Home Gaming Studio sues studio for cloning, gets sued by Blizzard for copyright infringement

Studio sues studio for cloning, gets sued by Blizzard for copyright infringement

1 min read
95

Lawyer

Ever feel like all games are the same? Sure, sometimes we get a cool new one, but especially on mobile every game starts to feel like a clone of another game. Heroes Charge already looked like a weird DOTA clone when we saw it during its Super Bowl ad, but apparently there’s another company who thinks they’ve been copied.

Lilith Games, the developers of a mobile game called Soul Clash, has filed suit against uCool, the developers of Heroes Charge. They allege that Heroes Charge is just a clone of Soul Clash:

Heroes Charge is so identical to Soul Clash in the rules, the character set, and even the user interface that we assume it could have been created by decompiling the source code of our original game.

Meanwhile, Blizzard isn’t too happy with Soul Clash. Known in Taiwan as DOTA Legend, Blizzard is suing for violation of copyright and trademark laws.

It’s all a rather tricky situation, although I do find it funny that Lilith Games’ lawyers will be fighting and defending similar claims. Are the games clones? Is it copyright infringement against Blizzard? Probably, but at this point I think it’s what we’ve come to expect in mobile (and mainstream) games. There are so many clones as everyone tries to replicate other games’ success. It’s important for all these companies to take action and defend their IP, but it is rather entertaining when they’re defending something that they stole in the first place.

Last Updated: March 25, 2015

95 Comments

  1. Pariah

    March 25, 2015 at 13:31

    • Ranting Raptor

      March 25, 2015 at 14:48

      Darnit. Wanted to do a yo dawg meme myself

      Reply

  2. Blood Emperor Trevor

    March 25, 2015 at 13:34

    Calling themselves DOTA Legend. How stupid. What did they think would happen?

    Reply

    • Pariah

      March 25, 2015 at 13:40

      Free money. They should try EA/Ubi for inspiration instead.

      Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      March 25, 2015 at 13:41

      I bet Taiwan has the same copyright laws as China.

      Reply

    • Kensei Seraph

      March 25, 2015 at 13:51

      I remember playing a Warcraft III map called Dota Legends.
      Maybe the creator of that map should join in on this.

      Reply

    • RinceThis

      March 25, 2015 at 14:03

      That people would be too busy shouting n$$b to notice?

      Reply

      • Pariah

        March 25, 2015 at 14:04

        Maybe if you got better, people would stop shouting n$$b at you.

        *RUNS

        Reply

        • RinceThis

          March 25, 2015 at 14:08

          I’ve never played it NOOB!

          Reply

          • Captain JJ the damned

            March 25, 2015 at 14:11

            Stahp!

          • Lord Chaos

            March 25, 2015 at 14:11

            *Something profane about your mother* 😛

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            March 25, 2015 at 14:12

            Technically that does make you a noob. O_o

          • RinceThis

            March 25, 2015 at 14:15

            Pretty sure people who play it get called noob, people who don’t, don’t. Learn your facts!

          • Captain JJ the damned

            March 25, 2015 at 14:15

            Trevor doesn’t need facts.

          • RinceThis

            March 25, 2015 at 14:16

            This is true… He makes his own shit up on the spot!

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            March 25, 2015 at 14:17

            *pearls of wisdom

          • RinceThis

            March 25, 2015 at 14:18

            0_O Is that what you call that!?

          • Captain JJ the damned

            March 25, 2015 at 14:18

            In his defense, it usually does sound plausible. At least until he starts making up his own words.

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            March 25, 2015 at 14:19

            I have to invent my own words because the world hasn’t created the ones I need.

          • Captain JJ the damned

            March 25, 2015 at 14:20

            XD

          • Dutch Matrix

            March 25, 2015 at 14:18

            We all make our own shit up. Did you ever have to make up shit for someone else? “There. I’ve made your shit up for you. Now go and poop.”

          • Lord Chaos

            March 25, 2015 at 14:21

            You should try writing a business requirement spec.

          • Captain JJ the damned

            March 25, 2015 at 14:22

            He can write a DLC announcement speech for EA.

          • RinceThis

            March 25, 2015 at 14:23

            Eish!

          • Pariah

            March 25, 2015 at 14:28

            LOL!

          • Dutch Matrix

            March 25, 2015 at 14:30

            Dear Piles of Money I am ever so sorry Gamers.
            Continuing with our proud tradition of ripping you off at every turn I mean our proud tradition of bringing you great gaming content, we are happy to announce our next batch of cash grabbing DLC!
            You Morons I mean gamers can now give us your hard earned cash for a new skin for Soldier #487, which you will see for two seconds in the Single Player campaign of Battlefield Hardline.
            This amazing DLC will cost you no more than $75.00 and no less than $75.00. And it will be a requirement for online play.
            But fret not! Pre order this DLC and we will throw in Sim Cop, a new selectable character based on the new Sims expansion pack, because we be pressing the ads right in your face!

          • Captain JJ the damned

            March 25, 2015 at 14:32

            Hahaha. That Sims bit just did it.

          • Lord Chaos

            March 25, 2015 at 14:32

            Not bad, but you forgot the persistent online connection for bullet physics.

          • Pariah

            March 25, 2015 at 14:41

            I’d buy that. Wait, where am I?

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            March 25, 2015 at 14:18

            Facts are for hippies

  3. Hammersteyn

    March 25, 2015 at 13:42

    Mobile games are the new get rich quick scheme. Clone a game, add MT up the ass and sit back and wait for the money to roll in.

    Reply

    • Pariah

      March 25, 2015 at 13:43

      *takes notes*

      Reply

      • Jaded_Reprobate

        March 25, 2015 at 13:44

        *clones notes*

        Reply

        • Pariah

          March 25, 2015 at 13:46

          Shit, you may have a head start on me in this industry. :/

          Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          March 25, 2015 at 13:47

          *Sues you*

          Reply

          • Pariah

            March 25, 2015 at 13:48

            Oh hi Blizzardsteyn.

          • Hammersteyn

            March 25, 2015 at 13:50

            *Sues you for slander

          • Pariah

            March 25, 2015 at 13:50

            *Counter sues for undermining a compliment*

          • Hammersteyn

            March 25, 2015 at 13:51

            *Sues you for overuse of my wifes name. Her name is Sue*

          • Kensei Seraph

            March 25, 2015 at 13:52

            *Sues for slandering my Aunt Sue*

          • Pariah

            March 25, 2015 at 13:52

            So do you say to her “So, Sue me!” When you’re in the mood? 😛

          • Hammersteyn

            March 25, 2015 at 13:54

            No because then she takes half of everything in the divorce. I’d say “I put it to you” and then rub against her if i were in the mood

          • Pariah

            March 25, 2015 at 13:55

            No prenup, no ring. Bitches must lea… I mean. I love her so much.

          • Pariah

            March 25, 2015 at 13:55

            I’m such a class act… ion.

          • Hammersteyn

            March 25, 2015 at 13:57

          • Pariah

            March 25, 2015 at 13:59

            “Are you gonna call me?” LOL!

          • Hammersteyn

            March 25, 2015 at 14:31

            Evil Red Foreman FTW

          • Jaded_Reprobate

            March 25, 2015 at 13:56

            Refresh

          • Jaded_Reprobate

            March 25, 2015 at 13:48

            *Sues Pariah*

            Side note: i think i’m getting the hang of this industry

          • Pariah

            March 25, 2015 at 13:48

            *Sues you for getting my name wrong*

          • Jaded_Reprobate

            March 25, 2015 at 13:49

            lmao

          • Hammersteyn

            March 25, 2015 at 13:50

            *Sues you because i sued @jaded_reprobate:disqus first

          • Hammersteyn

            March 25, 2015 at 13:49

            Indeed

  4. Hammersteyn

    March 25, 2015 at 13:43

    I’d sue Blizzard for sueing me while I’m sueing someone else.

    Reply

    • Kensei Seraph

      March 25, 2015 at 13:50

      And that person’s cat would probably be suing you for something about fish.

      Reply

    • Ghost In The Rift

      March 25, 2015 at 13:57

      Well ill just man the braai outside the court with a dop..*FTW*

      Reply

      • Lord Chaos

        March 25, 2015 at 13:59

        Sue you for pollution. It’s Taiwan after all.

        Reply

        • Ghost In The Rift

          March 25, 2015 at 14:03

          *Looks at you sarcastically while drinking my dop*..:-P

          Reply

          • Lord Chaos

            March 25, 2015 at 14:05

            Too bad your Tjop is now missing.

  5. Darren Peach

    March 25, 2015 at 13:51

    After watching many episodes of Dragons Den, I consider myself a pseudo patent expert. Although the above-mentioned seems clear cut, How do you patent something as abstract as gameplay ?

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      March 25, 2015 at 13:52

      With a dozen high priced lawyers?

      Reply

      • Darren Peach

        March 25, 2015 at 13:54

        I walked into that one. LOL.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          March 25, 2015 at 13:55

          Hehe I’m jsut guessing, but I would start there if I had the cash.

          Reply

          • Darren Peach

            March 25, 2015 at 13:56

            Ha…..Jsut !

          • Pariah

            March 25, 2015 at 13:56

            It’s French.

          • Darren Peach

            March 25, 2015 at 13:57

            I took you seriously and googled it.

          • Pariah

            March 25, 2015 at 13:59

            LOL!!!!

          • Hammersteyn

            March 25, 2015 at 13:58

            I’m about as French as Bin Laden

          • Dutch Matrix

            March 25, 2015 at 13:59

            Well, if you walked out of a French Brothel you would have Bin Laden

          • Pariah

            March 25, 2015 at 14:01

          • Hammersteyn

            March 25, 2015 at 14:31

            BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

    • Dutch Matrix

      March 25, 2015 at 13:52

      If I recall correctly, in the era of the 16-bit, Sega tried to patent side scrolling. It blew up in their face.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        March 25, 2015 at 13:54

        LOL!

        Reply

      • Darren Peach

        March 25, 2015 at 14:11

        Imagine ID tried to patent the FPS.

        Reply

  6. Captain JJ the damned

    March 25, 2015 at 13:58

    I’m kindof disappointed that it’s not Bethesda doing the suing.

    Reply

  7. WitWolfy

    March 25, 2015 at 14:03

    If their going to be like that, then Rockstar should sue every open world game that ever existed too then.. Seeing that they were the first company to do it like 13 years ago!!

    Reply

    • Pariah

      March 25, 2015 at 14:05

      Or you know. Just keep making the one everyone wants theirs to be.

      Reply

    • Captain JJ the damned

      March 25, 2015 at 14:07

      That’s way too broad-based though. It’s like saying only one company is allowed to make a side-scroller.
      The case here is quite clearly very specific.

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        March 25, 2015 at 14:10

        Stop being sensible you!

        Reply

        • Captain JJ the damned

          March 25, 2015 at 14:11

          Stop judging my sensibility!

          Reply

          • Lord Chaos

            March 25, 2015 at 14:13

            I find your sensibility guilty of first degree reason.

          • Captain JJ the damned

            March 25, 2015 at 14:15

            Please, don’t take me to the unaligned chambers again!

          • Lord Chaos

            March 25, 2015 at 14:19

            Was thinking more along the line of locking you in a room with Jaden Smith…

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            March 25, 2015 at 14:21

            Locked in a room with… him!

          • Captain JJ the damned

            March 25, 2015 at 14:21

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            March 25, 2015 at 14:22

            How did you know that’s what he’d be wearing?

          • Captain JJ the damned

            March 25, 2015 at 14:22

            LOL

      • WitWolfy

        March 25, 2015 at 14:13

        Hush you… I played a lawyer a simulator once. I know my stuff.

        Reply

        • Captain JJ the damned

          March 25, 2015 at 14:15

          😀

          Reply

        • J_Joestar

          March 25, 2015 at 17:36

          OBJECTION!
          HOLD IT!
          TAKE THAT!

          Reply

  8. CuddlesaurusRex

    March 25, 2015 at 14:24

    Did the God of War peeps ever sue the Dante’s inferno fellows?

    Reply

  9. Gareth L (That eXCheez Guy)

    March 25, 2015 at 14:49

    Ha! Blizzard and copyright infringement? Has no one heard StarCraft 2’s cutscene cinematic score, and how it’s a complete knock-off of Steve Jablonsky’s Transformers score?

    Reply

    • Captain JJ the damned

      March 25, 2015 at 14:52

      O_O
      I’m a little more interested in how no one thinks it’s a problem that StarCraft is a copy of Warhammer 40k.

      Reply

      • Gareth L (That eXCheez Guy)

        March 25, 2015 at 14:53

        Right on the money, man!

        Reply

  10. Lothy

    March 26, 2015 at 11:01

    Im amazed car manufacturers aren’t suing each other. OMG ur design has 4 wheels and that is a copyright infringement on our car with 4 wheels!

    Reply

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