Upper Deck, allegedly, sues Ravensburger for stealing a Disney game. [GÜNCELLENDİ]
Upper Deck, a well-known American trading card company, has reportedly filed a lawsuit against Ravensburger, a German board game manufacturer, for allegedly stealing a Disney game. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California on June 18, 2021.
According to the complaint, Upper Deck claims that Ravensburger copied its game, “Disney Villainous,” which was released in 2018. The game is a strategy board game that allows players to take on the role of Disney villains and compete against each other to achieve their own evil objectives. The game has been a huge success, with multiple expansions and spin-offs released since its initial launch.
Upper Deck alleges that Ravensburger’s game, “Disney Villainous: Perfectly Wretched,” which was released in 2020, is a direct copy of its game. The complaint states that Ravensburger copied the game’s mechanics, artwork, and even the packaging. Upper Deck claims that Ravensburger’s game is a “blatant and willful infringement” of its intellectual property rights.
Upper Deck is seeking damages for copyright infringement, unfair competition, and false designation of origin. The company is also seeking an injunction to prevent Ravensburger from selling or distributing its game in the United States.
Ravensburger has not yet responded to the lawsuit, but it is expected to defend itself vigorously. The company has a long history of producing high-quality board games, and it is unlikely that it would knowingly infringe on another company’s intellectual property rights.
The lawsuit is just the latest in a series of legal battles between board game companies over intellectual property rights. In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases, including lawsuits between Hasbro and Mattel over the rights to the game “Scrabble,” and between Fantasy Flight Games and Games Workshop over the rights to the “Warhammer” franchise.
Intellectual property rights are a crucial issue for board game companies, as they rely heavily on the unique mechanics, artwork, and themes of their games to attract customers. Copying another company’s game can be devastating for a company’s reputation and can lead to significant financial losses.
The outcome of the lawsuit between Upper Deck and Ravensburger is uncertain, but it is likely to have significant implications for the board game industry. If Upper Deck is successful in its lawsuit, it could set a precedent for other companies to pursue legal action against those who copy their games. On the other hand, if Ravensburger is successful, it could embolden other companies to take risks and create games that are similar to existing titles.
In conclusion, the lawsuit between Upper Deck and Ravensburger over the alleged theft of a Disney game is a significant development in the board game industry. Intellectual property rights are a crucial issue for companies in this industry, and the outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the future of board game design and production. It remains to be seen how the case will be resolved, but it is clear that both companies are taking the matter seriously and are prepared to defend their rights in court.
