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Sony sued over 'Buzz' trademark

Posted Jan 29, 2008 at 8:03AM EST by Karl B.

Listed in: PS3 Tags: lawsuits, patent, Relentless Software, SCEE, Sony

Lawsuits are once again flying Sony's way. A U.S.-based electronic trivia game company called Buzztime Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against Sony's usage of the trademark "Buzz", which the latter uses for Relentless Software's Buzz! quiz series.

Buzztime Entertainment is accusing Sony of violating a number of the company's trademarks by using the "Buzz" name. While it doesn't have the word "Buzz" trademarked, Buzztime Entertainment does hold similar trademarks such as "Buzztime", "Buzzhead", and "Share the Buzz".

The lawsuit alleges that Sony is guilty of "malicious, fraudulent, wilful and deliberate" violation of trademarks. Buzztime Entertainment is asking for the recall and destruction of all of the allegedly infringing products as well as payment of damages. The company has also asked the U.S. Patent and Trademark office to deny SCEE's pending trademarks for "Buzz!".

Sony has acknowledged the lawsuit but has declined to make any public statements. A new Buzz! title for Sony's PlayStation 3 home video games console is currently under development by Relentless Software, so Sony better clear this one up quick if it wants that title to make its 2008 release date.

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I hate no name companies trying to make money off of some little loophole somewhere. C'mon, no one knew this company existed before this lawsuit, and for them to claim 'willful and malicious" use of their trademark is ridiculous. They don't even have the trademark for "Buzz". I hope Sony wins and bankrupts their company by filing a suit against them for court costs. Get a life Buzztime.

# Actually... — Nicolas B. 2008-01-29 10:14

I've actually heard of them, I knew who it was the second I saw the name.

I don't know if everyone has them in their area, but Buzztime Entertainment is usually in Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants, as well as TGI Fridays restaurants, at least here in Ohio.

# Actually... — Woden501 2008-01-29 10:15

Buzztime entertainment is actually quite a large company. Those blue console things that you use to play trivia on the tvs... those are NTN Buzztime products. I am currently taking a Business Law class right now, and according to US trademark law the word just has to be close to the trademarked one. In fact the exact laws that will probably come into question are The Lanham Act (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanham_Act) and the Federal Trademark Dilution Act (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Trademark_Dilution_Act). These basically say that if the word that is being used may confuse a consumer then it is in violation of trademark law. Sony using BUZZ!!! could cause people who are familiar with the NTN triva, that they play at restaurants and bars, to buy this game thinking it is made by NTN. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Sony's lawyers sure do have their hands full nowadays.

# umm — gtauk 2008-01-29 11:04

Buzz is made by a uk company so how can they be sued by an american one surely there are some differences or whatever lol maybe not as i have no clue about this type of stuff.

I've never heard of buzztime entertainment seeing as i don't live in america but i have heard of buzz and have a buzz game and i don't think sony have anything to worry about as buzz is nothing like buzztime entertainment.

Thats like me sueing sony because i thought of the name playboxstation first

# OMGZZZZ — Mentality 2008-01-29 12:20

I have the same thing to say as I did with the last lawsuite lol, this game has been out for how long now? why do they wait so long before filing a suite? they are in money troubles and this would probably be a quick fix for them if they won, either that or they are just GREEDY BASTA*RDS

And if they think I am returning mine to be destroyed they got another thing coming, dumbasses.

# Yeah, this **** — platon 2008-01-29 16:10

It's the same that happened to dan brown with "da vinci code". A nobody tryed to steal his fame, but on this one, the nobody had to pay tons of money to dan brown, and I hope this is gonna turn like that too.

# fool — GW2 2008-01-29 17:12

they could have filed this lawsuit a year ago. the legal system takes time though. but i do think that this is indeed ridiculous. im going to copyright the word the. then ill be rich in no time!

# OMG — Swish 2008-01-29 18:11

Send the Sony Ninja's after them !

# ... — Silver-Tiger 2008-01-30 00:38

HAHA everytime I hear about I have to laugh.. XD

# ahem — xche78x 2008-01-30 01:18

shouldnt they be after the maker of the game and not the publisher?

isnt it a licensed game?

how did relentless and sony patented the name if somebody already owns it?

american society is somewhat eff'd up.

specially the patent registration of products.

# They have every right. — Woden501 2008-01-30 16:04

In reply to a number of comments that were posted earlier. First, Buzztime entertainment is a California based company not a UK one. Second, Buzztime is a well established company that has held a number of trademarks registered in the US since 2001. Third, Sony's request for Buzz to be trademarked has NOT been granted yet, which is why Buzztime is requesting that the patent and trademark office deny their request. Fourth, SCEA is the publisher and distributor which is why they are being sued instead of Relentless Software. Last, it takes time for negative effects to appear in retail, so the reason Buzztime is just now taking Sony to court is because they now have proof that they have been harmed by Sony's use of Buzz. The reasons behind patent and trademark law are to protect people from having their work stolen and used by someone else. If we made it so that big companies like Sony could just come in and do whatever they want then who the hell would want to come up with any new ideas? It's not like Sony would pay for them if they wanted to use them. They would just take what they wanted and say to hell with you. If you worked for years to make a name for your company how would you like it if some ***** came along and started a competing company using your same name, and then stealing your customers because the customers believe the two companies are the same. The founding fathers of America wrote the orignal trademark and patent laws that we use today for this very reason. This article at GameSpot has a few more details in it if anyone is interested. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6185211.html

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Sony sued over 'Buzz' trademark

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