Band named after WoW, copyright?

Community General Discussion
1

We’ve had a 3 piece for ahwile now and finally came up with a name, but it’s a weapon in World of Warcraft.

We going to get sued by Blizzard for using it?

2

Possibly. Might want to check some of the copyright laws. If it’s just a small local thing, I don’t think you’ll have an issue. But I’m not a lawyer.

3

What is the weapon? Is it some generic “Sword of the Phoenix” or something or is it a legendary artifact we’re talking?

4

My lawyer expertise comes from watching Better Call Saul. So. Yeah.

You wouldn’t get sued. At worst you’d get a “cease and desist” type letter telling you to stop using it, and you’d just have to change names.

There have been plenty of bands that took their names from movie characters, for instance. And were never sued. Or forced to change their name.

In 2003, Mattel attempted to sue the band “Aqua” for the Barbie Girl song. The Supreme Court rejected their case.

Generally, you would not have an issue, unless you are showing whatever you named it after in a negative light.

5

what is the name of that band?

6

There are some weapons (amongst other things) in wow that arent original names. Id check and see if wow borrowed it from somewhere else. Even if they didnt you may still be good.

7

I doubt it. There are a lot of metal bands like ‘Gorgoroth’ that take their name from stuff in Lord of Rings, and such.

There was also a band named ‘Frostmourne’, until they split up.

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8

The only thing I remember from some of my law classes a hundred years ago is you can’t copyright names but you can trademark them. The band Green Jello had to change it’s name since “Jello” is a trademark. On the other hand the band Duran Duran is a character from a movie and since it wasn’t trademarked nothing could be done.

(shrugs in confusion and eats cookies while drinking ice coffee)

:cookie:

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9

There’s a song called Clint Eastwood. It’s been around for 10ish years.

My guess is as long as your band name isn’t World of Warcraft, you’ll be fine.

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10

We don’t plan on making it to Ozzfest lol but the metal scene is pretty big around my parts. Our Bros made a little over a grand with a album they made, last summer.

We actually contemplated. “Icecrown” for a name. But we don’t want to face legal issues.

11

How about Iced Latte Crown. Man i want some iced coffee n cookies.

12

I highly doubt that Blizzard would have grounds to come after you for a band named Icecrown.

If your band was named World of Warcraft or Blizzard Entertainment, then sure. But I doubt you’ll have much issue with something like that. Hell, you could probably name a band something even more specific to WoW like “Arcanite Reaper” and not have a problem.

I’m not a lawyer by trade, just offering up what rationale is telling me. I think you’d be in the clear on the types of things it sounds like you’re looking at. Unless you were in someway disparaging the product, Blizzard would probably take it as a feather in their cap that their products could engender that kind of appreciation as to inspire a referencing name of band.

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13

So perhaps something like.

Azzinoth
Xal’atath
Xal’atol

Something straight out of the game.

We don’t even know who to actually call to ask about any legal ramifications, since we may be making a couple bucks of our music.

14

I present to you Okilly Dokilly, a metal core band entirely based on the character of Ned Flanders from The Simpsons. If these guys haven’t been sued I’m pretty sure you’re g2g.

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15

Copyright protects creative works. Trademarks protect the name of brands. So generally, as long as you don’t name your band “Blizzard Entertainment Music” or “Battle for Azeroth Band” you should be fine. A weapon in a video game is not a brand.

You can search current trademarked brands online. Just Google “trademark search” for the site.

16

You might be able to contact blizzard on that one.

What genre is your metal band?

17

with the way Fortnite got sued over dance animations, i wonder if that’s why Blizzard didn’t use the Carlton dance for WoW

18

I’d be more worried about Disney and some connection to Frozen.

Put a space in it. Ice Crown, then it’s a generic crown made of ice.

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19

I’m not sure how interactive it is, but you can try running the name by copyright@blizzard.com

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20

Will try link after work! Thanks :slight_smile: