As some of you guys might know I'm danish. The biggest danish battlefield site www.BFGeeks.com has recived a statement from 'Electronic Arts Denmark' stating that they no longer want to use their trademarks in association with the official Danish Championship in Battlefield 2 ("DM").
Below is the original press relese / article from the owner of BFGeeks, "Hjortdal":
Press Release from BFGeeks
BFGeeks is suspending it’s relationship with 
Electronic Arts Denmark. It's both BFGeeks and TGBF-Radio whom suspend its contact. Read more about why here.
Written by:Hjortdal - 10/03 - 2006 Kl. 22:12
Newstype: News
- BFGeeks is suspending it’s relationship with Electronic Arts Denmark.
The reason BFGeeks has taken this position is due to the fact that Electronic Arts Denmark has forbid the use of their Trademarks in association with “DM” (Danish championships -red). Yours truly believed that a pre-existing agreement between BFGeeks and Electronic Arts Denmark for the use of EA Trademarks in "DM in Battlefield 8vs8" would apply to all “DM” events. The agreement also included clauses that BFGeeks would not refer to it’s event as "The official Danish Championships" nor would BFGeeks mention EA in connection with any of it’s events. BFGeeks has respected these terms.
Today, Friday March 10th, I received a message on my answering machine from Thomas Koed, product manager for Electronics Arts Denmark and I would like to make it clear that the tone of his message was less than friendly, that we had to rename the event or cancel it immediately.
I replied to Mr Koed immediately to find out what it was all about and I was basically told the same thing as was on my answering machine. After a brief conversation back and forth about how I thought Electronic Arts Denmark was mistreating the community, I told Thomas Koed that BFGeeks would terminate any cooperation with Electronic Arts Denmark from this day forward.
It’s obvious that Electronic Arts Denmark does not understand or appreciate the impact BFGeeks has had on promoting their product and thereby enhancing their sales with no monetary or real compensation to BFGeeks. It’s the love of the game by gamers to promote and support Battlefield to the community through BFGeeks as a “non-profit” organization. In fact Electronic Arts Denmark has in the past requested BFGeeks to delete posts within it’s forums that were not flattering to EA. BFGeeks has complied but no more. Relationships are a two way street and this is obviously a one sided affair.
BFGeeks and TGBF-RADIO have invested considerable time, money and personal effort to support the community with the Battlefield series and in turn this has had a direct positive benefit to Electronic Arts Denmark whether they wish to recognize it or not. I believe that by antagonizing the community and the people who place their efforts into it “for FREE”, Electronic Arts Denmark has made a considerable PR mistake and I can only hope that this attitude is not representative of all Divisions of Electronic Arts worldwide.
What this will mean for the "Dm in Inf" event I cannot say at this moment but one thing is certain, the event will take place and BFGeeks will continue because we do not think that Electronic Arts Denmark should be allowed to step on us and make us do whatever they want. In fact, I have to question what trademark is being used at all. Is the word “Battlefield” itself, a generic common language word, a trademark at all? I can understand it’s trademark value used in conjunction with “1942” or “2” and BFGeeks has always tried to respect copyrights and trademarks but at this point I will question everything that Electronic Arts has to say on this matter.
At the time of this Press Release, one our valued sponsors has graciously offered their legal departments’ assistance on the trademark issue and protecting our rights as a “non-profit” organization.
- Source: http://www.bfgeeks.com/
I hope some of you will take the time to drop by the site. Its a really great site and its also available in english - for those of you who don't understand danish
Below is the original press relese / article from the owner of BFGeeks, "Hjortdal":
Press Release from BFGeeks
BFGeeks is suspending it’s relationship with Electronic Arts Denmark. It's both BFGeeks and TGBF-Radio whom suspend its contact. Read more about why here.Written by:
Hjortdal - 10/03 - 2006 Kl. 22:12Newstype: News
- BFGeeks is suspending it’s relationship with Electronic Arts Denmark.
The reason BFGeeks has taken this position is due to the fact that Electronic Arts Denmark has forbid the use of their Trademarks in association with “DM” (Danish championships -red). Yours truly believed that a pre-existing agreement between BFGeeks and Electronic Arts Denmark for the use of EA Trademarks in "DM in Battlefield 8vs8" would apply to all “DM” events. The agreement also included clauses that BFGeeks would not refer to it’s event as "The official Danish Championships" nor would BFGeeks mention EA in connection with any of it’s events. BFGeeks has respected these terms.
Today, Friday March 10th, I received a message on my answering machine from
Thomas Koed, product manager for Electronics Arts Denmark and I would like to make it clear that the tone of his message was less than friendly, that we had to rename the event or cancel it immediately. I replied to Mr Koed immediately to find out what it was all about and I was basically told the same thing as was on my answering machine. After a brief conversation back and forth about how I thought Electronic Arts Denmark was mistreating the community, I told Thomas Koed that BFGeeks would terminate any cooperation with Electronic Arts Denmark from this day forward.
It’s obvious that Electronic Arts Denmark does not understand or appreciate the impact BFGeeks has had on promoting their product and thereby enhancing their sales with no monetary or real compensation to BFGeeks. It’s the love of the game by gamers to promote and support Battlefield to the community through BFGeeks as a “non-profit” organization. In fact Electronic Arts Denmark has in the past requested BFGeeks to delete posts within it’s forums that were not flattering to EA. BFGeeks has complied but no more. Relationships are a two way street and this is obviously a one sided affair.
BFGeeks and TGBF-RADIO have invested considerable time, money and personal effort to support the community with the Battlefield series and in turn this has had a direct positive benefit to Electronic Arts Denmark whether they wish to recognize it or not. I believe that by antagonizing the community and the people who place their efforts into it “for FREE”, Electronic Arts Denmark has made a considerable PR mistake and I can only hope that this attitude is not representative of all Divisions of Electronic Arts worldwide.
What this will mean for the "Dm in Inf" event I cannot say at this moment but one thing is certain, the event will take place and BFGeeks will continue because we do not think that Electronic Arts Denmark should be allowed to step on us and make us do whatever they want. In fact, I have to question what trademark is being used at all. Is the word “Battlefield” itself, a generic common language word, a trademark at all? I can understand it’s trademark value used in conjunction with “1942” or “2” and BFGeeks has always tried to respect copyrights and trademarks but at this point I will question everything that Electronic Arts has to say on this matter.
At the time of this Press Release, one our valued sponsors has graciously offered their legal departments’ assistance on the trademark issue and protecting our rights as a “non-profit” organization.
- Source: http://www.bfgeeks.com/
I hope some of you will take the time to drop by the site. Its a really great site and its also available in english - for those of you who don't understand danish
Last edited by Z-trooper (2006-03-11 09:51:00)