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Digital Chocolate Sues Zynga Over Mafia Wars Name

by Matt Helgeson on August 25, 2010 at 06:30 PM

1,926 Views

Zynga's Mafia Wars was one of the first real social gaming powerhouses (at least until Farmville hit). However, EA founder Trip Hawkins and his social and casual game company Digital Chocolate claims to have published a game called Mafia Wars all the way back in 2004, according to a trademark infringement lawsuit filed today.

Digital Chocolate claims to have sent a letter in 2009 to Zynga demanding that they cease use of the name, but that the Zynga still proceeded to file a claim on the name at the U.S. Patent Trademark Office.

In an official statement, Digital Chocolate states that Zynga has "falsely claimed to the public, the United States Patent Office and the courts that it 'coined' the Mafia Wars mark and owns superior rights to the mark." The company goes on to say, "Digital Chocolate wants Zynga enjoined from using the Mafia Wars name, and ordered to deliver up all Mafia Wars products and "engage in corrective advertising" costing twice what Zynga spent promoting Mafia Wars."

In another interesting wrinkle to the dispute, this case has pitted to old school Electronic Arts veterans against one another -- the aforementioned Trip Hawkins and Zynga board member Bing Gordon, who served as EA's CCO for a decade.

Email the author Matt Helgeson, or follow on Twitter, and Game Informer.

Filed under: News, lawsuit, Impulse, social gaming, mafia wars, zynga, trademark, digital chocolate

Comments

sort by date:

by Steven Anderson Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 06:43 PM

But who really cares?
by Cody Gilley Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 06:45 PM

I can't believe that is considered a game.
by Ezio Auditore Da Firenze Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 06:48 PM

It seems that dude is now interested in the mafia wars cpar thing cause i got facebookers hooked up i bet he just wants to get some cash out fo it and doesnt own a crap XD BTW FARMVILLE SUCKS MONKEY BALLS!!!!
by Thisismynameanddontmakefunofit Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 07:08 PM

They couldn't come up with a name so they stole one. Sucks for them their being sued.
by Colton Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 07:45 PM

It's like a turf war, nerd style!
by Colton Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 07:45 PM

It's like a turf war, nerd style!
by Razorst1tch Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 07:52 PM

why are they suing now?? this game has been out a long time a go
by slymd83 Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 08:37 PM

What took them so long to do anything about it?
by VinsanityV22 Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 09:00 PM

I hate them both. All "Social game developers". They're talentless a--holes profiting off of morons' OCD.

Is there anyway they can, like, BOTH get sued and have to give a billion dollars away? To a REAL game studio? There should be a judge who rules like that - just takes Zynga's money and gives it to studios that need it. That would be ideal.
by Mitch Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 11:24 PM

Who cares about two companies no one really cares about in the gaming community!?
by Donkaman Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 12:47 AM

All I can say about this is... nothing really
by Donkaman Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 12:47 AM

All I can say about this is... nothing really
by Warthog911 Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 07:24 AM

How g@y... Then I would just call it Mafia War, and drop the S... Case closed
by NO7OR1OUS Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 07:32 AM

EA is butthurt that their version didn't get as popular? Say what??
by james Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 12:56 PM

This is probably the one case of Mafia infighting that won't lead to people dying.
by Chrisrolla117 Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 05:26 PM

I always thought Digital Chocolate sold the rights to them Mafia wars was a cell phone game that was kinda like GTA and they had all sorts of weird ones like mafia wars russian mob and stuff
by Roxana Friday, October 15, 2010 at 02:22 AM

Obviously Zynga was more successful at promoting Mafia wars.
by Di5a5terp13ce Friday, October 29, 2010 at 08:06 PM

Who cares about the name?