Blizzard Entertainment and Valve have announced that the two gaming giants have reached an agreement regarding the use of the DOTA name. In the settlement, Blizzard will be able to retain the non-commercial use of the DOTA name with regard to consumer-created maps for Warcraft III and Starcraft II.

"Both Blizzard and Valve recognize that, at the end of the day, players just want to be able to play the games they're looking forward to, so we're happy to come to an agreement that helps both of us stay focused on that," said Rob Pardo, executive vice president of game design at Blizzard Entertainment. "As part of this agreement, we're going to be changing the name of Blizzard DOTA to Blizzard All-Stars, which ultimately better reflects the design of our game. We look forward to going into more detail on that at a later date."

 

"We're pleased that we could come to an agreement with Blizzard without drawing things out in a way that would benefit no one," said Gabe Newell, president and co-founder of Valve. "We both want to focus on the things our fans care about, creating and shipping great games for our communities."

 

The companies do not plan to discuss the terms of the agreement beyond today's announcement.

Source: Email press release

So Blizzard opted to go with "Blizzard All-Stars" instead of the DOTA moniker?

If I didn't know better, it would seem like Blizz pushed it's weight right into the ghost of Johnnie Cochran and decided to bow out and take it as a loss. Like a Mexican standoff in a room full of equally expensive lawyers.

Blizzard sued Valve for the name, right? And Blizzard had to change the name of their game as a result, right? All of Blizzard's base are belong to Valve.

:[ blizzards claim to the name dota was almost none existant  lol

Originally posted by gilgamesh42

:[ blizzards claim to the name dota was almost none existant  lol

As is Valve's, as is Icefrog's.

The community owns the name DotA, no particular person or company does.

So afterall tey shook hands

Can't blame Blizzard for trying, but Valve wasn't dumb or too poor to take them on.  Blizzard really didn't have a leg to stand on.

Originally posted by ArEf

Originally posted by gilgamesh42

:[ blizzards claim to the name dota was almost none existant  lol

As is Valve's, as is Icefrog's.

The community owns the name DotA, no particular person or company does.

 

And this is why they went to court.  This is what most don't seem to understand, the only thing the lawsuit was attempting to do was prevent valve from copyrighting the "DOTA" name, nothing else.  They weren't trying to keep it for themselves as others around here claimed, they were simply trying to stop valve from copyrighting it.

Lol! Blizzard sues Valve and winds up changing the name of thier own game. I wonder who won that argument.

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Originally posted by niceguy3978

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Originally posted by ArEf

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Originally posted by gilgamesh42 :[ blizzards claim to the name dota was almost none existant  lol

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As is Valve's, as is Icefrog's. The community owns the name DotA, no particular person or company does.  

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And this is why they went to court.  This is what most don't seem to understand, the only thing the lawsuit was attempting to do was prevent valve from copyrighting the "DOTA" name, nothing else.  They weren't trying to keep it for themselves as others around here claimed, they were simply trying to stop valve from copyrighting it.

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I wonder how many of the posters here read that letter, where Blizzard explains why Valve is being sued.
Some(or many?) here might or are thinking that Blizzard lost the case, but it wasn't about changing the name of the game, but leaving the DotA name to the community, so no company can copyright and use it as marketing name, own IP name and making money out of the DotA's name.

This poster is speaking the truth. :)

Originally posted by Ouriel

 

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Originally posted by niceguy3978

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Originally posted by ArEf

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Originally posted by gilgamesh42 :[ blizzards claim to the name dota was almost none existant  lol

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As is Valve's, as is Icefrog's. The community owns the name DotA, no particular person or company does.  

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And this is why they went to court.  This is what most don't seem to understand, the only thing the lawsuit was attempting to do was prevent valve from copyrighting the "DOTA" name, nothing else.  They weren't trying to keep it for themselves as others around here claimed, they were simply trying to stop valve from copyrighting it.

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I wonder how many of the posters here read that letter, where Blizzard explains why Valve is being sued.
Some(or many?) here might or are thinking that Blizzard lost the case, but it wasn't about changing the name of the game, but leaving the DotA name to the community, so no company can copyright and use it as marketing name, own IP name and making money out of the DotA's name.

This poster is speaking the truth. :)

Don't worry they'll still ignore this and assume blizzard was out to get the name for themselves.

i assure you if blizzard changed there name is because Valve bought the name dota at a very hefty price

Valve paid $1b to Blizzard for the name.

Still a shame Valve can now trademark and own the DOTA name.. only players lose out on that but hey atleast it didin't turn into a big legal battle and they can both get on with what they do... making games.

Well Blizzard started this war, and they lost.

Originally posted by Zaltark

Lol! Blizzard sues Valve and winds up changing the name of thier own game. I wonder who won that argument.

 

Well as many have said, the point was to achive the very thing they did achive. To stop Valve from blocking the community to use the name for non-profit projects. Especially since the name of Blizzard All-Stars have been tossed around since at least last Blizzcon.

Originally posted by Dragonantis

Well Blizzard started this war, and they lost.

 

No, they didn't start the war.  Valve started the war by trying to trademark the name "DOTA" which has been around for nearly a decade.  Blizzard wanted to prevent this name that had been around for a decade to not be trademarked by valve.  

Originally posted by clankyasp

Valve paid $1b to Blizzard for the name.

 

Lol, and from what hole did you pull that number from?

Originally posted by niceguy3978

Originally posted by clankyasp

Valve paid $1b to Blizzard for the name.

 

Lol, and from what hole did you pull that number from?

 

I doubt Blizzard would let the name just like that. I don't know if its 1B$, but I'm almost sure, that Valve paid to Blizzard for the rights on the name.

Originally posted by 6SlipKnoT6

Originally posted by niceguy3978

Originally posted by clankyasp

Valve paid $1b to Blizzard for the name.

 

Lol, and from what hole did you pull that number from?

 

I doubt Blizzard would let the name just like that. I don't know if its 1B$, but I'm almost sure, that Valve paid to Blizzard for the rights on the name.

 

But Blizz didn't own the rights, they were trying to stop Valve from having the rights.  All Blizz was trying to do was stop them, they could still call it DOTA 2 if everyone had just walked away and said nevermind and left the status quo.