Max Payne Developer & Publisher Clash Together Over Rockstar Games' Logo

Rockstar Games' parent company, Take-Two Interactive, has found itself in a legal tiff with frequent partner, Remedy Entertainment. The dispute centers on the stylized use of the letter "R" in their respective logos. Take-Two alleges that Remedy's new logo is too similar to Rockstar's own logo, which they claim could lead to public confusion.

Remedy Entertainment, known for creating video game franchises like Max Payne and Alan Wake, unveiled its new logo in April 2023. The redesigned logo was part of its efforts to update its visual identity and move away from the earlier representation that tied it closely to the Max Payne franchise.

This change was intended to reflect the broader range of games that the studio has developed over the years. The old logo featured a bullet as part of the "R," signifying the era of Max Payne, but the new logo consists of a simpler "R" made up of several pieces of the letter.

Unlike over a decade ago, Remedy now has several critically acclaimed titles under its belt, including Control and Alan Wake 2, which are part of the Remedy Connected Universe.

As per RespawnFirst, Take-Two Interactive filed oppositions against Remedy's trademark applications in the UK and EU, with proceedings in the EU not scheduled until at least September 2025. The opposition filed by Take-Two isn't aimed at forcing Remedy to change its logo, but rather to prevent the latter from being able to protect it legally. The basis for this is the alleged similarity to the Rockstar Games logo, which features an "R" with a star attached to the leg of the letter.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that Remedy and Rockstar are currently collaborating on remakes of Max Payne and Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. This partnership makes the trademark dispute particularly notable, given the ongoing business relationship between the two companies.

Take-Two Interactive has a history of protecting its trademarks. Its previous actions include filing opposition against an award-winning game like It Takes Two, which was developed by Hazelight Studios and funded by Electronic Arts. This led to Hazelight and EA abandoning the trademark. Take-Two has also engaged in legal actions against various other entities, asserting its rights over trademarked words and logos.

Trademarks, particularly those involving logos, are assessed based on specific details, including design elements and overall appearance. In this case, critics of Take-Two's claim argue that the two logos are sufficiently different to be distinguishable by the public.

As of now, the dispute remains unresolved, but there is a high possibility of a settlement being reached before the scheduled court proceedings.

Rockstar is currently working on Grand Theft Auto 6, which isn't coming out on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X until 2025. And, in the meantime, Take-Two might want to look at further partnerships with Netflix after the success of the GTA Remaster trilogy on the streaming platform.