Mythic Entertainment sues Microsoft
Video game publisher says Microsoft's forthcoming game 'Mythica' infringes on its trademark.
December 22, 2003: 2:51 PM EST
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Video game publisher Mythic Entertainment Monday said it has filed suit against Microsoft Corp. for trademark infringement over an upcoming Microsoft game that Mythic claims unfairly trades on its name.
Fairfax, Virginia-based Mythic said the suit was filed last month in federal court in eastern Virginia. The privately-held company is best known for subscription online role-playing games like "Dark Ages of Camelot."
In a statement, Mythic said the forthcoming Microsoft PC game "Mythica" infringes on its trademark and could cause confusion among consumers.
A Microsoft (MSFT: down $0.35 to $27.01, Research, Estimates) spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment on the suit.
"We would expect Microsoft to react no differently if someone launched an operating system called Microsofta just as Microsoft did when confronted with an operating system called Lindows," Mythic President and Chief Executive Mark Jacobs said.
"Mythica," from Microsoft Game Studios, was demonstrated earlier this year at the industry's E3 trade show. Players play as "Immortals" recruited by Norse gods, and the game is centered in Norse mythology.
Mythic's "Dark Ages of Camelot" also employs Norse images and mythology, and Mythic argued in its suit that the imagery in "Mythica" is too much like its own game.
The suit asks for damages as well as an injunction against Microsoft and other penalties.
