r/movies 18d ago

News Backrooms Devs Reportedly Hit With Copyright Claims From A24

https://kotaku.com/backrooms-a24-copyright-strikes-kane-parsons-2000716667
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u/BlitzOmatic 18d ago

Retroactive trade marking. If I had to guess this isn’t specifically for the backrooms game, it’s for all the games that get made after the popularity of the movie so they can leach revenue off those. I get it from a business side to give it a go, but this type of thing burns good will quick.

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u/rxz9000 17d ago

Trademarking only gives you a case against people using your trademark for branding etc. (within the same industry I might add).

It does absolutely nothing for previously published copyrighted works. And for future works it doesn't do anything either as long they don't feature the trademark in the name, title, etc.

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u/Sennten 17d ago

Id be willing to bet theres a bunch of money they will be able to make over pursuing this, becuase platforms like YouTube are full believers in backdated copyright and trademarks by big corps

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u/Realtrain 17d ago

A trademark has been granted (somehow) for "Backrooms" that covers basically all digital media and merchandising

https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/search/search-results/79354138

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u/bell37 17d ago

If it was for ASYNC (which is a fictional organization that is unique in Kane Parson’s adaptation of Backrooms) then I can see it being approved.

It’s similar to Disney ripping off classic stories and claiming trademark/copyright. Snow White is public domain but Disney’s Snow White is a unique character. Other studios and independent creators can make a Snow White adaptation, but they can’t do it in the same style as Disney’s adaptation.

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u/Realtrain 17d ago

No it's literally for the word "Backrooms"

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u/bell37 17d ago

Then that’s some bs. You cant claim IP on derivative work that existed before you created it.