Blizzard Files Opposition to Valve’s Trademark of DOTA

(Note: This news article was published 02/12/2012 for Press2Reset)

World of Warcraft publisher says it “will be damaged” by DOTA 2 release 

Blizzard has attempted to block Valve’s impending trademark application for their upcoming title DOTA 2, according to a report on Kotaku.

Filed on November 16, 2011, Blizzard states in their Notice of Opposition that it “will be damaged by the registration of the mark.” Blizzard also argues that, for more than seven years, the name has become associated with Blizzard and Warcraft III.

While establishing its credentials, the World of Warcraft developer then states that Valve “has never used the mark DOTA in connection with any product or service that currently is available to the public.” Further along in their file, Blizzard adds, “Valve has no rights in or to the DOTA mark. Valve has never released, distributed, or sold any products using the mark DOTA.”

Defense of the Ancients, aka DotA, originated as a Warcraft III mod. After the mod’s rise to popularity, Valve decided to hire the developer IceFrog, who was primarily working on the mod after the original creators had moved on. In 2010, Valve filed the paperwork for trademarking the word while announcing the development of a direct sequel to the mod.

At that time Blizzard did not take legal action.

No word from Valve has been issued in regards to Blizzard’s legal move.

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