Quote Originally Posted by Barkhorn1x View Post
Off topic - sorry to waste bandwidth.

The issue there was that instead of using the a/c names like Wildcat and Avenger, UBI Soft went ahead and used the name Grumman Wildcat and Grumman Avenger. And Northrop-Grumman got all in a huff and claimed TM infringement (how they get to trademark the names of US taxpayer purchased stuff is anybodies guess). They worked out a deal in the end where they would not sue and have UBI remove the content - BUT - UBI just decided that this was the end of any american a/c additions to the franchise. So we missed out on a great looking TBD Devastator and a number of other a/c.

A real shame.
A real shame. They don't have trademark infringement unless someone builds an actual thing with the parts. Why can't I paint a Grumman Wildcat and Grumman Avenger painting and sell it? Isn't Coca Cola a trademark of that company? It's also the exact complete name of the product. How come I can make a movie with Coca Cola in it, and sell the movie and that's OK?

What about people in movies saying Name-of-Car, Number-Year, that's the exact complete name of that product. What about people in movies saying Name-of-wine/beer, Number-year, that's also the exact complete name of that product. What about games with Colt .45, Colt M-16 and Springfield 1907? Those are exact complete names. What about tank sims, and flight sims and car sims. There would be so many fees if everyone was a crook like Northrop Grumman (and, they aren't even competitive anymore, or I think they were bought by Boeing, or something). UbiSoft should counter-sue, and get hassle fee from Northrop Grumman.

Also, since the government belongs to the people, government property is public property, and you don't trademark public property. Like, the White House, the Capitol Hill, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, the Mount Rushmore, they may be built at expense and maybe by private enterprises, but once they are done building they are public property, the name and image thereof, or should I say, the knowledge of the name and the image is public property, and you don't have to pay to mention the name or depict them in painting (video game = 3D painting).