English heavy metallic band Iron Maiden, or their enterprise firm Iron Maiden Holdings Limited, are suing 3D Realms with allegations that retro FPS Ion Maiden is inflicting confusion and muddying their model. They need $2 million (£1.56) in damages for the trademark terror. Ion Maiden is a pun on the phrases “iron maiden”, although whether or not it’s riffing on the title of the band or the apparently-not-medieval torture machine could also be up for competition. Maybe they’ll declare it’s an homage to Margaret Thatcher and we are able to simply explode the world proper now.
Ion Maiden is a Duke Nukem-stylee throwback FPS made by Voidpoint and revealed by 3D Realms, at the moment in early entry and headed for a full launch later this yr. Our former John (RPS in peace) thought it’s pretty deece and no, he insisted, “This isn’t about nostalgia – that’s really important to make clear.” 3D Realms promoting the game and merchandise like t-shirts has acquired the Iron Maiden holding firm’s dander proper up.
Iron Maiden Holdings filed the go well with in California on Tuesday, and Blabbermouth took a peek on the paperwork.
The go well with claims, Blabbermouth report, that the title Ion Maiden “is nearly identical to the Iron Maiden trademark in appearance, sound and overall commercial impression.” It claims that is intentional by 3D Realms “in an effort to confuse consumers into believing [their] products and services are somehow affiliated with or approved by Iron Maiden.” This is supported by pointing to on-line posts about Ion Maiden the place commenters appear to assume it’s associated to Iron Maiden.
The go well with has a wide range of claims of various iffiness. For starters, that the title of protagonist Shelly “Bombshell” Harrison is “an attempt to copy the name” of Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris. The “steel cut font” of the game’s brand is claimed to be too just like Iron Maiden’s metalwords. The skullbomb icon of Ion Maiden is supposedly “graphically similar” to Iron Maiden’s completely-different-looking zombieman mascot Eddie. And right here’s an excellent’un: Ion Maiden the first-person shooter supposedly has “the same look and feel” as Iron Maiden’s mobile game, the turn-based Iron Maiden: Legacy Of The Beast.
Does it now.
Sure, I’d say Ion Maiden is positioned as a part of the identical brash and thrashin’ tradition as Iron Maiden. The band is probably going the “iron maiden” 3D Realms are riffing on relatively than the steely deathbox – or the torture machine [Alice… -ed.]. I don’t doubt 3D Realms are comfortable when Ion Maiden makes folks take into consideration Iron Maiden. The lawsuit nonetheless appears to massively over-reach. Let’s hear it for trademark regulation, friends. 3D Realms are undeterred, for now.
“We at 3D Realms, our co-publishers 1C Entertainment, and developer Voidpoint will review our options once we receive official notice of the lawsuit and will make any necessary decisions at the appropriate time,” the publishers responded in a statement this morning.
“Regardless, everyone continues to work diligently on Ion Maiden to deliver the best possible experience later this year.”
This isn’t the primary time the title has brought on authorized troubles for 3D Realms. They did try to trademark Ion Maiden in 2018 however deserted that try after Iron Maiden Holdings objected. The lawsuit factors to this as proof that 3D Realms know Iron Maiden exist and are attempting to commerce off their title.
Iron Maiden Holdings Limited’s lawman, Kenneth Feinswog, has lawfought for the manufacturers of different musicians earlier than. In 2010 he went after comedian ebook biographies of Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, as reported on Bleeding Cool, and had achieved the identical again within the 90s for New Kids On The Block and Mötley Crüe.
Hey, you need to wrap this put up up with a paragraph of pure brandhell? Let’s go. Ion Maiden has roots in one other model dispute as a result of it’s a spin-off from the rubbo third-person shooter Bombshell. That game was as soon as meant to be Duke Nukem: Mass Destruction however acquired rebranded and reworked following a lawfight between 3D Realms and present Duke Nukem homeowners Gearbox Software. Oh, and this 3D Realms? It’s not ye olde American crew who made Duke Nukem, relatively what Danish firm Interceptor Entertainment renamed themselves after purchasing the dregs of 3D Realms. BRANDS! Mark that duplicate traded, proper?
Ion Maiden continues to be obtainable on Steam Early Access. 3D Realms, ought to you want to rename it, I’d counsel avoiding Mötley Pëw. Our Graham has piped up with “Hot Lead Zeppelin” and “Guns ‘n’ T-Poses,” and has duly been fired.
