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Image credit: Ubisoft
Ubisoft and Microsoft are allegedly going to take sellers of fake official merchandise to court for trademark infringement and counterfeiting.
As reported by IGN, in a complaint filed on April 19, 2023, Ubisoft claims that a number of individuals and companies have been selling unlicensed Assassin's Creed merch through different storefronts including iOffer, Wish, and Amazon. It says these products are "inferior limitations" that use design elements and trademarks to make buyers think they are genuine.
These sellers are allegedly tinkering with SEO to keep their listings in the top results on Google. In the past, they avoided responsibility by creating new seller names and switching bank accounts and websites.
Ubisoft is charging the sellers with trademark infringement and counterfeiting, false designation of origin, and violation of Illinois' Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The company wants them shut down without any possibility of return and also up to $2 million on top for "each and every use of their Trademarks."
Several days later, Microsoft filed a similar lawsuit in the same court, according to IGN, for Minecraft merch sold via Amazon, Walmart, and eCRATER. It's not clear if the companies work together or it's just a coincidence as the names of the sellers in question have not been disclosed. Ubisoft thinks they are mostly based in China and other foreign countries and communicate in chatrooms to share strategies.
"Tactics used by Defendants to conceal their identities and the full scope of their operation make it virtually impossible for Microsoft to learn Defendants’ true identities and the exact interworking of their counterfeit network," Microsoft's complaint says. "If Defendants provide additional credible information regarding their identities, Microsoft will take appropriate steps to amend the Complaint."
Microsoft wants to take the sellers by surprise by not revealing their names until a temporary restraining order is issued so they can't avoid legal action.
So be vigilant when buying merch and use official platforms if you can. Read more here and join our 80 Level Talent platform and our Telegram channel, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.
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