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Edge developer Mobigame on Langdell EA ruling: 'it is not over yet'

Developer considering legal action against Edge Games

Edge developer Mobigame on Langdell EA ruling: 'it is not over yet'
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Yesterday we learned, thanks to Industry Gamers, that a court has rejected Edge Games's motion for injunction against powerhouse EA on the grounds that company founder Tim Langdell has been “trolling” the video game industry. The possibility of “criminal penalties” was raised.

Mobigame's David Papazian – whose acclaimed puzzler Edge was for a long time absent from the App Store thanks to Edge Games's litigation, and now goes by the name Mobigame's Edge – has written to Pocket Gamer to relay his company's reaction to yesterday's judgement.

“This is an extremely good news of course!” Papazian writes. “It is the first time that a court recognize that Tim Langdell was "trolling various gaming-related industries for licensing opportunities" and recognises that (quoting the judgment) there is "compelling evidence that the asserted marks were fraudulently registered and / or have been abandoned".

However, Papazian sounds a note of caution. “But it is not over yet,” he writes. “The next step is to have all his trademarks cancelled by the USPTO. After that he will not be able to damage anyone.”

Of course, Mobigame and others have incurred losses as a result of Edge Games's 'trolling' since Edge hit the App Store. “We are still thinking to start a legal action against him to claim areparation for the prejudice.”

Read the full statement below.

This is an extremely good news of course! It is the first time that a court recognize that Tim Langdell was "trolling various gaming-related industries for licensing opportunities" and recognises that (quoting the judgment) there is "compelling evidence that the asserted marks were fraudulently registered and / or have been abandoned".

If you read the judgment, it is clear that the evidence includes a significant amount of that was collected and made available by the games community including especially the people at Chaos Edge (http://chaosedge.wordpress.com/). They found new evidence and did a great job to put it together following the initial reaction to the threats made about our "EDGE" game.

But it is not over yet, now we will continue to support EA in the battle against Tim Langdell. The next step is to have all his trademarks cancelled by the USPTO. After that he will not be able to damage anyone.

We are still thinking to start a legal action against him to claim a reparation for the prejudice, but we also have other priorities and we prefer to look forward. We have a big game to announce really soon and we are going to release EDGE for the Sony PSP (Minis) and for the Apple iPad. This news will reinsure our partners that we were right from the start.

I would also like to thank our solicitor Alex Chapman at Sheridans because despite Langdell's efforts EDGE is still on the App Store and the company Connect2Media trusted us and our legal position enough to publish the game on other mobile phones this year. As EA said, it is a victory for all indies, but also for all journalists and developers who helped during this procedure. I cannot speak for EA, but I think we must all thank The Chaos Engine (a forum of 8,000 developers) for their support.

It is just the beginning, Tim Langdell did not harass only EA or us, but many other companies. I bet that more good news will follow soon.

Rob Hearn
Rob Hearn
Having obtained a distinguished education, Rob became Steel Media's managing editor, now he's no longer here though.