A freelance game developer has been sued by Ikea because his new game resembles its furniture store.
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The Store if Closed challenges the player who is trapped in a massive furniture store to find a way out either with friends or alone. Mutated personnel constantly attack players throughout the game , and weapons can be crafted from surrounding objects and fortifications can be created from furniture pieces.
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Although the popular Swedish company Ikea is not explicitly mentioned in the game, developer Jacob Shaw received a “cease and desist” letter from the company. According to Ikea, its trademarks are being infringed because:
“Your game uses a logo with blue and yellow letters, the name of the store is Scandinavian, the vertical striped shirts that are the same as those worn by IKEA staff, the gray path on the floor, the furniture that looks like IKEA furniture, the product signage that looks like IKEA signage, all indicate that the game takes place in an IKEA store.”.
Even though the Kickstarter- funded game hasn’t even been released yet, Ikea is giving Shaw just ten business days from the date it receives the letter to remove all of the alleged violations , which the letter refers to as “indications.” Since Shaw has little choice but to comply , he will have to “desperately revamp the entire look of his game so [he] doesn’t get sued.”
Information source: pcmag.com
