On Thursday, October 23, THQ filed suit in the Central District of California for trade dress and copyright infringement. THQ alleges that the box art for Activision’s SCORE International Baja 1000 The Official Game infringes the trade dress and copyright of THQ’s Baja Edge of Control.
As you can see from the picture above, the similarities are quite striking. THQ alleges that both the front and back packaging of the games in question are “virtually identical,” including the color, position, and appearance of the vehicles as well as the environments depicted on the box.
THQ is concerned that Activision will benefit from the millions invested in marketing Baja Edge of Control.
While there are only so many ways you can make a video game about the Baja 1000 look exciting, the similarities here are substantial. THQ also previously contacted Activision and requested that they create alternative packaging for SCORE International Baja 1000.
Patent Arcade and Laws of Play will be closely following the case, which is docketed as: THQ Inc. v. Activision Blizzard, Inc., case number CV08-06999. The full complaint can be download on the Patent Arcade website.
[via Patent Arcade]
