IKEA doesn’t like being compared to a video game, let alone a horror video game.
The furniture giant recently sent a cease and desist notice to the indie game developer behind the game. The store is closed for committing copyright infringement.
Although Ziggy, the game’s developer, is seeking legal advice as of press time, he’s certain he’ll have to rework the game to avoid a lawsuit.
IKEA Cease and Desist Notice Details
IKEA has detailed the numerous “infractions” committed by Ziggy during the development of its products. The store is closed in its notice of cessation and discontinuance. According to Kotaku, who was able to view the notice, the home furnishings giant said the in-game store uses a logo similar to its own and features a Swedish word, just like its own.
Additionally, the store featured in the game is located in a blue box-like building.
The company added that the uniform featured in the game is identical to that worn by its staff and inside the store. Additionally, IKEA pointed out that the store the game takes place in has a gray path on the floor, sells furniture that looks like the ones it sells, and that the furniture signs look like its own.
IKEA argues that the game’s store is sufficient for its stores to be compared to it, as evidenced by media coverage of the game. This coverage would threaten the company’s brand.
For example, headlines from The Gamer and PCGamesN for their respective gaming articles.
“All of the above immediately suggests that the game is set in an Ikea store,” the company said in the notice.
A quick look at an early alpha version of The store is closed actually shows that the store has a yellow and blue logo and has the word “STYR” on it, which is either a joke for spelling “store” or the Swedish word for “checks”.
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Interestingly, IKEA is not a Swedish word. According to House Beautiful, it is made up of the initials of its founder, Ingvar Kamprad, the farm he grew up on, Elmtaryd, and the village where the farm is located, Agunnaryd.
Additionally, Ziggy mentioned that the furniture in the game’s shop is from furniture asset packs he purchased, meaning he didn’t design them at all.
However, IKEA’s opinion is not without merit. The company has a trademark for the blue and yellow color combination so customers know they are at IKEA and not a similar store.
Similar companies, like Tiffany, have also patented their logo color combinations for similar reasons.
However, everything else about its notice, like its gray floor and signs, is commonplace for furniture stores.
IKEA only gave Ziggy ten days to change anything the company told him or face a lawsuit.
Ziggy’s response to the review
Ziggy isn’t happy with IKEA’s opinion, as the game recently reached its final stretch goal, and it was about to prepare an update for all new alpha testers, according to Eurogamer.
“…Now I desperately have to revamp the whole look of the game so I don’t get sued,” Ziggy added.
Although he is seeking legal advice on what to do with the notice, Ziggy is certain he will have to spend some time revamping the game to avoid an IKEA lawsuit.
He explains that he doesn’t have the financial means to contest IKEA’s lawsuit if he releases the game as originally planned.
This reshuffle could mean that the release of The store is closed may be delayed accordingly.
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