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Sony Abuzz about Trade-mark Suit

By Chris Bennett, Tudor Carsten, Michael R. Coburn, Sarah Dale-Harris, Pablo Guzman, Danielle (Dani) Lemon, Chris Metcalfe and David Spratley

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is facing claims of trade-mark infringement from Buzztime Entertainment, a California-based maker of interactive electronic trivia games that are often found in bars and restaurants. According to the suit filed last week in the Southern District of California, SCEE's 'Buzz!' line of quiz games for the PlayStation 2 and its tagline 'It's time to get buzzing" violate several of Buzztime's registered trade-marks. The suit contains allegations against SCEE of "malicious, fraudulent, knowing, willful and deliberate" trade-mark violation, and accuses the company of intentionally misleading consumers into associating the Buzz! video game franchise with Buzztime's products. Buzztime is asking the court for actual damages, punitive damages, legal fees, and an order to the US Patent and Trademark Office not to register SCEE's pending trade-marks.

Buzztime does not have a trade-mark on the use of the word "buzz" in video games, but has trade-marked similar phrases including "Buzztime," "Buzzhead," "Share the Buzz," and "Buzzkids." SCEE has apparently filed for three "Buzz!" trademarks that have not yet been registered.

Coverage at GameSpot.

Summary by Mike Mjanes.

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Full post as published by Video Game Law Blog on January 30, 2008 (boomark / email).