Stardock Systems Inc. v. Paul Reiche III and Robert Frederick Ford
Community Q+A guidelines
Editor behavior
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Verification in reliable sources
- All statements on this page should be verified in reliable sources, using footnote citations.
- The most reliable sources are statutes, neutral legal experts, and news outlets with editorial oversight and fact-checking
- Evidence submitted by the parties (Stardock, Paul Reiche III, and Fred Ford) is assumed to be reliable and accurate, under penalty of law.
- Public statements by the parties are only relevant and reliable for understanding how the dispute has been represented by the parties.
- Clearly distinguish between types of sources, for the sake of the readers.
- Third party forum posts, blogs, and opinion pieces are NOT reliable. In rare exceptions, they might be relevant as evidence of a legal issue. Use and mark them accordingly.
- Statements in the Q+A without reliable sources should be verified to reliable sources, or removed.
Neutrality
- Maintain a neutral point of view. Even if you have strong feelings, the Q+A should not. Let the reliable sources speak.
- Where there is potential bias, discuss the best way to maintain neutrality. Consider replacing with better sources, comparing the sources, adding a note, or removing altogether.
- Clearly note areas of disagreement, to distinguish them from widely agreed facts.
- Evidence and statements published by the parties (Stardock, Paul Reiche III, and Fred Ford) should be marked clearly and used with care.
- Speculation should be careful, clear, and limited. Refer to relevant outcomes described by the parties, with analysis from reliable sources as much as possible.
Readability
- Utilize internet archives to protect sources from being deleted or modified as the legal dispute continues.
- Use quotes and/or images to highlight areas under dispute.
- Don't overuse quotes and/or images where footnotes will do, particularly for issues not under dispute.
- Strive to be concise. Avoid redundancy.
- As this wiki stabilizes, we will move these guidelines to make the Q+A more readable.
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
Star Control 3
Copyrighted: 1996 Accolade, Inc
Copyright Registration: PA0000799000
Disputed Elements: Elements in Star Control 3 that derived from Star Control 2.
What rights are protected under copyright?
What is a derivative work?
... what's the dispute ...
How does the DMCA takedown process work?
Licensing agreement
What is a licensing agreement?
... 1988 licensing agreement ...
... acquisition of licensing agreement ...
Trademarks
Who owns the Trademark in "Star Control"?
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
... what's the dispute ...
What about the recent Trademark applications?
Unfair competition
What are the allegations of unfair competition in each lawsuit?
Why does it matter if P&F call themselves the "creators of Star Control"?
Why does it matter how Stardock described their relationship with P&F leading up to SC:O?
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 ....
- Dogar and Kazon - Strange Settlement on an Alien Planet
- Dogar and Kazon - Nope and Nope
Stardock Provided
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