Taito issued a public statement today confirming that it is “seriously considering” to take legal action against digital artist Douglas Edric Stanley for his unauthorized of Space Invaders assets in Invaders!, a 9/11 based modification of the 1987 arcade original. Without Taito’s consent, the game was shown off as part of the exhibit “30 Years of Space Invaders” at this year’s Leipzig Games Convention.

TAITO is seriously considering all available options–including legal actions against the infringer and, if necessary, the Games Convention exhibitor involved–in order to end this unauthorized and impermissible misuse of the Space Invaders content and to protect TAITO’s intellectual properties.

Demoed at GC earlier today, the game ignited controversy with alien-like creatures from the Space Invaders franchise blasting holes in a digital mock-up of the World Trade Center.

TAITO COMMENT REGARDING THE UNAUTHORIZED USE OF SPACE INVADERS

AT THE GAMES CONVENTION IN LEIPZIG

Los Angeles (August 22, 2008) – TAITO Corporation (TAITO), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Co., Ltd., today stated unequivocally that the “Invaders!” installation by Douglas Edric Stanley and displayed at the Games Convention held in Leipzig, Germany was produced entirely without TAITO’s knowledge and that the use of the world-famous Space Invaders® content was wholly unauthorized. The “Space Invaders: Die Jubiläumsshow!” (“Space Invaders: the Anniversary Show”) exhibition of the Computer Game Museum Berlin hosting the installation was likewise planned and presented without TAITO’s knowledge and authorization.

TAITO is seriously considering all available options–including legal actions against the infringer and, if necessary, the Games Convention exhibitor involved–in order to end this unauthorized and impermissible misuse of the Space Invaders content and to protect TAITO’s intellectual properties.

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