As you ought to know by now, popularWarcraft IIImodDefense of the Ancients(known around the world simply asDotA) is getting a full Source Engine sequel, complete with a Valve-flavored trademark. Blizzard doesn’t seem too thrilled with this, with design boss Rob Pardo essentially claiming that the name’s been wrested from the hands of the fans.
“To us, that means that you’re really taking it away from the Blizzard andWarcraft IIIcommunity and that just doesn’t seem the right thing to do,” says Pardo. “It just seems a really strange move to us that Valve would go off and try to exclusively trademark the term considering it’s something that’s been freely available to us and everyone in theWarcraft IIIcommunity up to this point.
“Valve is usually so pro mod community. It’s such a community company that it just seems like a really strange move to us … I really don’t understand why [they would do it], to be honest.”
What do you reckon? Is this out of character for Valve? Should a thrall of Activision really be lecturing other companies on ruthless business tactics? DoesDotAbelong to the people? Only you can say!
Valve shouldn’t trademark DOTA – Blizzard[Eurogamer]
