Copyright Infringement & Passing Off in the Video Game Industry
This article explains copyright infringement and passing off in the video game industry, focusing on unlawful use of promotional materials in mobile gaming advertising. It provides legal insights from Karamanolis & Karamanolis LLC, a law firm specializing in video game intellectual property law, trademark protection, and digital advertising disputes.
In a recent high-profile matter, Karamanolis & Karamanolis LLC successfully advised and represented a French video game company in a cross-border intellectual property dispute against a Cyprus-based entity operating in the mobile gaming sector.
Copyright Infringement & Passing Off in the Video Game Industry
The Cyprus entity unlawfully used copyright-protected creatives, advertising assets, and promotional materials from our client’s well-known casual mobile video game in its own social media advertising campaigns. The infringing advertisements were deliberately designed to mislead users, redirect traffic, and cause consumers to believe they were downloading our client’s game, when in fact they were being diverted to a competing mobile game.
This conduct constituted:
- Copyright infringement
- Passing off
- Misleading advertising
- Unfair competition within the video game market
Interim Injunctions & Immediate Legal Enforcement
Recognizing the urgency and commercial impact of digital copyright violations in the gaming industry, Karamanolis & Karamanolis LLC adopted an immediate and aggressive enforcement strategy. Legal proceedings were initiated without delay, alongside an application for interim injunctions seeking urgent relief.
The Court granted injunctions prohibiting the unauthorized use of our client’s game creatives and advertising materials pending final adjudication of the claim.
Effective & Cost-Efficient Resolution
Following service of the interim injunctions, the infringing party immediately complied, agreeing to:
- Remove all infringing and stolen advertising material
- Cease use of our client’s intellectual property
- Consent to final injunctions permanently prohibiting future misuse of our client’s video game creatives
This matter demonstrates how early intervention, strategic litigation, and interim relief can be a highly effective and cost-efficient solution to copyright infringement and passing off in the video game and mobile gaming industries, particularly where digital advertising and user deception are involved.
Why Karamanolis & Karamanolis LLC
Karamanolis & Karamanolis LLC regularly advises video game studios, publishers, developers, and digital content creators on:
- Video game copyright protection
- Trademark enforcement in gaming
- Passing off and unfair competition
- Digital advertising and social media infringement
- Cross-border IP disputes
- Interim injunctions and urgent relief
Karamanolis & Karamanolis LLC has extensive experience advising and representing video game developers and publishers in complex intellectual property disputes within the global video game industry, including matters involving copyright infringement, trademarks, passing off, unfair competition, and misuse of digital advertising creatives.