By Min Wu

ZeptoLab, creator of mobile game Cut the Rope, filed a claim at the U.K. Intellectual Property Office to cancel the European registration of the trademark “candy” by King.com, developer of popular game Candy Crush Saga, according to CNet Australia. 

In the game Cut the Rope, players cut a rope to feed a small monster candy. The trademark registration, if held valid, would establish King.com’s exclusive right to use the word “candy” in the titles of video games. 

King.com has withdrawn its “candy” trademark application in the United States under intense criticism. However, it still holds a registered trademark of “candy” in the European Union, which was used as a precedent to file the U.S. application.

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April 10, 2014

By Julie Inglese

Although Russian President Vladimir Putin said gay visitors should feel “relaxed and at ease” while in Russia for the Sochi Olympics, he also requested that they abide by a propaganda law and “leave the children in peace,” according to MSNBC. 

Russia has a propaganda law that bans the promotion of "nontraditional" sexual relationships among minors. However, the law does not define what propaganda means, leaving LGBT advocates fearful that anyone who is openly gay could be violating the law. 

Additionally, the International Olympic Committee has emphasized that the Olympic Charter bans political protests, so advocating for gay rights during the games could get someone sent home. 

Time will tell what the law really means and if it will cause trouble during the Winter Olympics. Meanwhile, the mayor of Sochi said that his city has no gay people. 

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January 31, 2014

 By Julie Inglese

“No other Winter Games has faced such an acute terror threat. No other Winter Olympics has been so engulfed in politics. No other recent Olympics has been so closely associated with one man — Putin, the "captain" of the Sochi team.” 

The Olympics is intended to bring together great athletes to create pride and unity in their countries. However, Redding explains that the world cannot stop focusing on a possible terrorist attack. An Islamic militant group in Dagestan claimed responsibility for two suicide bombings that killed 34 people in late December in Volgograd and threatened to attack the games in Sochi. 

Putin has gone through great lengths to ensure safety for all and one of the best Winter Olympics yet. Let’s hope Putin delivers. 

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January 28, 2014

By Elizabeth Gibson

The United States is using P-1A visas intended for "internationally recognized athletes" as a way to open its borders to professional video game players (yes, that's a thing). These visas are traditionally used for getting athletes to sporting events hosted in the United States.

NPR has a fascinating story on the immigration concerns of virtual athletes. But don't count on your gaming system getting you across the border just yet. So far, the issuance of P-1A visas to gamers appears relatively limited, with one visa granted to a professional South Korean StarCraft player and another granted to a Canadian League of Legends pro.

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December 16, 2013

By Min Wu

The role-playing card game “Legends of the Three Kingdoms,” also known as “San Guo Sha,” has been popular in China and is also being distributed in the U.S. However, according to the Italian publisher of the “Bang!” card game, “San Guo Sha” is a blatant copy of “Bang!”, though the Chinese game is set in ancient China instead of the Wild West.

According to Bloomberg Law, the Italian publisher sued the creator of “San Guo Sha” and its U.S. distributor in the Southern District of Texas for copyright infringement. However, even if the Italian publisher prevails on the merit of the case, enforcement of a foreign judgment in China will be a difficult issue.

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November 26, 2013

 By Min Wu

By Roland DG Mid Europe Italia | Flickr

On October 2, the United States signed a historic treaty intended to alleviate the book famine for more than 300 million blind or visually impaired persons in the world. The goal of the treaty is to create exemptions in the copyright laws of signatory countries, so that copyright holders such as book publishers cannot stand in the way of the creation and distribution of works in accessible formats.

The treaty, formally known as the World Intellectual Property Organization Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled (WIPO Marrakesh Treaty), was adopted in Marrakesh, Morocco by more than 150 countries on June 27, 2013. However, the treaty will not be effective until the legislatures of at least 20 countries ratify the treaty by incorporating it into their domestic laws.

Today, less than 5 percent of the books published globally each year are made available in accessible formats such as Braille, large print text, and audio books. Publishers charge royalties for the permission to convert books into such accessible formats, which adds to the already high cost of producing books and contributes to the book famine. A treaty that relieves the copyright burden on blind persons has been the goal since the initial treaty negotiations started in 1981.

According to WIPO Director General Francis Gurry, the WIPO Marrakesh Treaty is a “balanced treaty” that will “lead to real benefits for the visually impaired.” “A Miracle in Marrakesh,” said Mustapha Khalfi, the Morocco official who announced the treaty’s adoption.

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November 23, 2013