Nintendo Issues Apology, Game Systems for SuicideGirls - GoFuckYourself.com

DVTimes · 10-30-2004, 04:54 AM

CYBERSPACE ? Goth girl website SuicideGirls.com received an email from a law firm on Monday, claiming that a user?s profile was infringing on Nintendo trademarks by listing Metroid and Zelda as his favorite video games.
The infringement, according to the email from Melissa Morgan Nelson at Perkins Coie LLP in Seattle, came from the profile of a member named RuneLateralus, who opted to post a list of his favorite video games in lieu of his favorite books.

?I enjoy an ice cold Coca Cola on a hot day,? writes SuicideGirls administrator Sean. ?Do you think Coca Cola is going to sue me for posting that??

However, Nintendo of America issued an apology to the website Thursday, claiming that a computer glitch in their fight to protect their trademarks from being used in connection with promoting adult websites.

?The letter was sent as part of an ongoing Nintendo program to aggressively protect our younger consumers from the hundreds of sexually-explicit sites each year that use Nintendo properties to attract children,? said the video game manufacturer.

?We know that many of out fans are old enough to make their own choice about what they want to view on the Internet,? the company continued. ?We value the support of our fans and we respect their decisions.?

Nintendo also offered both the user whose profile was targeted and the SuicideGirls administrator a free Nintendo system and game in order to make amends.

According to the original email, Nintendo somehow became aware that their trademarks were being used on an adult-oriented website and were less than pleased.

?It has come to our client?s attention recently that you are using the Nintendo trademarks [on] the above-referenced sexually explicit Web site,? the original email reads.

?Nintendo?s customers ? many children and their parents ? have come to identify the Nintendo trademarks with the high quality of Nintendo products,? it continued. ?Your unauthorized use of the Nintendo trademarks will tarnish Nintendo?s reputation.?

A post on blog BoingBoing.net called the situation into question, though.

?I called the [San Francisco] and Seattle offices of the law firm representing Nintendo, Perkins Coie,? writes BoingBoing reader Josh. ?They not only seem to not know about this, they can?t even look at it because their firewalls won?t allow them to get to porn sites.?

The Intellectual Property Enforcement group at Perkins Coie was unavailable for comment.

According to legal education website Nolo.com, owners of trademarks can stop others from using them depending on a variety of factors, including whether the trademark is being used on competing goods, whether consumers would be confused by the dual use of trademark and whether the trademark is being used in the same part of the country on related goods.

Nolo.com also notes that trademark owners may also claim that use of the trademark tarnishes the reputation of the mark or renders it common through overuse.

?For instance, consumers would not think that Microsoft Bakery is associated with Microsoft, the software company, but Microsoft Bakery could still be forced to choose another name under federal and state anti-dilution laws,? according to the website.

http://www.xbiz.com/news_piece.php?id=5873

xclusive · 10-30-2004, 04:57 AM

At least they admitted thier mistakes when a lot of companies wont...

Fake Nick · 10-30-2004, 04:58 AM

hi allan from the uk , this is GFY , as you will probably know people here (most) know something about GEURILLA marketing , or in other words useless posts vor sig views and thus cliks

STOP IT DIPSHIT

DVTimes · 10-30-2004, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fake Nick
hi allan from the uk , this is GFY , as you will probably know people here (most) know something about GEURILLA marketing , or in other words useless posts vor sig views and thus cliks

STOP IT DIPSHIT

Manowar · 10-30-2004, 05:05 AM

nintendo got owned

Wiggles · 10-30-2004, 06:36 AM

haha thats lame, i seriously doubt it was a computer glitch, if that was the case nintendo wold be sending out lawsuit orders to any adult blog etc.

Basic_man · 10-30-2004, 06:38 AM

WTF with Nintendo ?

robfantasy · 10-30-2004, 06:38 AM

I play SUPER NINTENDO while im having sex and surfing adult sites. SUE ME

fr33s3x · 10-30-2004, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by robfantasy
I play SUPER NINTENDO while im having sex and surfing adult sites. SUE ME

slapass · 10-30-2004, 07:29 AM

I bet they just got more members off of that. You have to love advertising.

bringer · 10-30-2004, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by robfantasy
I play SUPER NINTENDO while im having sex and surfing adult sites. SUE ME

whats your email?

10-30-2004, 04:54 AM	#1
DVTimes xxx Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: UK Posts: 31,547	Nintendo Issues Apology, Game Systems for SuicideGirls CYBERSPACE ? Goth girl website SuicideGirls.com received an email from a law firm on Monday, claiming that a user?s profile was infringing on Nintendo trademarks by listing Metroid and Zelda as his favorite video games. The infringement, according to the email from Melissa Morgan Nelson at Perkins Coie LLP in Seattle, came from the profile of a member named RuneLateralus, who opted to post a list of his favorite video games in lieu of his favorite books. ?I enjoy an ice cold Coca Cola on a hot day,? writes SuicideGirls administrator Sean. ?Do you think Coca Cola is going to sue me for posting that?? However, Nintendo of America issued an apology to the website Thursday, claiming that a computer glitch in their fight to protect their trademarks from being used in connection with promoting adult websites. ?The letter was sent as part of an ongoing Nintendo program to aggressively protect our younger consumers from the hundreds of sexually-explicit sites each year that use Nintendo properties to attract children,? said the video game manufacturer. ?We know that many of out fans are old enough to make their own choice about what they want to view on the Internet,? the company continued. ?We value the support of our fans and we respect their decisions.? Nintendo also offered both the user whose profile was targeted and the SuicideGirls administrator a free Nintendo system and game in order to make amends. According to the original email, Nintendo somehow became aware that their trademarks were being used on an adult-oriented website and were less than pleased. ?It has come to our client?s attention recently that you are using the Nintendo trademarks [on] the above-referenced sexually explicit Web site,? the original email reads. ?Nintendo?s customers ? many children and their parents ? have come to identify the Nintendo trademarks with the high quality of Nintendo products,? it continued. ?Your unauthorized use of the Nintendo trademarks will tarnish Nintendo?s reputation.? A post on blog BoingBoing.net called the situation into question, though. ?I called the [San Francisco] and Seattle offices of the law firm representing Nintendo, Perkins Coie,? writes BoingBoing reader Josh. ?They not only seem to not know about this, they can?t even look at it because their firewalls won?t allow them to get to porn sites.? The Intellectual Property Enforcement group at Perkins Coie was unavailable for comment. According to legal education website Nolo.com, owners of trademarks can stop others from using them depending on a variety of factors, including whether the trademark is being used on competing goods, whether consumers would be confused by the dual use of trademark and whether the trademark is being used in the same part of the country on related goods. Nolo.com also notes that trademark owners may also claim that use of the trademark tarnishes the reputation of the mark or renders it common through overuse. ?For instance, consumers would not think that Microsoft Bakery is associated with Microsoft, the software company, but Microsoft Bakery could still be forced to choose another name under federal and state anti-dilution laws,? according to the website. http://www.xbiz.com/news_piece.php?id=5873 __________________ The Affiliate Program

10-30-2004, 04:57 AM	#2
xclusive Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 35,218	At least they admitted thier mistakes when a lot of companies wont... __________________ I support MediumPimpin.com / Shemp's Outlawtgp.com /

10-30-2004, 06:36 AM	#6
Wiggles Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 14,423	haha thats lame, i seriously doubt it was a computer glitch, if that was the case nintendo wold be sending out lawsuit orders to any adult blog etc. __________________ no sig

10-30-2004, 06:38 AM	#7
Basic_man Programming King Pin Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Montreal Posts: 27,360	WTF with Nintendo ? __________________ UUGallery Builder - automated photo/video gallery plugin for Wordpress! Stop looking! Checkout Naked Hosting, online since 1999 !

10-30-2004, 06:38 AM	#8
robfantasy Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Medellin, Colombia Posts: 6,445	I play SUPER NINTENDO while im having sex and surfing adult sites. SUE ME __________________ Looking to speak w/ high volume nutra CPA affiliates or networks... msg me

10-30-2004, 04:58 AM	#3
Fake Nick So Fucking Banned Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: go troll goo! Posts: 7,708	hi allan from the uk , this is GFY , as you will probably know people here (most) know something about GEURILLA marketing , or in other words useless posts vor sig views and thus cliks STOP IT DIPSHIT

10-30-2004, 05:05 AM	#5
Manowar jellyfish Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 71,528	nintendo got owned

10-30-2004, 07:29 AM	#10
slapass Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Earth Posts: 14,625	I bet they just got more members off of that. You have to love advertising.