Hasbro pulls the trigger, files lawsuit against Scrabulous makers

July 25 06:05:03 AM, LA Times

Blog: The owner of Scrabble sues the developers of the popular word game played by millions of Facebook users each month, claiming copyright infringement.

...months ago when Hasbro, which owns the rights to Scrabble in North America, and Mattel, which owns the rights elsewhere, sent cease-and-desist letters to the Agarwalla brothers, who reside in India. The brothers issued a statement vowing to keep the application live.

Hasbro earlier this month introduced a beta version of its official Scrabble game on Facebook. Developed by Electronic Arts, the game is slated to be broadly available to all Facebook members sometime next month. "We want to give Scrabble fans a legitimate way to play the game," said Mark Blecher, Hasbro's general manager of digital media and gaming.

So far in the court of public opinion, players have ruled in favor of Scrabulous. While Scrabble counted 8,862 active players this morning on Facebook, Scrabulous had 512,961. Blecher said the game hasn't really begun, since Scrabble is still in beta, which means only players who have been invited can access the application.

Hasbro, through EA, has also developed Scrabble for iPhones and iPods. The game is also featured on EA's online game site, Pogo.

"Our primary goal is to give fans the chance to experience their passion in as many places as possible," Blecher said.

Anywhere but Scrabulous.

"Scrabulous looks like Scrabble, plays like Scrabble, and it sounds like Scrabble," Blecher said. "So it’s theft of intellectual property. It is just that simple. This is no different than when the recording industry considers it theft if people post songs on Napster and allow others to copy it for free."

-- Alex Pham

Image courtesy of Scrabulous

Permalink | Comments (1) TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/816965/31588838

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Hasbro pulls the trigger, files lawsuit against Scrabulous makers:

Comments

The suit looks strong on its face. They do a nice job in the pleading of setting up the factual basis for infringement of both copyright and trademark. Interesting how Hasbro waited until after getting its on game on line - perhaps to give die hard fans of Scrabulous a place to land if they are successful in shutting the game down. It will be interesting to see if Facebook responds to the DMCA notice and what Hasbro will do if they don't take it down. Should be a fun battle to watch.

Posted by: Henry Sneath | July 24, 2008 at 02:14 PM

Post a comment If you are under 13 years of age you may read this message board, but you may not participate.
Here are the full legal terms you agree to by using this comment form.

Comments are moderated, and will not appear until they've been approved.

Name:

E-mail Address:

URL:

Remember personal info?

Comments:

Recent Comments Hasbro pulls the trigger, files lawsuit against Scrabulous makers
The suit looks strong on its face. They ...
comment by Henry Sneath Around the Web 7.24.08: Microsoft fumbles, Facebook connects, hackers target Google, Apple
Hopefully, the Mainstream Media won't be...
comment by Lewis Haidt Meebo wants to get the Web chatting
Another interesting company in the same ...
comment by IM fan Subscribe to this Blog Our Bloggers Alex Pham covers consumer electronics and video games (no, she doesn't get to play World of Warcraft all day). She has been a business reporter for nearly two decades, writing for the Oregonian, the Washington Post, USA Today and the Boston Globe before joining the Times in 1999 at the peak of the dot.com bubble. When not chewing on SEC filings, Alex enjoys mixing up Lego bricks with her son. alex.pham @ latimes.com

Source

Financial turmoil takes toll on September sales
AP - WHAT'S UP: Retailers are expected to report dismal same-store sales figures on Wednesday, providing the first full gauge of consumer behavior since the financial meltdown began. The only bright spots…
World stock markets plunge as bailouts in US, Europe fail to ease financial fears
LONDON (AP) _ Stock markets slumped worldwide Monday, some marking record one-day drops, on fears the global financial crisis will worsen and hit the wider economy despite bank bailouts in the U.S. and…
Dominick's to re-open Rogers Park store
Dominick's announced Monday it will reopen its store in Rogers Park, one of 14 underperforming Chicago-area outlets that were closed last year.
World's stock markets sink; Dow falls below 10,000
Foreign governments' attempts to shore up financial institutions trigger a sell-off. Credit markets remain tight; a potentially severe worldwide recession is feared. But oil prices drop. …
Kraft to cut 400 jobs, most at division HQs
Kraft Foods Inc. on Monday said it's cutting 400 jobs in its North American operations, primarily at its divisional headquarters.
Bank of America reports profit drop, capital raise
NEW YORK -- Bank of America Corp. today reported its third-quarter results earlier than planned, revealing a 68 percent profit drop and plans to boost capital by selling stock and halving its dividend.
SEC charges Democratic fundraiser Hsu with fraud
Reuters - A Democratic fundraiser whose troubles prompted Hillary Clinton to return $850,000 in campaign contributions on Monday was charged with operating a $60 million Ponzi scheme.
BofA earnings tumble, cuts dividend; to raise $10 billion
Reuters - Bank of America Corp, the largest U.S. bank, on Monday reported a 68 percent drop in quarterly earnings, halved its dividend and said it would seek to raise $10 billion in additional capital.
Could that have been the bottom?
Money & Co. blog: Wall Street looks for signs of a final "capitulation." One possible hint: Jim Cramer says "sell."
Citigroup sues Wachovia, Wells Fargo for $60 billion
NEW YORK -- Citigroup has filed a complaint in New York Supreme Court against Wachovia, Wells Fargo and the directors of both companies seeking more than $60 billion in damages for interfering with the…
Corus CFO resigns
Corus Bankshares Inc. said Monday afternoon that Chief Financial Officer Tim Taylor has resigned, and his duties at the Chicago bank holding company will be divided between two senior officers.
Oil drops 6 percent to below $88 on demand concerns
Reuters - Oil dropped more than 6 percent to below $88 a barrel on Monday as a global market rout churned concerns that faltering fuel demand could slow further.
Desperate markets want rate cuts
Money & Co. blog: "Last weapon left" is for central banks to lower short-term interest rates.
2010 Fords will let parents limit speed, stereo
DETROIT (AP) _ So you think junior is a little too lead-footed when he drives the family car? Starting next year, Ford Motor Co. will give you the power to do something about it.
Lehman Brothers chief executive faces lawmakers
Rep. Henry Waxman of Los Angeles grills Richard Fuld about compensation he acquired while the 128-year-old investment bank foundered. …
Credit crisis adds to pressures on auto dealers
AP - Hundreds of thousands of new cars and trucks that would have quickly made their way to people's driveways a year ago are now stacking up on dealer lots across the country, with potential buyers worried…
In Lakewood, the downturn hits home
Residents are worried about job security, retirement and making ends meet. On Candlewood Street, some are scared that they're just a few paychecks or an unforeseen crisis away from disaster. …
Kraft to cut several hundred jobs
Kraft Foods is slated Monday to announce layoffs in its North American operations, a cost-cutting move that could result in the loss of several hundred jobs.
Dow drops below 10,000 amid global sell-off
Wall Street tumbled below 10,000 Monday for the first time since 2004, joining a selloff around the world, as fears grew that the financial crisis will cascade through economies globally despite bailout…
EBay to cut 1,000 jobs, will buy Bill Me Later
SAN JOSE -- EBay Inc. said today it will cut about 1,000 employees, reducing its work force by about 10 percent.
Financing puts brakes on car dealers
NEW YORK (AP) _ Hundreds of thousands of new cars and trucks that would have quickly made their way to people's driveways a year ago are now stacking up on dealer lots across the country, with potential…
European, Asian markets plunge on crisis fears
AP - Asian and European stock markets plunged Monday as government bank bailouts in the U.S. and Europe failed to alleviate fears that the global financial crisis would depress world economic growth.
EBay plans to cut work force by 1,000 joba
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) _ EBay Inc. said on Monday it will cut about 1,000 employees, reducing its work force by about 10 percent.
Countrywide mortgage pact may be worth $3.5 billion to California loan holders
Bank of America Corp. agrees to nation's largest mortgage-workout program to settle charges of lending abuse. …