Tim Langdell: Trademark Troll?
October 3, 2009 11:27 AM Subscribe
Tim Langdell started Edge games in Pasadena in 1990. The studio has produced no games, and has instead made a name for itself as a trademark troll: it attempts to sue almost anyone (flickr) who dares to use the word "edge" in their titles. Recently, the tables have turned, when Electronic Arts asked the United States to cancel all trademarks associated with Langdell, after Langdell attempted to claim copyright for the title Mirror's Edge.
On his official website, Langdell also claims that Edge games was responsible for the UK games magazine Edge; as well as comic book Edge, 1997 movie The Edge, and - bizarrely - the TV series Teenage Wasteland. Much more on the fascinating cretin here and here.
On his official website, Langdell also claims that Edge games was responsible for the UK games magazine Edge; as well as comic book Edge, 1997 movie The Edge, and - bizarrely - the TV series Teenage Wasteland. Much more on the fascinating cretin here and here.
I applaud the use of cretin here most gloriously.
posted by Bageena at 11:39 AM on October 3, 2009 [5 favorites]
posted by Bageena at 11:39 AM on October 3, 2009 [5 favorites]
I'm trademarking all the letter Es on the internet. Pay up or learn to post in this way.
posted by The Whelk at 11:39 AM on October 3, 2009
posted by The Whelk at 11:39 AM on October 3, 2009
That's some good trollin', Lou.
posted by Pope Guilty at 11:40 AM on October 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 11:40 AM on October 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
The best story I've seen on this guy is this one from Eurogamer, which deals both with the Langdell's questionable history and his ongoing feud with Mobigames, creators of the iPhone game Edge*. Mobigames has been absolutely fucked over by Langdell, which sucks because I think their game is, bar none, the best iPhone game to date. Everyone should go out and by it right now.
*Mentioned in one of the links, but I think it deserves a special callout.
posted by martens at 12:07 PM on October 3, 2009 [5 favorites]
*Mentioned in one of the links, but I think it deserves a special callout.
posted by martens at 12:07 PM on October 3, 2009 [5 favorites]
We could have used this guy to keep the Bridget Jones sequel from coming out.
posted by Johnny Assay at 12:17 PM on October 3, 2009 [5 favorites]
posted by Johnny Assay at 12:17 PM on October 3, 2009 [5 favorites]
Mirror's edge is a fantastic game. I hope that ea is making a fuss because the sequel is coming out soon.
posted by kylej at 12:29 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by kylej at 12:29 PM on October 3, 2009
@martens: Damnit! I missed that link, it's probably better than all mine put together!
@kylej: It is indeed. It's probably better than all Time Langdell's put together.
posted by hnnrs at 12:30 PM on October 3, 2009
@kylej: It is indeed. It's probably better than all Time Langdell's put together.
posted by hnnrs at 12:30 PM on October 3, 2009
Something had happened. A thing which, years ago, had been the eagerest hope of many, many good citizens of the town, and now it had come at last; Tim Langdell had got his comeuppance.
posted by Joe Beese at 12:32 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by Joe Beese at 12:32 PM on October 3, 2009
If this guy were an animal, he'd be a lamprey.
posted by you just lost the game at 12:35 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by you just lost the game at 12:35 PM on October 3, 2009
Mirror's edge is a fantastic game. I hope that ea is making a fuss because the sequel is coming out soon.
It is indeed. It's probably better than all Time Langdell's put together.
This is not really fair though, 'cause it's got an advantage over his games by the fact that it exists.
posted by dubitable at 12:43 PM on October 3, 2009 [5 favorites]
It is indeed. It's probably better than all Time Langdell's put together.
This is not really fair though, 'cause it's got an advantage over his games by the fact that it exists.
posted by dubitable at 12:43 PM on October 3, 2009 [5 favorites]
After a brief look at the website, I have one small comment: I'm not sure that releasing a particular game allows you to say that every version of the game where you released it in a different language counts as an entirely new game.
And I don't think he counts as a lamprey. He's some bowel-dwelling parasite.
posted by mephron at 12:49 PM on October 3, 2009
And I don't think he counts as a lamprey. He's some bowel-dwelling parasite.
posted by mephron at 12:49 PM on October 3, 2009
I applaud the use of cretin here most gloriously.
The Ramones attorney is on line two and wants to speak to you about this joke...
posted by drjimmy11 at 12:53 PM on October 3, 2009
The Ramones attorney is on line two and wants to speak to you about this joke...
posted by drjimmy11 at 12:53 PM on October 3, 2009
So... Bobby Bearing - that's basically a Marble Madness/Spindizzy rip off, isn't it?
posted by Artw at 1:01 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 1:01 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Has he sued U2 yet?
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 1:07 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 1:07 PM on October 3, 2009
You know, I really should read the whole thread before posting... well the first comment at least.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 1:08 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 1:08 PM on October 3, 2009
That's a magnificent comment there, Joe.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 1:09 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 1:09 PM on October 3, 2009
I am amused by Langdell's argument that EA is a bad guy, therefore he must be the good guy.
IP bullies make me so mad. I'm not usually sympathetic to EA, and their attempt to portray themselves as looking after other smaller developers here is not at all convincing, but I still hope this goes very badly for Langdell.
I wish the IP system (patent, trademark, copyright) had some stronger measures to discourage this kind of behavior; The risk that you lose your trademark that has no legitimate value is hardly much of a disincentive.
posted by aubilenon at 1:20 PM on October 3, 2009
IP bullies make me so mad. I'm not usually sympathetic to EA, and their attempt to portray themselves as looking after other smaller developers here is not at all convincing, but I still hope this goes very badly for Langdell.
I wish the IP system (patent, trademark, copyright) had some stronger measures to discourage this kind of behavior; The risk that you lose your trademark that has no legitimate value is hardly much of a disincentive.
posted by aubilenon at 1:20 PM on October 3, 2009
I wonder if he would sue if I named my game Tim Langdel Can Suck My Balls. Because I would take him to court and say it was a different Tim, a fictional one that spells his name with one 'L'. Then I'd punch him in the dick.
posted by P.o.B. at 1:49 PM on October 3, 2009 [8 favorites]
posted by P.o.B. at 1:49 PM on October 3, 2009 [8 favorites]
Goddammit.
Codswallop Games' Somerset Maugham-themed "Razor's Edge: The Game" is due to ship next Thursday.
posted by codswallop at 2:07 PM on October 3, 2009
Codswallop Games' Somerset Maugham-themed "Razor's Edge: The Game" is due to ship next Thursday.
posted by codswallop at 2:07 PM on October 3, 2009
Reading through the blog ChaosEdge is pretty enlighting to how much of cock Langdell is. The funny thing is this guy is trying to say they came up with a game they were going to release a year before EA announced Mirror's Edge. Good luck with that one.
posted by P.o.B. at 2:32 PM on October 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by P.o.B. at 2:32 PM on October 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
I wish the IP system (patent, trademark, copyright) had some stronger measures to discourage this kind of behavior; The risk that you lose your trademark that has no legitimate value is hardly much of a disincentive.
I gather from the article that suing people is the only business he's been engaged in for about two decades, so losing his trademark is losing his golden goose. Sort of like how it ended for SCO (though they are still around, barely), except he's kept it going much longer than they did.
posted by krinklyfig at 2:34 PM on October 3, 2009
I gather from the article that suing people is the only business he's been engaged in for about two decades, so losing his trademark is losing his golden goose. Sort of like how it ended for SCO (though they are still around, barely), except he's kept it going much longer than they did.
posted by krinklyfig at 2:34 PM on October 3, 2009
About U2: There was supposed to be a U2 Guitar Hero game that somehow never came out. People have speculated that was because U2 doesn't have many big guitar solos, which doesn't sound right to me. I wonder if the jokesters posting about Langdell/The Edge might not be right. Guitar Hero is made by Activision.
posted by CCBC at 2:37 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by CCBC at 2:37 PM on October 3, 2009
Goddammit.
Eric N. & Rakim Media's 'The Edge of Darkness: The Game' is due to ship next Friday.
posted by ericb at 2:57 PM on October 3, 2009
Eric N. & Rakim Media's 'The Edge of Darkness: The Game' is due to ship next Friday.
posted by ericb at 2:57 PM on October 3, 2009
Incidentally, several people have posted in various forums that Langdell sued U2/The Edge in 1993, but a UK court dismissed the suit. I have not been able to verify this.
posted by CCBC at 3:04 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by CCBC at 3:04 PM on October 3, 2009
People have speculated that was because U2 doesn't have many big guitar solos, which doesn't sound right to me.
It's probably because Edge's guitar solos involve playing the same 2-3 notes over and over again with a lot of Brian Eno effects added on top of that.
*spoken as a true U2 fan who isn't blind to their weaknesses*
posted by hippybear at 3:09 PM on October 3, 2009 [4 favorites]
It's probably because Edge's guitar solos involve playing the same 2-3 notes over and over again with a lot of Brian Eno effects added on top of that.
*spoken as a true U2 fan who isn't blind to their weaknesses*
posted by hippybear at 3:09 PM on October 3, 2009 [4 favorites]
Mobigames has been absolutely fucked over by Langdell, which sucks because I think their game is, bar none, the best iPhone game to date. Everyone should go out and by it right now.
They should indeed. Though, if I recall correctly, Apple have pulled it from the App Store because of Langdell's complaints.
I hope Langdell ends up sleeping rough under the same bridge as the guy who tried to trademark the words "Stealth" and "Chutzpah".
posted by acb at 3:24 PM on October 3, 2009
They should indeed. Though, if I recall correctly, Apple have pulled it from the App Store because of Langdell's complaints.
I hope Langdell ends up sleeping rough under the same bridge as the guy who tried to trademark the words "Stealth" and "Chutzpah".
posted by acb at 3:24 PM on October 3, 2009
This is not really fair though, 'cause it's got an advantage over his games by the fact that it exists.
posted by dubitable at 12:43 PM on October 3
Couldn't one call that having an...
Edge?
posted by Mister Moofoo at 3:56 PM on October 3, 2009 [6 favorites]
posted by dubitable at 12:43 PM on October 3
Couldn't one call that having an...
Edge?
posted by Mister Moofoo at 3:56 PM on October 3, 2009 [6 favorites]
I concur with the commenter in the Eurogamer forum thread who hopes Mobigames renames it "Edge Edgingtons Edgy Edgeventures on the Edge of Edginess."
posted by gamera at 3:58 PM on October 3, 2009 [5 favorites]
posted by gamera at 3:58 PM on October 3, 2009 [5 favorites]
Couldn't one call that having an...
Edge?
Sure, if you wanna get sued.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 5:29 PM on October 3, 2009
Edge?
Sure, if you wanna get sued.
posted by furiousxgeorge at 5:29 PM on October 3, 2009
I gather from the article that suing people is the only business he's been engaged in for about two decades, so losing his trademark is losing his golden goose. Sort of like how it ended for SCO (though they are still around, barely), except he's kept it going much longer than they did.
Right, so after making money off this for over a decade they might have to find another job. That IS a lot less attractive than doing real work!
posted by aubilenon at 6:42 PM on October 3, 2009
Right, so after making money off this for over a decade they might have to find another job. That IS a lot less attractive than doing real work!
posted by aubilenon at 6:42 PM on October 3, 2009
Because he's a trademark Troll, a troll of trademarks, GET IT!!!! *glares menacingly*
posted by Severian at 6:56 PM on October 3, 2009
posted by Severian at 6:56 PM on October 3, 2009
Am I the only one who kind of admires this guy? I mean, he stumbled into something that means he can earn gobs of cash without having to do anything. That's pretty much my life-long dream. It's kind of sleazy, but he's just exploiting the law, not impoverished workers in China or something like that.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 9:23 PM on October 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 9:23 PM on October 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
Am I the only one who kind of admires this guy?
Hopefully.
posted by inigo2 at 9:27 PM on October 3, 2009 [10 favorites]
Hopefully.
posted by inigo2 at 9:27 PM on October 3, 2009 [10 favorites]
Just got the Edge iPhone game. For once there's something I can get in Canada that I can't get in the US! Besides socialized medicine and all that.
posted by pravit at 10:08 PM on October 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by pravit at 10:08 PM on October 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
but he's just exploiting the law
No, he's not. He's using the law to exploit others hard work. Fuck him and anybody who thinks this is a good way to go about making money.
I've been ripped off before by con men and hucksters. I either blamed my own stupidity or at least appreciated the 'work' that went into the con. Not that I'm excusing that type of behavior as compared to what Langdell is doing, but like I said at least they were putting in a bit of work. Langdell has all of Jack and shit. Diddly and squat. He's got naught, nada, null, aught, zip, zero, zilch...bupkis. He's got the name of his company and whiny threats. Seriously, read the blog. I don't know this guy from Adam, and he might be a freaking saint outside of his worklife, but there is some pretty damning evidence against him in there (like an ironic consistency in stealing others work for his own use). Somehow people have let this megalomaniac gain traction in the past, and for once I will applaud EA for stomping on someone's neck.
posted by P.o.B. at 11:38 PM on October 3, 2009 [4 favorites]
No, he's not. He's using the law to exploit others hard work. Fuck him and anybody who thinks this is a good way to go about making money.
I've been ripped off before by con men and hucksters. I either blamed my own stupidity or at least appreciated the 'work' that went into the con. Not that I'm excusing that type of behavior as compared to what Langdell is doing, but like I said at least they were putting in a bit of work. Langdell has all of Jack and shit. Diddly and squat. He's got naught, nada, null, aught, zip, zero, zilch...bupkis. He's got the name of his company and whiny threats. Seriously, read the blog. I don't know this guy from Adam, and he might be a freaking saint outside of his worklife, but there is some pretty damning evidence against him in there (like an ironic consistency in stealing others work for his own use). Somehow people have let this megalomaniac gain traction in the past, and for once I will applaud EA for stomping on someone's neck.
posted by P.o.B. at 11:38 PM on October 3, 2009 [4 favorites]
In defence of the 80s incarnation of The Edge, Fairlight was pretty cool. Oh wait, Langdell screwed the developer on that.
posted by Artw at 11:59 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 11:59 PM on October 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
t's kind of sleazy, but he's just exploiting the law, not impoverished workers in China or something like that.
That's true on its face, but the victims of his legal exploits are other actual people and businesses who happen to be unlucky enough to stumble upon his carefully planted trademark landmines, and it does real damage to them.
posted by krinklyfig at 12:14 AM on October 4, 2009 [1 favorite]
That's true on its face, but the victims of his legal exploits are other actual people and businesses who happen to be unlucky enough to stumble upon his carefully planted trademark landmines, and it does real damage to them.
posted by krinklyfig at 12:14 AM on October 4, 2009 [1 favorite]
Don't push me cause I'm close to the edge.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 4:22 AM on October 4, 2009
posted by ActingTheGoat at 4:22 AM on October 4, 2009
Edge is, by far, the best iPhone game I've played and it deserves to be out there for everyone, not pulled because of some complete litigious asshat. I'm very much looking forward to whatever the company releases next.
posted by fstorr at 8:43 AM on October 4, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by fstorr at 8:43 AM on October 4, 2009 [2 favorites]
In defence of the 80s incarnation of The Edge, Fairlight was pretty cool. Oh wait, Langdell screwed the developer on that.
Yeah, screwed him enough to make him leave the gaming business for good and move back to Sweden. Judging from his home page, he's still into IT, working on administrative systems as a subcontractor and maintaining a cat page, so I guess it could be worse, but...
posted by effbot at 8:59 AM on October 4, 2009
Yeah, screwed him enough to make him leave the gaming business for good and move back to Sweden. Judging from his home page, he's still into IT, working on administrative systems as a subcontractor and maintaining a cat page, so I guess it could be worse, but...
posted by effbot at 8:59 AM on October 4, 2009
(the Fairlight guy's about my age, btw, and we got into programming in almost exactly the same way. Same era, a least. And great times for people who wanted to tinker with things on their own. I never got around to buy a Spectrum, though...)
posted by effbot at 9:02 AM on October 4, 2009
posted by effbot at 9:02 AM on October 4, 2009
C=64 then Amiga here.
Judging by the blog he's pretty much screwed over ever developer he's ever met.
posted by Artw at 9:34 AM on October 4, 2009
Judging by the blog he's pretty much screwed over ever developer he's ever met.
posted by Artw at 9:34 AM on October 4, 2009
Goddammit!
Medium4mat Games was due to release "Edgiest Edge 2: Over the Edge" next month.
posted by medium format at 10:08 AM on October 4, 2009
Medium4mat Games was due to release "Edgiest Edge 2: Over the Edge" next month.
posted by medium format at 10:08 AM on October 4, 2009
Langdell flatly denied that Edge ever committed fraud in applying for its U.S. trademarks.
So, are there repercussions he'll face if this turns out to be not the case? And if so, what are the chances that the judge could get creative with sentencing... I'm thinking "we are going to ensure that we fit an 'edge' into all aspects of your punishment. How do you feel about cliffs and knives? Because both are going to feature prominently in your life for the next couple of months..."
posted by quin at 10:13 AM on October 5, 2009 [1 favorite]
So, are there repercussions he'll face if this turns out to be not the case? And if so, what are the chances that the judge could get creative with sentencing... I'm thinking "we are going to ensure that we fit an 'edge' into all aspects of your punishment. How do you feel about cliffs and knives? Because both are going to feature prominently in your life for the next couple of months..."
posted by quin at 10:13 AM on October 5, 2009 [1 favorite]
Update on what is hopefully a happy ending for Mobigame.
posted by jontyjago at 6:15 AM on October 19, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by jontyjago at 6:15 AM on October 19, 2009 [2 favorites]
« Older qsr drive-thru service study | Free Night of Theater (2009) Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by nathan_teske at 11:36 AM on October 3, 2009 [16 favorites]