Go Rui! Take Microsoft for everything they've got!

I really want to play this game. This Portugese guy is insufferable.

Why not just change the name for the EU market? 

Last time I checked "Trench" is not the same word as "Trenched", why is this an issue!?

@example1013 - I don't think English has that word either. The word would be entrenched. I've never heard someone use the term Trenched, although I guess it is possible.

They should just rename it "Screw Rui Alípio Monteiro" and release it already

i told you guys that this guy was a douchebag........told you, but you didnt believe me

i told you guys that this guy was a douchebag........told you, but you didnt believe me

so unfortunate 
 
ms seems a lil incompetent to not pick up on this trademark but also seems a bit ridiculous that they could trademark not only the word trench but every single deviation of the word. trecher, treched, trenching.  
  
i hightly doubt that the holders of the trademark were even making a game even remotely close to trenched hell they probably werent even making one, and honestly trenched would most likely have helped 'trench' simply because trenched is such a good game that anything associated would naturally be thought of as good even if they arent officially.  
 
anyways trademark laws are a complete joke and dont follow things like common sense.

@TehJames said:

@Jethuty said:

i told you guys that this guy was a douchebag........told you, but you didnt believe me

How is he a douche? it's his property.

in the most dickish way possible

call the game "Fuck Rui Alípio Monteiro 2"

Just change the name, there is enough press out there now for people to understand what the game is. Should have been released ages ago!

Right now there's a lawyer strung up in Tim Schafer's basement who wishes he spent a little more time at www.ObscureEuropeanCopyrights.com.

The game's not called "Trench", it's "TrenchED". It's just like what'shisface with the "Edge" trademark, constantly claiming to have product in the works to make good on his "Edge" trademark, all the while hurling lawsuits at anyone who dares include the word "Edge" in their own product. It's baffling that the legal world tolerates this kind of nonsense.

By some of the awful logic in this thread, I should be allowed to make a game called "Mass Effected" or "Bioshocked" and get away with it. Or then NOT get away with it, and somehow make their respective copyright holders look bad for... being the rightful owners (?).

Just change the name already - it isn't hard, heck not only does it happen all the time but it usually increases sales - they can market it as them beign the good guys and make an entire PR scheme around the idea of the new name. 
Even if they take this guy on and win the law suit and get to keep the name they lose out on loads of sales from people who have either forgottont he buzz about the game or are so sick of waiting they pirate it or just watch other LP's or something (piracy isn't right but people willing to pirate a game will take any reason to try and legitimize their view and make them feel liek they do nothing wrong).
 
And people who are saying there is a huge difference between "trench" and "trenched" you aren't helping.  It is like saying someone could release a game called B4ttlefield or Pokemons or Portaled.

Trenched: Reckoning.

@AnotherSomebody said:

The game's not called "Trench", it's "TrenchED". It's just like what'shisface with the "Edge" trademark, constantly claiming to have product in the works to make good on his "Edge" trademark, all the while hurling lawsuits at anyone who dares include the word "Edge" in their own product. It's baffling that the legal world tolerates this kind of nonsense.

In Europe, the trademark owned by the creator of the board game Trench extends to variations of the word, including Trenched.

its only a matter of time until you cant say the word "THE", someone in south Florida owns it and made it only usable if he deems it acceptable

Smirk of Ice... What?

@wolf_blitzer85 said:

@Aishan said:

@wolf_blitzer85: He's not being "a dick." he's protecting his trademark.

Right I understand that part. The part where he then announces his own game with a similar name is kinda dickish though.

How is it dickish? He didn't register the title so that he can smile at it... He registered it so he can use it.

@CosmicQueso said:

@wolf_blitzer85: Yeah, wanting to protect an IP he's created and ensure he can continue making a living through it. Yeah, wow, what a jerk.

The only result of his game being confused with Trenched would've been more sales for him. This is just a complete dick move from someone who has realized their game is too niche and won't sell even if it ever gets into production.

Pay the man so I can play this damn game!!!

So can I trademark "The" and be an international penis? That would definitely be an easier and more satisfying job than what I'm doing now (Dish Network Installer) lol.

Pay the man so I can play this damn game!!!

I live outside Europe and I am so buying Trenched now before this copyright trolling bullshxt gets any worse!

@mnzy: You are right sir, I missed that part when I skimmed over the article. The rest of the article only said European or Europe. My bad xD

@Aishan: no, he is being a dick.

Edited for over reaction. No need for threat messages thank you.

@Aishan said:

@wolf_blitzer85: He's not being "a dick." he's protecting his trademark.

Right I understand that part. The part where he then announces his own game with a similar name is kinda dickish though.

just play mechwarrior mercenaries

New name contest! Let's turn this shit upside down!

You shouldn´t be able to fucking trademark a single WORD, regardless of what you´ve been doing under your portugese rock. So you´ve made a board game? Great, go trademark THAT and not the single word you´ve chosen for its TITLE. God, the stupidity knows no bounds. Just like the edge guy, he shouldn´t have any right to claim a commonly used term as a trademark. What´s next? Ford owning the rights to the word "Car" or "Automobile"? Fuck everybody involved in this.
 
Oh and my money goes to Ms Splosion Man tomorrow, those guys can go to court all they want.

Urrgh, me don't understand trademark laws, me am want vidyo game! Portuguese man bad, Microsoft and Double Fine good! Me am so stupid!

It's amazing that the crack legal team at Microsoft didn't fucking catch this.

@Aishan: no, he is being a dick.

He trademarked the word Trench in the first place... in Europe! In Portugal even, which was NOT part of the first WW. As a French guy, I find this whole fight over the ownership of the word Trench nauseating. Damn it, people in my family died in those f*ing trenches, how can they even think of saying this word in "theirs". It angers me as much as if some moron suddenly trademarked the words "Gas Chamber".

@YukoAsho said:

@Morden2261 said:

Pay the man so I can play this damn game!!!

Fuck that. I say they just retitle the game and let him fuck off like Id did with the Quake Zero site squatter.

He isn't a squatter, he has a real product and he does have a real argument. I'm sure if he tried to make a board game called "Gear Wars", Microsoft would have just as much an issue with that.

Seems like the guy is just trying to protect something he's passionat about, put effort into, for all we know he ploughed his life savings into making this a reality, do you really think Microsoft wouldn't destroy a company with the name Microsofted? Ok dumb name but you get the idea.

@Branthog said:

This seems to be a problem unique to gaming. You can't copyright a title, which is why you have songs, albums, books, and movies with the same names. However, you can certainly trademark something - and while you don't seem to ever see authors trademark the title of their books, companies do trademark game titles (with the hope that it'll be successful enough to turn into a franchise built around that trademark). Very frustrating and unfortunate. Copyright law continues to suck. Surprise.

Absolutely ridiculous. BRB, trademarking the name John for my novel. Don't steal it!

They guy have every right to defend what he believes is his. Let the best man/company win. Pretty simple concept really,

I'm amazed Microsoft never bothered to check if the name was trademarked. Americans love to trademark and copyright things (see Apple vs Samsung, Apple vs HTC, Microsoft vs HTC, the list goes on for quite a while). On the other hand Disney never bothered to check if people in France like to drink wine and didn't serve any in their restaurants (oops). Makes you wonder why it took Eurodisney  four years to get out of debt... 
I can only hope that Microsoft and Double Fine are currently busy renaming the game and making sure it get's available to users in Europe as soon as possible. I was very annoyed when the game wasn't available the 22nd and even more annoyed when it took both Microsoft and Double Fine two weeks to give a first statement (not actually stating what the problem was). It took me another week to find out that it was a copyright matter. 

it may seem shitty but the law is the law. Always check and double check before sending a product out the door.

Super Mech Fighting Television Battlefield 120% 
 

YES!