IGDA speaks out against King’s trademark filings

The International Game Developers Association has released a statement chiding Candy Crush Saga developer King’s recent trademark attacks against other developers.

Games Industry posted the organization’s statement, attributed to executive director Kate Edwards, and the group confirmed it has its business/legal special interest group looking into the issue of King’s predatory” trademark tactics:

"As an advocacy organization for game developers, the IGDA diligently monitors issues that may restrict a developer’s ability to create and distribute his or her work. After reviewing the Trademark filing and subsequent conduct by King Inc. in relation to its popular game, Candy Crush Saga, we feel we should comment,” Edwards stated.

"While we understand and respect the appropriate exercise of Trademark rights, King’s overreaching filing in its application for the Trademark for its game Candy Crush Saga, and its predatory efforts to apply that mark to each separate word contained in that name, are in opposition to the values of openness and cooperation we support industry wide, and directly contradict the statement King’s CEO, Riccardo Zacconi, made on January 27th. Our Business and Legal Special Interest Group will be providing a more comprehensive analysis of this issue from its perspective soon."

The statement arrives following word that King has filed for an IPO to take the company public.