GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

Minecraft dev wants to settle lawsuit with Quake 3

Markus "Notch" Persson challenges Bethesda to a team deathmatch competition, promises to let Skyrim publisher approve a new name for Scrolls if he loses.

330 Comments

Lawsuit settlement negotiation may soon become a spectator sport. In response to a trademark complaint from Bethesda Softworks, Minecraft creator Notch is suggesting an unorthodox way of settling the dispute.

The future of the legal system.
The future of the legal system.

In a post on his blog, Markus "Notch" Persson has proposed a decisive game of Quake 3 to put the litigation to rest.

"I challenge Bethesda to a game of Quake 3," Persson said. "Three of our best warriors against three of your best warriors. We select one level, you select the other, we randomize the order. 20 minute matches, highest total frag count per team across both levels wins."

If Persson's team wins, The Elder Scrolls developer would have to drop its lawsuit claiming that the indie developer's next game, Scrolls, infringes on its own trademark. If Bethesda wins, Persson would agree to change the name of Scrolls to a Bethesda-approved title. In either case, Persson would be willing to put a disclaimer in his game noting that it is not related to The Elder Scrolls series in any way.

"I am serious, by the way," added Persson.

As of press time, Bethesda had not returned GameSpot's request for comment.

Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.
This video has an invalid file format.
00:00:00
Sorry, but you can't access this content!
Please enter your date of birth to view this video

By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 330 comments about this story
330 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for coolermaster123
CoolerMaster123

1348

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 96

User Lists: 5

i want to sue both companies for being lousy at quake 3

Upvote • 
Avatar image for CocaColaNinja
CocaColaNinja

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Quake 3 FTW!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for XBLACKXVIPERX
XBLACKXVIPERX

210

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

you know what??? this makes alot of sense why not settle things in the videogame industry with a videogame match of any type to settle things once n for all I'd say Street Fighter match over Quake 3 but thats just me >)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for QQabitmoar
QQabitmoar

1892

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Why not a game of Starcraft instead?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for brain20035
brain20035

2042

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 39

User Lists: 0

This guy cracked me up! I wish everyone thought like he does!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Zalatos
Zalatos

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

41.133.166.142:35565 temporary minecraft server, but its free version 1.7.3

Upvote • 
Avatar image for benbonney
benbonney

688

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

Yes, Yes, and Yes..... I think only Jabba the Hutt could think of a more intresting way to end a dispute fairly

Upvote • 
Avatar image for iDefinition
iDefinition

388

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Gaming to the end? This is getting into some rather interesting competitive spirit. I'd like to see more of this.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for LtReviews
LtReviews

940

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 68

User Lists: 0

Bethesda should be sued for copyright infringment. Elder Scrolls V? Blatant rip off from Final Fantasy V. Just as IV was a rip off from Final Fantasy IV. Just as Bethesda now has complete ownership over a word that makes up one-third of the title, we must now ensure that no part of any game title matches that of another! Seriously, I like the way Notch has handled this. Notch and his crew are saying that they first and foremost care about making, and enjoying games. Even if it is just "lawyers being lawyers", Bethesda deserves blame for not distancing themselves from this behavior.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Hellspawn_1581
Hellspawn_1581

746

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

this is a nice way to stick the finger right where it hurts the most from Notch, its a nice way of saying the message "its just a game!" In any case, i hope everything turns out great for Notch, my respect to him and his crew

Upvote • 
Avatar image for snes_vs_ps1
snes_vs_ps1

10359

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 320

User Lists: 0

Tier 1,2,3,4,5,6,7: Phobos, Daemia, Patriot, Tank Jr, Klesk, Grunt, Uriel, Bones, Cadavre, Doom, Lucy, Sarge, Ranger, Visor, Anarki, Hunter, Orb, Minsk...Xaero...Welcome, to Quake 3 Arena.Step into the portal to begin the deathmatch.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Ultramarinus
Ultramarinus

1147

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

If I were over at Bethesda, I'd hire Fatal1ty for a month and send him over. Would be much cheaper solution than lawyers.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for El_Zo1212o
El_Zo1212o

6057

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

IHe wants to make a game and call it "Scrolls" and they're suing him? I would expect this kind of nonsense from Activision or EA or any of The Big 3, but Bethesda? I thought better of you than that. Leave frivolous lawsuits to the big boys. Don't become what they are- hammering the little guy because you have the money to do so. I mean, I could understand if here was calling The Aged Scrolls or something, but you can't claim ownership of a NOUN just because you own a copyright to a phrase with that noun in it! That would be like Nintendo suing a dev for making a game called "Emblem" because they publish Fire Emblem.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for gideonkain
gideonkain

301

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

As far as anyone I have ever spoken to, the name of their series is referred to as Oblivion, if I asked them WHILE they were playing the game if they ever played Elder Scrolls they'de probably say "No."

Upvote • 
Avatar image for DVONvX
DVONvX

219

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Would anyone really get these two mixed up. I mean.......really......would anyone?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Yulaw2000
Yulaw2000

791

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Quake 3 thats when id used to be cool. << LINK REMOVED >>

Upvote • 
Avatar image for FPSRTSMMOplayer
FPSRTSMMOplayer

122

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 0

I agree that scrolls is property of Bethesda 100%, because when people refer to a game as the scrolls, its obvious they are talking about the Elder Scrolls, a game series as big as theirs deserves the right to the name, BUT! As a gamer I also believe in being fair and not hogging a name such as scrolls so that no one else can use it. I think this quake match would be a great solution especially since Bethesda wont lose..

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Liliroots
Liliroots

1411

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

Best lawsuit I will ever see!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for SANDMAN201
SANDMAN201

563

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 13

User Lists: 0

This is pretty risky for Notch and his team. Oh and Bethesda is stupid, but hopefully Notch and his team practice lots and waste those little buggers to the lowest point of hell.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ZeroX91
ZeroX91

1687

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Petty abuse of the legal system, "Scrolls" really Bethesda? I may have just lost faith in mankind...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jasonzilla11
jasonzilla11

1147

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 27

User Lists: 0

This is freakin' awesome. Notch is so funny! :lol: But this is actually the most fair way to end a gaming-related legal issue: actually playing a game.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Frame_Dragger
Frame_Dragger

9581

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Make it a Muay Thai deathmatch, in real life... then I'd be interested.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Braveheart42
Braveheart42

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Notch is epic for doing this! Show Bethesda how moronic they are by squabbling over something as little as a name. (Don't get me wrong, love Oblivion and looking forward to Skyrim, but STILL! :P)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for bmorgan303
bmorgan303

66

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

LOLS All disputes should be handled in such a fashion. Notch cracks me up...I bet hes a total d@#k. Cant believe Bethesda. What a bunch of crybabies. Why dont you quit sweatin Notch and hurry up on Skyrim. Although, please dont rush it, the last thing we need is another Oblivion,.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for BeanoFatardo
BeanoFatardo

60

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

hah... and i wouldn't doubt if the guys at bethesda haven't even played quake 3. ;)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for BeanoFatardo
BeanoFatardo

60

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

love quake 3..... hate bethesda. i miss the real id software days.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for JFHansen
JFHansen

74

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I´m very bad at quake 3, so i would like to offer my services to bethesda :D

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Rovelius
Rovelius

3252

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 13

User Lists: 0

Go Notch !

Upvote • 
Avatar image for MrGoldfish1
MrGoldfish1

86

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

If I had not deinstalled Quake 3, I would play for Notch. :P

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Electrokah
Electrokah

171

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

If this is for real... Shut up bethesda, don't make me hit yall with a pipe wrench. I like bethesda, but damn, seriously? Is this for real? "Scrolls" simply does not spell "Elder Scrolls". Bethesda does not have a game called scrolls as far as i know and they are not planning on making one so they should not even be allowed to have a trademark for that common word. It belongs to whoever uses it first. There is many movies that share the same names aswell. Sounds like some kind of joke. Or lack of common sense. Note: I played and love both the elder scrolls series(every single quest on oblivion plus expansions, also Morrowind with expansions and looking foward to skyrim) and minecraft(i have a huge castle/tower i built into the middle of a huge cliff with secret rooms waterfall greenhouse and mob spawners), my opinion is totally not biased it comes from "Common Sense", something people seem to lack much too often.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for boogie25
boogie25

79

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

hmm im wondering why blizz didnt sue him for naming his game minecraft long time ago then (or did they?)....well you know what i mean: starCRAFT, warCRAFT . about that weird lawsuit. I would never confuse scrolls with elder scrolls. For me bethesdas games were always daggerfall morrowind oblivion and now skyrim i dont even bother with the elder scrolls in title. But since they at it, why dont they start sue others for using "the" or "elder" in the title? id software for using quake arena . Blizz could have sued developers of world of tanks as example...i can go on and on... but well lets face it, these days only thing they think about is $$$ and lots of them. For me this lawsuit is a joke

Upvote • 
Avatar image for mkwan
mkwan

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I think it would be funny (and sad) if Persson loses and agrees to call it Arena, only to be sued by id for infringing on Quake 3 Arena. Actually maybe not, Bethesda wouldn't allow that name, because people would obviously confuse it with The Elder Scrolls: Arena.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Pumpkinhead3
Pumpkinhead3

342

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

This is dumb. Notch knows he would lose in court. That's the first obvious reason for doing this, the second is to get publicity and so gamers think "wow, notch is so cool!"

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Madgnad
Madgnad

308

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 5

User Lists: 0

This is how we use to settle our differences back in the day.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for AuronAXE
AuronAXE

2278

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

It's nice to see Notch thinks Bethesda's claim is a complete joke. And you know what, if this happened, and it were recorded, and put on a site like Youtube...well, awesome would happen.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for dstv
dstv

1384

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

best lawsuit settlement ever

Upvote • 
Avatar image for HezzyxJB
HezzyxJB

41

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

This is his way of getting out of court costs. Mojang can't afford this and it will be a huge blunder if they try to battle this in court. Its amusing; all of the idiots commenting who don't understand the legal issues. Have you actually seen the game? << LINK REMOVED >>

Upvote • 
Avatar image for HezzyxJB
HezzyxJB

41

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

What a child. Markus Persson needs to grow up, sure if you're 17 this is cool, but this is the business world and a legitimate lawsuit. Grow up Persson, you're a big boy now.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for coop36
coop36

2151

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 41

User Lists: 0

It would be a fitting way to end this mess. But seriously its not Bethesdas developers, programmers, and artists suing him. Its their attorneys. So his suggestion is pointless imo and wont even be considered. They have deeper pockets, and can weather the legal storm. Hoping that Notch will just give up out of fear of the extended cost for court fees and attorneys. Its dirty tactics but companies do it all the time. Lookup the people who have been sued for using the word "monster"...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for akiwak
akiwak

1246

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 11

User Lists: 0

They better accept the challenge! This is a noble way, more video game lawsuits should be settled this way. Spend less time and money, while also adding positive publicity to both studios.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for psycho_ninja1
psycho_ninja1

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

man... i love bethesda. i put so many hours of my life playing oblivion, reaching up to level 43 on ps3, and 49 (and a master in all major skills) on xbox. and i'll be overjoyed to do the same in skyrim. but this lawsuit is petty -_- they better accept that challenge.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for JRBCrazy
JRBCrazy

28

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

Oh, come on! I'm a gamer too but a real fight is sooo much more appealing than a fake fight.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for meke186
meke186

501

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

And also guys again i could care less about this lawsuit, i could care less about who wins, but all i know is ive called it a scrolls game. sry

Upvote • 
Avatar image for meke186
meke186

501

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@cossidae, seriously its not like i go around calling an elder scrolls game a scrolls game, of course i call it morrowind or oblivion etc. But i bet, i bet before the game name skyrim was confirmed you said, huh i cant wait for the next SCROLLS GAME, and fine maybe you said elder scrolls but still. Kinda seems like your siding with the minecraft dude instead of Bethesda, youve probaBLY only played minecraft anyway and @reyveign, yes i think its cool to how he wants to settle it like that, but one the 3rd is morrowind, get it straight, JK i dont care too much, i wouldnt want to punch you in the face for it, but seriously guys all im saying is, and mainly wwhat i was referencing, is when the elder scrolls games dont have confirmed names, at least i referenced them as a scrolls game, i guess i was just lazy and left out the elder part. Me and all my friends being veteran elder scrolls players LOL if i said i couldnt wait for the next scrolls game they would understand

Upvote • 
Avatar image for bigcrusha
bigcrusha

746

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Classy... I like it! The world needs more awesome dudes like Notch. TRUE GAMERS SETTLE THINGS THROUGH GAMING!!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for StJimmy15
StJimmy15

1372

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

I have a trademark on words like "yes" and "trademark"... money please!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Cwagmire21
Cwagmire21

5896

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Trying to hold a trade mark on "scrolls" is like Apple going after Amazon for "appstore." It's unbelievably stupid....

Upvote •