Posted Feb 12, 2008 at 09:57PM by Sally B. Listed in: Nintendo DS, Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Tags: Square Enix
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Square Enix Final Fantasy weapons - Image 1Square Enix is certainly serious in cracking down those who imitate their franchises. After suing a Korean media company for making a music video based on a scene from Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children, Square Enix is now also after wholesale retailers who sell unlicensed replicas of swords based on weapons found in various Final Fantasy titles.

With the help of the US State Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol, Square Enix managed to confiscate a crate full of unlicensed replica weapons. The retailers refused to cooperate concerning the identities of the weapon counterfeiters which forced Square Enix to file a lawsuit against them.

Square Enix wants to emphasize that while they value their fans and appreciate their showing of enthusiasm as evidenced by the manufacturing and selling of the counterfeit items, they still have to protect their IP in order to make sure that they will continue to deliver quality games.


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7 Comments


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   by The Obsidian - 2008-02-13
 » wow THAT is gay

what the Fudge is this? Nintendo doesnt go sue because people make replica zelda swords! Who put a tack on Squares chair??First They didnt even let Geno be in Smash bros and now this. But after a game in the series comes out they just move on to another series of characters so why the **** would be wrong with making swords based on past characters at least??


   Re: ISOHaven - 2008-02-13
 » WTF!?!?!?!?!

People buying their games obviously isn't enough. You can never be too rich!

For every sword they sue for, someone should pirate a Square Enix game.....or two...
   by Zan Long - 2008-02-13
 » Square is in there rights

"so why the **** would be wrong with making swords based on past characters at least??"

Lets say, I make a game/book/TV show/movie, and I own all rights to it(George Lucas own all the rights to all the Star Wars movies) That means that I hold all the license to it. You deside that you want to make a toy from the book/game/TV show/movie that I made.
1)You could come it me and ask for a license to let you make just that, or
2)you could go off and make it you-self with out even get a license from me..
If you do #2 I can now sue you, becuse that toy is unlicensed. I get no money at all from the toy. It is my book/game/TV show/movie after all.
If I make a 2nd book/game/TV show/movie on the say setting. I would have to extend the rights to inculde this one as well. but I still have the rights to the past one as well.
This is all barebones. There is more to it, but just becuse Square dose a other game, does not mean they lose the rights to the last one.


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   Re: logicbomb.de - 2008-02-13
 » yep

Ouch!! Intellectual property is a sticky business.

Not much anyone can do about piracy and such, but companies actually turn a profit by selling unlicensed replica swords - I think this is what burn S/E's ass since they are the one who should rightfully be profiting from merchandising sales as they are the license holders and such...

now about the video... who knows... some things don't fall under the "fair usage" clause I guess, buts "fair usage" only applies to the U.S. IIRC...

anyone who know more than I care to elaborate?

   Re: ISOHaven - 2008-02-13
 » WTF!?!?!?!?!

If someone has copied an actual product and is selling it as that actual product then yes. If someone is claiming the item as a FF sword then yes.

If someone has created a series of swords fashioned in the style of "what's cool (FF)" then NO.
   by Stealth! - 2008-02-13
 » Great job SE

You Sue those idiots, these are your games and your swords they have no right to make a sword that even resembles the swords at all. Its the same as the video carbon copy. Same with this. Maybe now people will understand that you need permission to make swords like this.

   by DNAgent - 2008-02-13
 » So...

When will SE be releasing their replica swords? I mean it's obviously going to happen if they sued someone for it.



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