Las Vegas City Officials Go After Another Video Game
Las Vegas City Officials Go After Another Video Game
March 12, 2007
Tourism officials for the gambling mecca of Las Vegas are preparing to do legal battle with Midway Games over a phrase.It's not the first time Sin City has taken on the video game industry. GamePolitics readers will recall Mayor Oscar Goodman (he's the one in the middle) going after Ubisoft's Rainbow Six Vegas last year. The mayor was unhappy that the violent, counter-terrorist game was set in his town.
In the latest dust-up with the game biz, city officials have taken issue with Midway's attempt to trademark the phrase "Only in Vegas." The publisher took the action in relation to a game under development by its Surreal studio.
City officials say the phrase is too much like "Only Vegas," which is owned by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The authority will consider a recommendation to oppose Midway's trademark application at a meeting tomorrow. Terry Jicinsky, a senior official with the group, told the Las Vegas Gaming Wire:
We are concerned about the similarity of the two marks, which we believe has the potential to confuse the consumer. The logo would imply that the game was developed or endorsed by the LVCVA. We have invested significant resources in developing the 'Only Vegas' brand and we don't want any confusion or dilution of that brand.
The city registered the "Only Vegas" trademark in 2003 with the state of Nevada and in 2005 with the federal government. Jicinsky said that Midway wouldn't reveal its plans for the disputed phrase. A plot synopsis of the proposed game involves the player's attempt to prevent a businessman from turning Las Vegas into a family vacation spot:
You must create your own powerful empire to stop his takeover. Start your career promoting at ultrahip dance clubs, gamble at high-end casinos, race the underground street circuit or get your hands dirty working the underbelly. The right choices will give you control of Las Vegas and put the sin back in Sin City.
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LOGINGamePolitics ShoutBox
Posted 01/06/09 at 11:38pm
ZippyDSMlee: being sick sucks... I either have a 3 day virus or the flu.....
ZippyDSMlee: being sick sucks... I either have a 3 day virus or the flu.....
Posted 01/06/09 at 10:46pm
Derovius: There was a "before LJ" GP? I thought this place started on LJ.
Derovius: There was a "before LJ" GP? I thought this place started on LJ.
Posted 01/06/09 at 10:42pm
Brokenscope: Man, I remember GP BEFORE it was all popular..... Actually what is the cut off for being able to say that? LJ days or before?
Brokenscope: Man, I remember GP BEFORE it was all popular..... Actually what is the cut off for being able to say that? LJ days or before?
Posted 01/06/09 at 10:30pm
HarmlessBunny: Some of the debaters here are just fine in my opinion.
HarmlessBunny: Some of the debaters here are just fine in my opinion.
Posted 01/06/09 at 10:21pm
Derovius: This place needs better debaters, everyone cries like a little girl around here. Must be something in the water.
Derovius: This place needs better debaters, everyone cries like a little girl around here. Must be something in the water.
Posted 01/06/09 at 09:33pm
beemoh: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7813637.stm
beemoh: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7813637.stm
Posted 01/06/09 at 09:33pm
beemoh: Tetris helps trauma, aparrently. Just wait until the nightmares about the S-shape start.
beemoh: Tetris helps trauma, aparrently. Just wait until the nightmares about the S-shape start.
Posted 01/06/09 at 09:24pm
Shadow D. Darkman: Okay, this one merits it. *facepalm*
Shadow D. Darkman: Okay, this one merits it. *facepalm*
Posted 01/06/09 at 07:34pm
DeepThorn: Okay, was my comment that out of line that I scared everyone?
DeepThorn: Okay, was my comment that out of line that I scared everyone?
Posted 01/06/09 at 04:12pm
DeepThorn: Dero, I swear she told me she was 18.
DeepThorn: Dero, I swear she told me she was 18.
Posted 01/06/09 at 03:07pm
HarmlessBunny: @PHX Corp: No surprise. Jack's favorite desperation move: Image-laden filings that make zero sense! Guarunteed to piss someone off, and provide hilarity to us
HarmlessBunny: @PHX Corp: No surprise. Jack's favorite desperation move: Image-laden filings that make zero sense! Guarunteed to piss someone off, and provide hilarity to us
Posted 01/06/09 at 01:54pm
Derovius: What did you call my little sister?
Derovius: What did you call my little sister?
Posted 01/06/09 at 01:38pm
DeepThorn: 'Security' additions, which means it protects the music, which you bought, and have the right to use. It doesnt stop illegal activity, and even copying the music onto 2 back up CDs isnt illegal. Giving one to your little sister is border line.
DeepThorn: 'Security' additions, which means it protects the music, which you bought, and have the right to use. It doesnt stop illegal activity, and even copying the music onto 2 back up CDs isnt illegal. Giving one to your little sister is border line.
Posted 01/06/09 at 01:36pm
CK20XX: What's it gonna take for JT to get arrested? It'd be funny if it wasn't so sad.
CK20XX: What's it gonna take for JT to get arrested? It'd be funny if it wasn't so sad.
Posted 01/06/09 at 12:12pm
PHX Corp: Look on JAABLOG at his recent court filings he's starting to post pictures again http://www.megaupload.com/?d=DB5ODRNE
PHX Corp: Look on JAABLOG at his recent court filings he's starting to post pictures again http://www.megaupload.com/?d=DB5ODRNE
Posted 01/06/09 at 11:51am
CMiner: It's the same as the controversy over Sony's rootkits in their music CDs, as far as a separation of the issues of cd content and the security additions.
CMiner: It's the same as the controversy over Sony's rootkits in their music CDs, as far as a separation of the issues of cd content and the security additions.
Posted 01/06/09 at 11:27am
Vake Xeacons: But there does need to be a limit on DRM. I mean, CD check's okay, but spyware? That's an invasion of privacy!
Vake Xeacons: But there does need to be a limit on DRM. I mean, CD check's okay, but spyware? That's an invasion of privacy!
Posted 01/06/09 at 11:00am
Krono: @insanejedi: DRM isn't an aspect of the game. Unless you can make an argument that Securom is an intregal part of Spore that the game would be an incomplete experience without.
Krono: @insanejedi: DRM isn't an aspect of the game. Unless you can make an argument that Securom is an intregal part of Spore that the game would be an incomplete experience without.
Posted 01/06/09 at 10:57am
insanejedi: It's asking the government to regulate aspects of a game. Their just going to use this as a backdoor to regulate other aspects.
insanejedi: It's asking the government to regulate aspects of a game. Their just going to use this as a backdoor to regulate other aspects.
Posted 01/06/09 at 10:53am
Krono: @insanejedi: DRM = trade practice, Violence in games = speech. I'm not seeing the similarity here.
Krono: @insanejedi: DRM = trade practice, Violence in games = speech. I'm not seeing the similarity here.
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Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
The two markets are separate enough to where there would not be injury.. the markets of vegas tourism v. video games are distinct enough to where they could likely co-exist without harm. For example Apple records and Apple Computers peacefully coexisted until itunes was setup to sell music.
Consumers will not likely be confused about the two, because one is a service and a product. Only in Vegas promotes the service of tourism, Midway is working on a product to sell in commerce.
Keep in mind that trademark law is not like copyright or patent law -- the burden is on a trademark owner to aggressively protect a trademark or lose it.
The R6 game issue was just one thing and I've talken to him personally...twice.....each time games where brought up and it was a positive thing not a negetive thing.....in a meeting with him in his office on a goverment class field trip. He started to talk about the businesses he wants to bring to Vegas and HE HIMSELF mentioned a past attempt to bring an EA office to vegas...I ws really suprise...I never mentioned video game ANYTHING...and HE brought it up first....so he knows there is some good from the industry...he also talked to me about his Son who I think was some kind of first admendment rights attourney or something like that.....While I know he bashed R6...I see a different point of veiw on that then you guys might have rather then "game bashing"...I saw that he just had consern in a POST 9-11 country.....that a game on terroriest would hurt his city because he works really hard trying to advertise it....I kno I can't make anyone agree with me but I'm hoping people don't bash me for supporting him...I support him in general politics I live here...I'vemet him twice...So I know and I thinkhe's been doing good......I know his Image isn't that great....but when sit down and watch him "work" on TV and talk to him about city things....he's not just all "Vegas is great".....(for that part he's just trying to advertise for tourisem fo vegas.)
...In GENERAL Politics here..notj ust GAME politics....the mayor has done alot of good for our city. I don't agree 100% with his approach to his game conserns on R6.....
But for this topic on "Only in Vegas."....Well...he does kinda have the right here.
If you made Brand X and had a promotional slogan "Brand X rocks the world" then another company creates Brand Y with a similar theme and creates the promotional slogan "Brand Y rocks all over the world" whould you not want to protect your product?
Yeah you are right...kinda like there was an Ad in Las Vegas Gaming Wire called Wheel of chance and it looks exactly like the wheel of fourtine.
After reading that summary of the plot they should probably rethink the game anyway. It sounds rather idiotic.
But, here, he (the city) does have a trademark, and Miday's 'slogan' is very, very close.
*sigh*
Doesn't he technically have the right if he trade marked it years eariler?
Or is there some loop hole?
I am all for Vegas on this issue and franchise protection.
Really?...This also sounds liget to me...I'm worried people are going to be doing the "Stupid politian" rant about him...
Comments are kind of predicable these days.