How to know if someone can sue me for game name

As I was thinking about name for my game it came to me: “can someone sue me for game name, how to know if they can or if name can’t be sued?” Thank you. Example I found book with same name as my game but only difference is “a” before name, can i then use the name or not?

In the U.S., at least, anyone can sue anyone for any reason at any time. The question you want answered is, “will I win?” Unless you’re rich or belong to the ministry of free lawyers, the answer is most likely “no.” You have lost the moment you get sued.

Lawsuits over nothing at all (see SCO vs. Novell) have gone on for decades, and have cost tens of millions of dollars to litigate.

On the bright side, the odds of getting sued for your game name, unless it is very similar to a popular, high-profile one, are minuscule. And if anyone is going to sue you, odds are you’ll have ample opportunity to change your game name well before it costs you one [insert your country’s lowest coinage].

We all proceed at our own risk.

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Thank you dude, nicely said

If you mean trademarks, you can check on USPTO and EUIPO. They have nice free search for any trademarks that have the name you plan to use for your game. It’s better to check at the start of the project as once marketing starts it might be too late to change the name.

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I recently discovered that the term ‘Choose your own adventure’ is protected and they quite actively pursue anyone that uses it. I was quite disappointed.

I forget all the details and heard about this back with Totalbiscuit.

There was a card/tactics game named scroll that Bethesda sued because it was to close to Elder Scrolls. Bethesda is 100% in the wrong here but you never know what big companies will decide to be crazy about. so best to be careful. FYI don’t tempt Nintendo lawyers ever!

I loved Scrolls (now named Callers Bane). :two_hearts: Too bad it didn’t succeed. And on top of that came the $%&% move from Bethesda.

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And now Microsoft owns both studios.