Mob Entertainment, the creative force behind the popular jump-scare survival horror game, Poppy Playtime, has filed a lawsuit against Google.
The studio alleges that the tech behemoth has allowed various unauthorized games that infringe on its intellectual property to thrive in its marketplace.
Legal Action Against Counterfeit Games
In its recent legal filing, Mob Entertainment claims that Google is facilitating the distribution of illegitimate copies of Poppy Playtime on the Google Play store.
Notably, two of these knockoffs are marketed as Poppy Playtime Chapter 3 and Chapter 4, both developed by a creator known as Daigo.
As of this moment, these replicas remain available for download.
The episodic nature of Poppy Playtime adds to the frustration felt by Mob Entertainment.
The studio argues that by permitting these deceptive games to use the “Poppy Playtime” title and imply they contain new chapters, Google is undermining the integrity of their brand.
This misrepresentation risks deceiving fans into thinking they are accessing authentic new content.
Claims of Trademark and Copyright Infringement
The lawsuit also points out that these imitators not only co-opt the well-known Poppy Playtime name but also allegedly misuse visuals from Poppy Playtime 2.
Mob Entertainment claims that images from its original game have been misrepresented as gameplay from these unauthorized versions.
Mob Entertainment holds Google accountable for not effectively tackling the issue of counterfeit games in its app ecosystem.
The studio revealed it had submitted multiple DMCA takedown requests and directly contacted Google about these unauthorized entries.
Although Google removed the fraudulent games back in December, they quickly reappeared on the Play store, and no additional actions have been taken against their developers, according to the studio.
Financial Implications and Consumer Deception
The presence of these imitation games, which are reportedly riddled with flaws like poor grammar and unappealing color palettes, has potentially tarnished Mob Entertainment’s reputation.
The studio is especially worried that younger audiences could be misled into spending their money on subpar, counterfeit products.
Moreover, the lawsuit contends that Google stands to benefit financially from these scams as well.
Mob Entertainment argues that both Google and Daigo’s unauthorized games are exploiting the studio’s trademarks and copyrighted materials to swindle consumers, leading to substantial financial losses for fans who might pay upwards of $95 for a game that has not yet made its official debut on Google Play.
The studio emphasizes that Google profits significantly from these unauthorized titles.
As it stands, Google has not yet responded publicly to the claims laid out in the lawsuit.
Source: GameSpot