Hasbro puts an end to Google Maps RISK game
Friday, December 02, 2005
Sorry folks, the popular Google Maps game of RISK is no longer. It seems Hasbro Inc. has issued a cease and desist letter to the creator of the Google Maps game to take the game down immediately.
Here is an excerpt from the letter:
Hasbro also owns the trademark rights to the RISK name. Your unauthorized use of the RISK game constitutes copyright infringement in violation of 17 U.S.C. 501. Your unauthorized use of the RISK name also violates the federal trademark laws, including 15 U.S.C. 1114(1) and 1125(a), by creating a likelihood of confusion with respect to Hasbro.s authorization or sponsorship of or association with your commercial activities. Even if confusion were not likely, your unauthorized use of these elements is likely to dilute the distinctive quality of the RISK game and trademark and hamper their ability to function as source-identifying marks in violation of 15 U.S.C. 1125(c) and numerous state anti-dilution laws. We therefore demand that you immediately cease and desist from any further use of the RISK game and mark by removing the Game and all references to it from your website. (Read the full letter here..) Maybe Hasbro has plans of adding a Google Maps version of their game to their website? Likely not. Personally, I think a game like this created by your own game-playing community only builds interest and excitement around your product. At least hire the guy on that created it to build you one to your liking..
The game's creator has this to say:
"...If anyone has any recommendations for games that could be made on Google Maps, that won't draw out the lawyers, I'd be pleased to work on it, now that I'll have plenty of free time."
[via]
Technorati Tags: [Hasbro], [RISK], [Google Maps], [GoogleMapsMania]
posted by Mike Pegg @ 12:52 AM
6 comments
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6 Comments:
Same thing happened with an online version of Risk I play at www.dominategame.com - somehow they were able to get out of it by making the map different than the original Risk map. The Google Maps RISK game owner should talk to the owner or DominateGame (Emiel is his name) to find out what he had to do to appease Hasbro.
Hi, I have a suggestion of another game for the game's creator: the game is named "Ticket to Ride". Link in English on http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/9209 or in french on http://www.jeuxdenim.be/redirect/go.php?page=/fiche_AventuriersDuRail.htm
Hasbro have to enforce their trademark or risk losing it. It's why a lot of people I know talk about hoovering their carpets rather than vacuum cleaning their carpets. Hoover can't object to the use of their name because it has become ubiquitous with the function.
OTOH they should have just asked for a link to their website and a fat logo under the games - all they're doing is pissing off actual fans by closing it down.
Well maybe Google just going to come to the party by inviting the correct guests, er like um.. er bOINGbOING.net
This has also happened to Conquer Club :(
But there's still a lof of risk-clone games online. How could?
From Wikipedia "Due to the history of the game's creation, there are no IP protections on the game, other than a US trademark on the word RISK when written in the distinctive red font."
Finger crossed then for my version: http://wwwar.net
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