WeeWorld tries to drop Wii suit
By
Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor
WeeMee maker files motion to dismiss its legal action against Nintendo, but game publisher objects.
A company accusing Nintendo of swiping the name for the Wii's Mii Channel from its own digital avatar service is trying to drop its lawsuit against the gamemaker. The only snag is that Nintendo doesn't want it to drop the suit.
Last November, WeeWorld filed suit against Nintendo, alleging that the gamemaker's Mii avatars on its then-unreleased Wii system infringed on trademarks for its own WeeMees, digital avatars it claims to have offered online since 2001.
Currently featured on AOL Instant Messanger, WeeMees give users a simple tool for creating their own custom cartoon-styled avatars. In addition to choosing eye color, hair style, and clothing, users can outfit their WeeMees with accessories to indicate their interests. A number of gaming systems are included in the possible accessories, from an Xbox 360 to a PlayStation Portable. Users can also equip their WeeMees with what appears to be a Nintendo DS Lite (click on picture above), but there is no Wii option at the moment.
Nintendo originally defended itself in the suit, saying that its use of homonyms for common words like "me" and "we" constituted fair use under trademark laws. It has also alleged that WeeWorld didn't use the WeeMee name in the US until after Nintendo had announced its system and Mii Channel, and that WeeWorld can't prove the likelihood of consumer confusion arising out of the products' similar names.
The legal battle simmered until last month, when WeeWorld asked the judge in the case to dismiss the suit without prejudice, which would leave the door open for future litigation on the subject. Calling the case "unquestionably in its infant stages" with no depositions taken, motions for judgment made, or trial date set, WeeWorld said it wanted to see the dispute played out overseas first.
"With most of its current business in the United Kingdom, WeeWorld recently decided that it should use its limited resources to first seek relief in the United Kingdom," the company said in its motion to dismiss the case.
Last week, Nintendo filed its objection to WeeWorld's motion. The gamemaker feels there is no possibility of confusion between the names, and said it's entitled to a dismissal of the suit with prejudice, which would prevent WeeWorld from picking up the claims against Nintendo in the future.
"[I]n the face of disclosure obligations and discovery demands targeted at getting to the bottom of its unsupported claims of 'confusion' and damage, WeeWorld has abruptly asked this Court to let it dismiss this case without prejudice," Nintendo's response reads, "freeing it from having to reveal the lack of substance to its claims, while allowing it to hold over Nintendo the threat of future US litigation if it is unsuccessful pursuing those claims in European courts, as it now intends."
Even if the matter is dismissed without prejudice, Nintendo said WeeWorld should be made to pay its legal fees, as it estimated that it had already spent around $400,000 investigating the claims and preparing its defense.
By
Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor
Brendan Sinclair has been a games journalist since 1999. His tastes are eclectic, though he has a definite affinity for games with arcade roots. He's Canadian, but has also been at home in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco.
211 comments
Was this a direct rip? Probably not, but it is possible that somebody in Nintendo's organization heard about this in passing, stored it in his subconscious for a few years, and then spit it back out when the Miis were created. Of course, I suppose there are only so many variants you can come up with for "we" and "me." Collisions probably start happening pretty quickly over such simple words.
Nintendo Power!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! man this is the funniest thing i have read all day. whoop that ass Nintendo, send a message with there court costs
Everybody seems to be suing Nintendo right now. They're all just jealous that Nintendo makes the stuff work and they can't.
wow i hadnt heard of WeeWorld until after the Wii and thought it was a shameless rip off. Nintendo will crush them.
That's why you dont mess with someone who names their system WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ouch, mario at his meanest haha. Makes sense though that nintendo would want dismissal w/ predjudice seeing how much money they've spent already
Not a nintendo fan since the last two consoles, but I sincerely hope the Big N crushes this frivolous lawsuit. ^_^
Do WeeMee's cost anything? If not I'm gonna make one right now for my avatar so I can make irony with my love for Wii product.
i would think nintendo would know how to defend them self after all the times nintendo been in court. WeeWorld should lose big time, its a crock of bull. maybe franch should sue nintendo for the french word for yes. oh no, im getting confused between weemees and wiimiis, ahh just kidn, its still a crock of bull
You got yourself in this mess, WeeWorld. Don't expect to get out of it without a clear-cut conclusion.
This is funny, and a bit ridiculous! Nintendo takes action! I, too would say,"You take me to court, and then drop out?! As Superman said in Justice League,"Then all bets are off, YOU'RE MINE!", yeah.. I would do that if my losses were substantial, and/or the company suing me, were merely backing down, just to keep a lawsuit shadow over my head, as they{WEEMEE} appear to be doing now.
Go nintendo. Maybe beating these guys will teach other companies not to bring frivolous lawsuits.
dsico_basic towrds your comment. nintendo lost a couple of lawsuits though that was the newsest one. just beacuse they loose one dosent mean there loose another. http://www.gamersgraveyard.com/repository/oddities/nintendosuits.html check link
I would do the same if I was in charge of Nintendo. Take me to court, and then try to get rid of the case when you realize you don't have a leg to stand on??? I am going to now destory you muwhahahahaha
blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah I hate legal bs. Basically one person wants money and the other doesn't want to give it.
[quote="Kakua_Omari"] Who in their right mind would confuse weemee (which honestly sounds stupid) with mii? its a load of bull, just some company trying to get noticed.[/quote]Yeah! WeeMee and Wii Mii sound totally... uh, the same. But at least they're different products--one's a customizable avatar and the other's a... oh, yeah.What was your point again?
I love Nintendo, but I think they made the wrong move here. They could have walked away un-scarred, but they chose to fight instead? Oh well, I'm sure they can pull through, but still...
Can you saw pwnd? That is the only way to describe this situation. It's just hilarious, they want to drop the suit and Nintendo is like "no way screw you!". Haha this is awesome go Nintendo!
Don't try and fight Nintendo in court. Ever since the big battle in the 80's where Nintendo had to define the differences in the way it rendered graphics, they've been covering their a$$. Nintendo has a patent on these kinds of avatars and they got the money to defend the similarity in the names.
Hmm, I can see from WeeMee's point of view how it can be an infringement, but I can also see from Nintendo's point of view how the whole avatar/use of words things is not copyright infringement (otherwise most MMOs would have to settle with the original MMO that used avatars in the first place). I can also see why Nintendo would want to settle the matter without the threat of future lawsuits hanging over their heads, but I can also see why a small company would want to sort out issues on one front before fighting another costly battle on another, especially if they can hardly afford to fight on more than one front. Yet again the only people who will always benefit from this are the lawyers, no matter which side they are on...
See , being in the uk as soon as i saw the Mii all i could think was .. Wow ... they've ripped of the weemee ... only it's not as good. However Nintendo have taken it to the next level by having you use your Wii Mii in their games ...
Who in their right mind would confuse weemee (which honestly sounds stupid) with mii? its a load of bull, just some company trying to get noticed.
The Miis doesn't look cartooned... I think it's just the same thing as with the Wii-mote problem...
I can see both sides of this. WeeMee has been around supposedly since 2001, much longer then the Wii for sure.. but N has a point that nobody is going to confuse the two services here. Kind of hard for me to really care how this one plays out to be honest.
Ouch. 400 large. Nintendo sure knows how to defend itself with lawyers. They took a good lesson from what happened to Atari.
Some people have short memories. Nintendo lost the lawsuit against sony for robbing the playstation so they're hardly invincible.
A groundless claim, Gribb85. That said, WeeWorld's lawsuit is equally groundless, considering evidence against their claims is in surplus.
Kinda goes against the whole caring nintendo innovation thing they are always talking about. Old habits die hard, nintendo has always gone out of its way to be ruthless in the business sense. Seems as though nothing has changed.
kill em nintendo! aaarggggggg!!!! im all riled up!!! those wiimiis look like a rip off of south park....NINTENDO RULES!!!!!
yup.. i never seen nintendo lose a law suit frostybubbler One thing I've realized from Nintendo over the years...they know how to cover their asses well. They have a super smart legal department. Disclaimers are all over the place, anyone who stands in their way and tries to sue usually gets squashed. It's interesting actually..
One thing I've realized from Nintendo over the years...they know how to cover their asses well. They have a super smart legal department. Disclaimers are all over the place, anyone who stands in their way and tries to sue usually gets squashed. It's interesting actually...
Conversation powered by Livefyre
Hot Stories
Newsmakers
-
Xbox One has preowned fee - Report
Microsoft confirms all discs must be installed to HDD to play; secondhand owners required to pay an unspecified fee. Full Story
- Posted May 21, 2013 11:44 am PT
-
Xbox One will launch this year
Microsoft formally announces Xbox 360 successor during media event; will support live TV and Skype; features 500GB hard drive, 8GB RAM, Blu-ray drive; 64-bit architecture. Full Story
- Posted May 21, 2013 10:09 am PT
Featured Stories
-
The Simpsons writer signs on for Angry Birds movie
Emmy-winning writer Jon Vitti, who penned "Mr. Plow" episode of The Simpsons, working on 2016 film based on Rovio's game. Full Story
- Posted May 20, 2013 12:23 pm PT
-
Grand Theft Auto V premium bundles revealed
$150 Collector's Edition includes money bag, snapback hat, blueprint map, artwork, and various in-game items and bonuses; all preorders receive access to pilot atomic blimp vehicle. Full Story
- Posted May 23, 2013 5:44 am PT
-
Atari to sell RollerCoaster Tycoon, Test Drive franchises at auction
Bankrupt publisher hoping to bring in at least $22 million from upcoming asset auctions. Full Story
- Posted May 23, 2013 9:43 am PT
-
38 Studios court case begins
Arguments in legal battle between defunct Amalur developer and Rhode Island presented in court today; state claims it has "avalanche" of evidence against 38 Studios. Full Story
- Posted May 22, 2013 1:51 pm PT
-
Katie Couric acknowledges one-sided violent video games report
Network journalist acknowledges one-sided violent video game report; invitations to Bungie and the Entertainment Software Association were declined. Full Story
- Posted May 20, 2013 10:45 pm PT
Submit News
Recent News
-
GameStop shares slide on Xbox One preowned rumors
[UPDATE] Share value down more 13 percent today amid new reports claiming GameStop's business could be hurt by Microsoft's rumored used game policy for...
