Apps and Hats

    Ifyou only ever read one post on this site, I hope it’s this one. The followingis my opinion, with links and information that I can find on the subject. On the EDGE   Ihave only recently become aware of the battles that some game designers have todeal with, but in this case as it involves a game (EDGE)we previewed in our last episode, I couldn’t believe that it hadbeen quietly pulled from the app store. Especially it was one of their topgames to celebrate their 1st birthday. Ihad to look into this a little closer, how can this app, nominated for multipleawards (won a Milthon award in France for the best mobile game 2008, IMGA(international mobile game award) during the mobile world congress in Barcelonathis year for Best Gameplay and Operator Choice for the IGF, we have beennominated 3 times – best mobile game, best soundtrack, best iphone game). …just be pulled & not heard of again? I HAD TO FIND OUT. Well,there was far more information and battles then I can even hope to cover here. I hope you will take the time to look at some of the resources that Ilist here, and follow / support the developers plight.  They seem to be upagainst a system that does little to protect them.   Thisinvolves 2 parties, firstly the Developers  Mobigame of the fabulous EDGE iPhone gameand a chap called Tim Langdell. From what I can gather he founded a company,Edge Games in 1979. Here is the description I came across:   Foundedin 1979 by Tim Langdell, originally as Softek Software (later SoftekInternational Ltd.) in London, England. [1] In 1990, Edge Games moved its headquartersfrom its home of the prior decade in London’s Covent Garden to Los Angeles ( Pasadena ).Edge is best known for its 1985 title Fairlight and its 1987 title Garfield: BigFat Hairy Deal . Though the company is still active, Edge Gameshasn’t developed and released a new title since the 1980s. So,no new titles since the 80’s isn’t all that impressive, especially if you aretrying to establish that people associate the name “Edge" with yourcompany.  I’m not convinced they do. There is mention in an article on theInternet stating that they also developed Snoopy: The Case of the MissingBlanket (1992). Which is more, erm recent?   Site FingerGaming have written about this dispute, and contacted developer Mobigame to getmore information about what is happening.  They write about howaward-winning puzzler  Edge has been unceremoniously yanked from the US and UK App Stores a few weeks ago.   Here is an exerpt from the storyon their site: “We have legal issues with a mannamed Tim Langdell,” says Mobigame’s David Papazian. “If you already asked why Soul Edge (the Namco game)was called Soul Blade and later Soulcalibur in the US, you have your answer.” Langdell, CEO of EDGE Games… contacted Mobigame and Apple in April asking that the game be pulled.Langdell claims his company owns the worldwide “trademark” EDGE. Despite this,the game remains up in other territories. “We have the trademark EDGE in Europe(where the game is still available),” Papazian tells FingerGaming. “And we aretrying to register it in the US.” And more fuel for the fire seemsto be Langdell’s own connections to IGDA.   Heis a board member on the IGDA,which is described as a non-profit organization created to empower gamedevelopers and advocate on their behalf.  There is huge debate now abouttheir own credibility if he is part of the board, and how it affects what thepurpose of the IGDA actually is.  I have no comment about this, because Iam not a member, but I have been reading the comments posted about this andthere is real mixed feeling about having him on the board. Therehas been a petition set up to remove Langdell from his position.   Youcan sign a petition asking for Langdell to be expelled from the IGDA here . The Story so Far, TigSource   TigSourcehas followed this story from it’s inception.  It has amazing list of linksand facts about the case and the folks involved.  I think they have done agreat job at representing the issues. You can read thedebate on the forums .   Takenfrom their site, they have tried to simplify what has been happening with these(slightly edited) points. 1. Fingergaming posts an article revealing that the popular, award-winningiPhone game  Edge has been removed dueto a legal issue with Langdell. Mobigame’s David Papazian suggests thatLangdell was also responsible for Namco’s Soul Edge being renamed to Soul Bladeand then Soul Calibur in the United States. ( Source ) 2. Simon Carless posts an article on GameSetWatch in which he suggeststhat Langdell has a habit of engaging in lawsuits over his trademark on theword “Edge.” The article is removed, for unknown reasons, but has beenquoted on various other websites and forums. ( Source ) Tim Langdell and David Papazian –in their words… Sothis is some of what has been happening, if we look further into how they bothsee the situation, we find a blog by  StephenJacobs’s Gamasutra . [Jacobs has been involved with the IGDA forat least 4 years and once worked with Langdell to try and establish anorganization for game educators and researchers.] Inthe comments section, they have both been speaking.  Here are the basicpoints to surface… 1. Langdell claims that EDGE Games informed Apple of the trademark violation,whereupon Apple sent a standardized notice to Mobigame. At that point, Langdellclaims that Mobigame pulled the app voluntarily. 2. Langdell claims that it is, in fact, Mobigame that is bullying EDGE Gamesover the trademark. He also asserts that Mobigame started the “flame war” withthe intention of causing him embarrassment. 3. Langdell claims that he has never sued anyone over EDGE trademarks, orever started any litigation over the trademarks. Furthermore, he claims that“EDGE has never engaged in anything other than entirely legitimate practices toprotect its trademarks.” 4. Langdell asserts that he has personally produced all of the several hundredgamesEDGE Games has developed or produced since 1979, and that every otherstatement he has made regarding his own accomplishments are entirely true. (Note: Langdell, even when askeddirectly, has seemingly made no attempt to verify any of this, or even providea simple list of games he has produced. Update: But if you go to the EDGE Games website and click “Videogames”at the top, you can see a list.) 5. Papazian responds to Langdell by saying that he has not made any commentsregarding the dispute since the Fingergaming article and has no priorconnection to either Simon Carless or Owen Good (who penned a Kotakuarticle about Langdell). He regards Langdell’s accusation thatMobigame is trying to cause Langdell embarrassment as a lie. 6. Papazian corroborates Langdell’s claim that Edge was voluntarily pulled. 7. Papazian claims that Mobigame offered to change the name to “EDGY” whereuponLangdell refused the offer and proceeded to register the trademark “EDGY”.Papazian also asserts that Langdell holds the trademarks “MIRROR’S SPORE”and “SOULSPORE,” suggesting a connection to EA’s games Mirror’s Edge and Spore,and Namco’s Soul Edge. (Note: Edge Games does indeed ownthose trademarks. You can look them up yourself here [EDGY] and here [MIRROR’S SPORE AND SOULSPORE].) 8. Papazian claims that Langdell has never given proof of his connection to EdgeMagazine, or any proof that he has actively used the mark in recent years. Heclaims that the only person he has spoken to from EDGE Games has beenLangdell. Aftermy research into what has been happening from the numerous sites on the web Iwonder what can actually be done.  I have felt over the past year or two achange within the Internet community, a sense of sharing and collaboration. The creative commons spirit to make more things accessible to morepeople, heck even talk of Microsoft making online Word etc… SoI am left wondering, what protection do developers have against thissituation? Who can they go to for help that won’t actually cost them everypenny of profit they make? Have you been affected by something similar? Whatare your views on this topic? Furthor Reading Cultof Mac : Tim LangdellStill Being a Jerk – Resues Edge iPhone Game Maker Over Rights Issue This article by Craig Grannell is really a must read, it has lots of facts andupdates about the situation. Thefull and updated article from http://www.tigsource.com/pages/edge-games/ charts all the actions and events. Really well written and explained. Compiledby Derek Yu. [Last edited on July 18, 2009.] Including articles, court casesand other resources. AustralianGamer brings this great ‘personal opinion’ piece from Matt, I have to admitloving reading this. Really easy to read, informative and raises some excellentpoints. Tim Langdell– On the Edge of Law and Ethics Do Morons ina Hurry Play Games on Their iPhones , from TechDirt. Bytes: TimLangdell, at it again! Gamasutra brings us a view breakdownabout the role of a director for IGDA and points to say why this could be aconflict of interest. IGDA Forumsdiscussing this topic. Tim Langdell is still a Jerk from freelance writer John Bardine also makes comment. The TerribleTale of Tim Langdell from KrisSteele.net adds comments and info onthe case. FromOffWorld, Brandon Boyer writes Edge ofMadness: The Copyfight between Mobigame and Tim Langdell >> SPECIAL MENTION > >  You are EvenMore Beautiful than Tim Langdell is Grotesque. I had to include thiscreative and wonderful post which through doing the opposite (playing a lovesong!) they are showing what they describe as “distaste for such people…". Hot topic on Kotaku Thereis also a blog post from “gamerattorney" Tom Buscaglia. You can also see a picture of Tom’s Mini Cooper Sthere, not sure what that has to do with game law… his stand is the only one Ihave come across to try to defend Langdell’s position. *imageused was creative commons .