You might be happy that Valve seems to be releasing a commercial product based on an old Warcraft III mod, Defence of the Ancients Allstars. Valve are probably happy too. Some of the modâs original creators, though? Less happy.
https://lastchance.cc/rumor-valve-releasing-new-version-of-warcraft-iii-mod-5608762%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Riot Games â at which one of the modâs creators, Steve Mescon, works â has filed a competing trademark application for the modâs name in an attempt to block the move (just the trademark, not the actual game). Itâs not just Mescon with an interest in the case, either; Riot Games operates League of Legends, a game that, to put it gently, is influenced by DotA.
âWe have filed for the âDefense of the Ancientsâ trademark to protect the work that dozens of authors have done to create the game and on behalf of the millions of DotA players all over the world,â Mescon says.
ââŚThe idea that one single company is taking control of the name of something that hundreds of people have contributed to is surprisingâ, he adds. âI believe DotA should always remain a community-owned product that modders, independent developers and game fans can continue to modify and play as often as theyâd likeâ.
Riot Gamesâ dev counter-files âDotAâ trademark [PC Gamer]
