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Buzztime Entertainment has filed suit with SCEE over the super-popular Buzz! series of quiz games, claiming the franchise violates several trademarks.
Buzztime, who makes those electronic trivia games you play in your favorite restaurants and bars, apparently feels that the name Buzz! and the tagline of "It's time to get buzzing" hit just a bit too close to home. Buzztime also makes games for cell phones and satellite TV, but what's probably more pertinent to this case is the home version of its trivia game.
The suit essentially accuses Sony of use Buzztime's good name to help sell* Buzz!*, and that Sony is guilty of "malicious, fraudulent, knowing, willful, and deliberate" violation of its trademarks. Buzztime owns the trademarks for several "buzzy" words and phrases, including "Buzztime," "Buzzhead," "Share the Buzz," and "Buzzkids," but does not own a trademark for "Buzz" or "Buzz!"
Buzztime wants the offending products recalled and destroyed, actual damages, punitive damages, legal fees, a pound of flesh, the kitchen sink, and a puppy. They also want the US Patent and Trademark office to deny Sony's pending application to trademark "Buzz!".
They just might get it, too. Though Buzz! has been a hit over in Europe for some time (they're even field-testing a version for schools), Buzztime doesn't have a presence there, so there was no real danger of a consumer thinking one had anything to do with the other. Now that Buzz! has come stateside, things have changed.
The names and products are similar enough to cause confusion for consumers, and the argument could be made that the confusion is costing Buzztime money. It's a stretch to say that Sony was "malicious" in their actions, but you can definitely see how the Buzztime folks just might have a case.
Sony Buzz-ed with trademark suit [Gamespot]
