Sony gets Buzz-y dealing with trademark dispute
California-based Buzztime Entertainment filed suit against Sony Computer Entertainment Europe last week alleging Sony's line of Buzz! games violates several of its own trademarks. Buzztime was established in 1985 and makes various electronic trivia games for mobile phones, cable systems, and can be found in bars and restaurants.
Gamespot reports that while Buzztime does not have a trademark on the word "buzz," it does have a trademark on various games with the word "buzz" in it. SCEE is filing trademarks for "Buzz!" and two other versions of the word without the exclamation mark. Buzztime is accusing SCEE of "malicious, fraudulent, knowing, willful, and deliberate" violations, and has expressed desire for a recall and destruction of all infringing products. The company also requests actual and punitive damages, legal fees and that the US Patent and Trademark Office not register SCEE's pending application. If Buzztime stands a chance at winning, we wonder if it would be cheaper for Sony to just buy Buzztime outright instead of paying the damages?
