on its name, in various fields. Because of that, a foreign game had to change its name when it was localized in Europe some years ago. ^^ I would love to talk about this project, but I want to film it first. Unfortunately, I lack the funds to do so. It was estimated at over 1 million dollars by two different professionals, so I needed to find a smart way of reducing that price. Which I did. I'm just looking for actors now. __________________ I am a community moderator, here to assist, keep the peace, and keep these boards clean and friendly for all. I am a volunteer, and not a Telltale employee, and my opinions are my own. Something awesome this way comes... ^.^ www.silverwolfpet.com

11/10/2012, 11:51 am	#11
Vainamoinen Community Moderator Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 6,834	The original Fable game from Lionhead had the greatest "storybook" website ever. But I can't even find it now... it's probably dead and never to be seen again. __________________ Moderators on the TTG forums are all volunteers from the community and still belong to the community. They are not employees of the company. The opinions expressed in their posts are those of individual fans and must not be confused with official company statements.

11/04/2011, 05:08 am	#3
Molokov Dingo in a Maternity Ward Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Adelaide, Australia Posts: 1,139	However, I remember reading that the makers of the Elder Scrolls games were suing a company who was making a game called Scrolls... no idea if they'll be successful, but I can see where there could be a bit of confusion.

11/04/2011, 08:13 pm	#4
puzzlebox Telltale Team Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3,742	Fun fact, Fable was an oldschool point-and-click adventure game 8 years before the unrelated Lionhead RPGs.

03/12/2012, 03:12 pm	#7
Kainchild All Powerful God Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Behind You! Boo! Posts: 66	Shouldn't be the other way around and Fable should be suing Lionhead?

04/30/2012, 05:33 pm	#9
Gibbeynator Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,156	It's going to be an interesting case if they decide to call it Fables. Fables the comic predates the Fable game, or at least it predates the Fable game being called Fable. I don't think Peter Molyneux cares, but Microsoft is probably going to throw a fit on his behalf.

11/11/2012, 12:36 pm	#13
Vainamoinen Community Moderator Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 6,834	Ohhhhhhh thanks!! I could imagine something like that for Fables... like, an hommage. __________________ Moderators on the TTG forums are all volunteers from the community and still belong to the community. They are not employees of the company. The opinions expressed in their posts are those of individual fans and must not be confused with official company statements.

01/28/2013, 11:34 pm	#14
MrFerder Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 111	Wow, up until now I thought that TellTale was actually somehow adapting the Fable RPG into an episodic adventure game. It always seemed like a strange license, but this makes a lot more sense now!

02/12/2013, 03:37 pm	#15
Jennifer Poker Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The Inventory Posts: 1,915	Looks like the fears about the Fable trademark are founded: Dan Connors revealed Telltale's game based on Fables won't be called Fables. __________________ I'm a community moderator. I'm just a volunteer, not an employee of the company. All of my opinions are my own, not those of Telltale Games. ___________________ My Blog, My Art, My Webcomic

02/12/2013, 03:55 pm	#16
corruptbiggins ready player one Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fintlewoodlewix Posts: 2,239	I think it's more a case of thinking of a more interesting title than Fables: The Game. __________________ Currently reading... Shadowfires by Dean Koontz Portfolio / Blog / YouTube "Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so."

02/12/2013, 04:01 pm	#17
LuigiHann Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,686	My tendency would be to go with something like "Bill Willingham's Fables," with the author's name in noticeably smaller letters, but that's just me Not that it's a particularly famous name, but it would immediately signal to fans of the comic that yes, we are talking about the same Fables __________________ "I think it's the idea that counts, not the actual method. As long as you set out to cause a horrible death through insects eating the person, you're good." - apenpaap

02/13/2013, 03:16 am	#19
corruptbiggins ready player one Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fintlewoodlewix Posts: 2,239	Well I suppose it's better to be safe than sorry with something like this. __________________ Currently reading... Shadowfires by Dean Koontz Portfolio / Blog / YouTube "Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so."

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