Just before our extensive coverage of GDC08 began, we heard that Capcom had filed an injunction against a possible lawsuit from MKR Group, the folks that own the rights to George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead in response to a threat of action for the similarities in story to Capcom's Dead Rising. Low and behold, early yesterday Reuters reported that MKR Group had filed suit against Capcom for the use of "zombies attacking a mall" storyline in Dead Rising which was the central theme in George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead.
While the Capcom injunction claimed, "humans battling zombies in a shopping mall" is a "wholly unprotectible [sic] idea," the filing from MKR Group disputed the claim and called the scenario and execution too similar saying, "In both, the recreational activities of the zombies and absurdly grotesque 'kill scenes' provide unexpected comedic relief." You might think that MKR Group is a little late to the party on filing this suit nearly two years after the release of
Dead Rising but we still remember when the Red Cross grew wise to the game industry's health pack system. This whole situation, while not unexpected, seems a little silly to us.
[via Joystiq]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-27-2008 @ 2:46PM
Chris said...
Fuck Dead Rising! Dawn Of The Dead Will Always Be The Best Zombie Film or Idea Ever.
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2-27-2008 @ 3:33PM
Tony said...
This is still going? They're going to lose it, I don't know why they're bothering.
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2-27-2008 @ 3:39PM
Mister Obscure said...
I always thought having a disclaimer at the start or end of anything entertainment wise protected you from this stuff.
I guess not?
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2-27-2008 @ 3:39PM
bing said...
The only reason they are doing this is for some much needed PR for Diary of the Dead out on the 7th of March
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2-27-2008 @ 3:50PM
ZEBRA NINER said...
hmm, you can copyright zombies? If I copyright monsters, doesn't that kind of encircle the zombie sub genre? Then I could sue everyone!!!!
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2-27-2008 @ 3:58PM
Eric said...
I retract my previous statement. They didn't copyright zombies and the disclaimer on the box doesn't protect them at all. It just says it wasn't developed, licensed, or approved by the owners or creators of Dawn. That basically says, hey, this has nothing to do with Dawn itself, although it could be the same basic idea. An idea that they have copyrighted.
So, no more games about zombies attacking cities, unless they get the permission of MKR.
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2-27-2008 @ 4:40PM
Mark said...
About the red cross part... I thought the red cross on medpacks in games were because army medics wore that symbol on their sleeves. It's become the universal (or western?) sign for combat medicine. So does the Red Cross organization give permission or loan their symbols to the army medics to put on their uniforms?
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2-27-2008 @ 4:53PM
Xav de Matos said...
The story goes that after years of using the symbol the Red Cross realized it was happening and got offended by the inclusion of what is their registered logo.
2-27-2008 @ 5:04PM
Mark said...
I understand that the Canadian Red Cross sent this letter. But what I'm saying is that a red cross was part of the medic uniform for WW2 and a game set in that period will use that uniform which includes that symbol. Does the US Army pay the Red Cross for use of their symbol on their uniforms? If not, then I think there's a strong case for a red cross has become a western symbol for combat medicine and that the medpacks in games are using it in that sense and not trying to portray that it's associated with the Red Cross.
In any case, it seems that the Red Cross is looking to move to a symbol of a red diamond because it's less religiously offensive and can be used internationally. They've been using a red cross, red crescent and red star of david for different countries.
2-27-2008 @ 5:16PM
Xav de Matos said...
Specifics I don't know, but that was brought up in jest. That whole Red Cross situation is really old. But I get your points.
2-27-2008 @ 4:44PM
Anticrawl said...
Were they actually zombies in Dead Rising or just something similar?
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2-27-2008 @ 4:45PM
Anticrawl said...
I ask because Resident Evil 4 didn't have "zombies" and I never finished Dead Rising because I felt my katana shouldn't disappear after cutthing through 5 fleshy gooey "zombies."
2-27-2008 @ 4:54PM
GamerGuyX said...
Yes they were zombies.
2-28-2008 @ 7:15AM
ALH said...
they were infected with parasitic worm things, thats why if you unleash a queen hundreds of them explode.
2-27-2008 @ 5:06PM
NeoteriX said...
Legal tip*: "Ideas" are not copyrightable. kthx.
*Tip courtesy of expensive law school.
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2-27-2008 @ 5:45PM
SadisticHam said...
Dawn of the dead fucking sucked, give me 28 days later any day of the week. Much better zombie film.
If this actually wins ( i can't see it happening myself) it could affect dead rising 2 (which lets face it, is bound to happen) which would be a kick in the teeth..on the other hand perhaps dawn 2 could be an entire city...now that would be cool.
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2-27-2008 @ 6:00PM
danny. said...
Wouldn't that cause a Capcom counter suit based on Resident Evil 2's Racoon City? Or did I just find the point.
2-28-2008 @ 12:20AM
ccc said...
Wow, Look out Midway, next thing you know, the film company that made The Running Man is gonna sue you for Smash TV, heh.
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2-28-2008 @ 1:49AM
Eric said...
You win the comment thread.