Iconic English metal act Iron Maiden have launched a $2 million trademark lawsuit, with the makers of the Ion Maiden video game in their sights.
More than 20 years after heavy metal legends Iron Maiden released their Ed Hunter video game, the group have filed a massive trademark lawsuit.
As Kotaku reports, the lawsuit in question centres around the 2018 video game Ion Maiden. A first-person shooter, that serves as the sequel to 2016’s Bombshell, the game was developed by Voidpoint, and published by 3D Realms.
However, a lawsuit filed Tuesday by Iron Maiden Holdings Limited against 3D Realms claims that the game’s title has caused widespread “confusion among consumers.”
“Defendant’s Ion Maiden name is nearly identical to the Iron Maiden trademark in appearance, sound and overall commercial impression,” the lawsuit claims. “Defendant also uses the Ion Maiden name to sell merchandise including shirts and mouse pads.”
Check out Iron Maiden’s ‘Hallowed Be Thy Name’:
Of course, while many might point out that people are smart enough to know the difference between a metal band and a video game, the lawsuit claims that people have been repeatedly duped in the past, with some “expressing genuine excitement for an Iron Maiden video game.”
“Defendant’s misappropriation and use of a virtually identical imitation of the Iron Maiden trademark creates a likelihood of confusion among consumers,” the lawsuit continued.
“Customers who view Defendant’s video game and merchandise are likely to believe that Iron Maiden is somehow affiliated with Defendant.”
“Without even examining the content of the Ion Maiden video game, confusion is undeniable because of the virtually identical use of the iconic Iron Maiden mark for video games, a product that Iron Maiden has been selling for nearly 20 years, and shirts, a product that Iron Maiden has been selling for nearly 40 years.”
Furthermore, the lawsuit posits that the inclusion of a character called Shelly Harrison is an attempt to copy the name of Iron Maiden founder Steve Harris, and that the game has a similar look and feel as the 2016 game Legacy Of The Beast.
Iron Maiden are reportedly seeking $2 million in damages, while requesting that the company either cancel or trademark the registration of the Ion Maiden web domain.
3D Realms are yet to respond to the lawsuit.
Check out an announcement trailer for Ion Maiden:
