Stardock Systems Inc. v. Paul Reiche III and Robert Frederick Ford

Basic background

• who, what, why...

Copyright

Who owns the copyrights in Star Control 1, 2, and 3?

Star Control 1

Copyrighted: 1989-90 - Reiche and Ford

Star Control 2

Copyrighted: Paul Reiche III and Fred Ford

Copyright Registration: PA0002071496

Disputed Elements: Artistic content not created by Reiche and Ford could belong to the original artists.

Star Control 3

Copyrighted: 1996 Accolade, Inc

Copyright Registration: PA0000799000

Disputed Elements: Elements in Star Control 3 that derived from Star Control 2 could belong to Reiche and Ford.

How does the DMCA takedown process work?

• https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/512

Trademarks

What rights are protected under Trademark?

From the United States Patent and Trademark Office: "A trademark is a brand name. A trademark or service mark includes any word, name, symbol, device, or any combination, used or intended to be used to identify and distinguish the goods/services of one seller or provider from those of others, and to indicate the source of the goods/services."

• United States Patent and Trademark Office - Trademark Basics
• Basic Facts: Trademarks, Patents, and Copyrights - USPTOVideo on YouTube
• Basic Facts: Should I Register My Mark? - USPTOVideo on YouTube

Timeline of Star Control history

Creation and release of Star Control 1-3: 1988-1999

• 1988 agreement
• Games

Disappearance, legacy, and re-emergence: 1999-2013

• Interviews
• Best of
• GOG

Timeline of legal dispute

Stardock's new game: 2013-2017

• bankruptcy and sale
• development

Private and public dispute: 2017-present

• public statements
• claims
• settlement offers

List of References

Court Received

• PacerMonitor
• CourtListener
• Stardock Legal Complaint
• Fred and Paul Counter-Complaint
• Stardock Amended Legal Complaint

Fred and Paul Provided

• Dogar and Kazon - “THERE WERE MANY GREAT BATTLES... AND SOME OF THEM INVOLVED LAWYERS.”
• Dogar and Kazon - Star Control® I, II and III aren't for sale on GOG.com anymore -- How come?
• Dogar and Kazon - Stardock Claims We Are Not the Creators of Star Control. Sues Us. WTF?!
• Dogar and Kazon - .... Report From Surface ....
  • GOG/Atari E-mail Conversation
• Dogar and Kazon - Strange Settlement on an Alien Planet
• Dogar and Kazon - Nope and Nope
  • Fred and Paul's Proposed Settlement Agreement, March 22, 2018
  • Stardock's Proposed Settlement Agreement, March 12, 2018
  • Stardock's Proposed Schedule D

Stardock Provided

• Stardock Star Control Forums - Q+A regarding Star Control and Paul and Fred

Federal Trademark and Copyright Registrations

• Trademarks - United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • Trademark (Granted): "Star Control" - Originally by Accolade, Inc. Last Owner: Stardock Systems, Inc
  • Trademark (Filed): "Star Control" - Stardock Systems, Inc
  • Service Mark (Filed): "Star Control" - Stardock Systems, Inc
  • Trademark (Filed): "The Ur-Quan Masters" - Stardock Systems, Inc
  • Trademark (Filed): "The Ur-Quan Masters" - Paul Reiche III
  • Trademark (Filed): "Melnorme" - Stardock Systems Inc
  • Trademark (Filed): "VUX" - Stardock Systems Inc
  • Trademark (Filed): "Pkunk" - Stardock Systems Inc
  • Trademark (Filed): "Ilwrath" - Stardock Systems Inc
  • Trademark (Filed): "Chenjesu" - Stardock Systems Inc
  • Trademark (Filed): "Androsynth" - Stardock Systems Inc
  • Trademark (Filed): "Spathi" - Stardock Systems Inc
  • Trademark (Filed): "SUPER-MELEE" - Stardock Systems Inc
  • Trademark (Filed): "Syreen" - Stardock Systems Inc
  • Trademark (Filed): "Ur-Quan" - Stardock Systems Inc
  • Trademark (Filed): "Orz" - Stardock Systems Inc
  • Trademark (Filed): "Yehat" - Stardock Systems Inc
• Copyrights - United States Copyright Office - United States Copyright Public Catalog
  • Star Control II - PA0002071496 - Fred Ford and Paul Reiche III
  • Star Control III - PA0000799000 - Accolade, Inc

Game Related Materials

Screenshots

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  Star Control 1 Title Screen

• 

  Star Control 2 Title Screen

• 

  Star Control 3 Title Screen