Square Enix Files Lawsuit Over Unlicensed Sword Replicas
Posted by x3sphere at February 12, 2008, 2:49 pm
Square Enix has filed a lawsuit against four wholesale retailers, alleging that the companies have infringed on four videogames and one CG-animated film in the Final Fantasy series by selling unlicensed sword replicas.
The lawsuit was filed shortly after the United States Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol seized a crate of counterfeit swords replicating that of the famous swords featured in Square Enix’s Final Fantasy franchise.
“While Square Enix appreciates the enthusiasm of its fans, and values its relationship with them, it is also obligated to protect its intellectual property rights or risk weakening or losing the very rights that enable the company to continue to provide its fans with an exciting entertainment experience,” said Yasuhiko Hasegawa, Square Enix’s General Manager of Legal Affairs, in a statement released today.
Read more: Unlicensed Sword Dealers Agree To Pay Square Enix $600,000, Gallery: Square Enix 2008 Lineup, Final Fantasy I & II To Hit Europe In 2008, No More Final Fantasy for Xbox 360, Final Fantasy XIII Dated for March 9 In North America
I laughed out loud when I read this...
A friend bought me one of the swords from that picture (the smaller one). You can hardly call them "replicas", they look so crappy.
I mean look at those....do EITHER of them truly embody the design of the buster sword? The general shape, sure, but they're cheaply made and frankly aren't worth making in the first place.
I always wondered how those sword makers stayed in business.
I encourage everyone to go look up the "gunblade" replicas...they're atrocious.
http://www.phantomblades.com/images/images_big/gunblade.jpg