From PC Mag: A solo indie game developer is facing legal action by Ikea over his unreleased furniture store survival game.
As Kotaku reports(Opens in a new window), the game is called The Store if Closed(Opens in a new window), and is described as a "coop survival game set in an infinite furniture store." The player is trapped in the store and tasked with finding their way out either alone or with the help of friends. Along the way, weapons can be crafted and fortifications built out of furniture, all while surviving attacks from "mutant staff."
Even though there's no direct reference to Ikea in the game, the Swedish company has sent developer Jacob Shaw(Opens in a new window) (also known as Ziggy) a cease and desist letter. Ikea claims the game infringes trademarks because:
"Your game uses a blue and yellow sign with a Scandinavian name on the store, a blue box-like building, yellow vertical stiped shirts identical to those worn by IKEA personnel, a gray path on the floor, furniture that looks like IKEA furniture, and product signage that looks like IKEA signage. All the foregoing immediately suggest that the game takes place in an IKEA store."
The letter goes on to state that "Further, numerous comments by readers of these stories make an association with IKEA stores."
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