FantasyGrounds Takes Legal Action Against WotC

[Bagpuss]

You've used the Alpha version?

No but that is how they Wizards guy referred to it when the error was originally spotted on their forums. Everything seems to be an "alpha version" to Wizards though.

 

[Bagpuss]

All that proves is that they changed the illegible number to a 4, which says they knew what they were doing.

Looks like it could be an inverted 2 in both cases to me. To me it looks like the only difference is probably the video card used to render each screen cap.

 

[Kichwas]

I should add, I don't think they have a worthwhile lawsuit. What are their damages? But they've probably got a worthwhile cease and desist letter.

Trademark violation is serious business. What are possible damages? In a provable case they could potentially add up to any and all profits ever made with the infringing product. Depending on varying degrees of intent and / or bad faith, additional damages could come in as well.

One common reason to sue is that not doing so can result in voiding your own trademark. Or worse, the other party could turn around and sue you in a few years time claiming they were the ones who owned the trademark and not you - a very underhanded sort of move, but sadly not unknown either.

Chances are whatever action was filed was filed in US courts. The business of both companies touches upon the US, and US law is the most receptive to plaintiff's interests on most civil issues. Few people choose to files elsewhere anytime they can file in the US. So it's a pretty safe bet to at least consider US norms when guessing at what is going on.