It Takes Two was hit with trademark claim from Rockstar parent company, Take-Two
The latest game from Josef Fares, It Takes Two, was hit by a trademark claim from Rockstar parent company Take-Two ahead of launch.
It Takes Two, the latest game from outspoken, controversial developer Josef Fares, has been hit by a trademark claim from Take-Two.
Because massive companies that own myriad developers aren't already unpopular enough the world over with gamers at the momement (looking at you, Activision Blizzard), it's been uncovered that Take-Two hit It Takes Two with a trademark claim before the game launched earlier this year.
It Takes Two is the latest game from developer Hazelight – best known for Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and A Way Out – and thanks to its name, it attracted the wrath of Take-Two's infamous legal team. Hazelight has had to abandon the trademark to its name as a result (thanks, Eurogamer). For what it's worth, Take-Two is quite hardcore in its copyright strikes; it's also known for making claims against properties with "rockstar", "social club", "mafia" or "civilization" in the name. Classy. Take Two has filed 25 challenges in the last three months, per video games industry lawyer Richard Hoeg in the Virtual Legality podcast.
In a statement to Eurogamer last week, a Hazelight spokesperson said the studio "cannot comment on ongoing disputes", but the team was "hopeful it will be resolved".
It Takes Two scored well at release, earning high marks from many outlets and an admirable 5/5 from us, where our own Tom Orry called it "one of the most pleasant surprises in video games I've ever had".
This follows Fares saying he will give you $1,000 if you get bored of It Takes Two ahead of its launch.
And Fares isn't a stranger to making big, bold statements, of course. Back at The Game Awards 2017, he said "f**k the Oscars," and has since explained that he wasn't on cocaine at the time like some people thought.