Say "arrrgggghhhhhh"
Swedish Dentist is forced to change name by Nintendo's crack team of lawyers
It's a classic "David vs. Goliath" battle. A small dental surgery in Malmö, Sweden up against a multi-million dollar video game giant.
Sadly, in this case, Goliath won.
Nintendo has taken legal action to force the surgery in question to change its name - which was previously "Wii Smile". Before you cynically assume that the firm was established in order to benefit from the enormous popularity of Nintendo's console, it should be noted co-owner Christer Wihlborg picked the moniker because his surname starts with "Wi" and there are two owners.
Sadly for him, Nintendo registered their trademark over the name "Wii" in 2006 and Wii Smile only started up in 2007. Epic fail.
In a final twist, Nintendo is adamant that it's taking action not only because the name is the same, but because its "Wii" trademark also applies to dentistry.
Could the Big N be planning a dentist simulator for the Wii? Stranger things have happened...
1. mastersworddude
04 May 2009, 23:22 BST
If a Dentist simulator comes out fro Wii i am gonna be pissed.
2. Nanaki
04 May 2009, 23:25 BST
The sad tooth of the matter is that Nintendo are greedy about the Wii brand...
3. Hardcore Nintendo Fan
04 May 2009, 23:26 BST
thats what the dentist get lol
4. Adam
04 May 2009, 23:27 BST
Oh Nanaki, that was tooth good.
5. Token Girl
04 May 2009, 23:29 BST
Trauma Center: Dentist?
6. Objection_Blaster
05 May 2009, 00:06 BST
That last part has me scared/excited. Let's rip some teeth out, Trauma Center style!!
7. Neomega
05 May 2009, 00:26 BST
Nanaki you win the Internet!
I read this at 0700 on kotaku
8. Damo
05 May 2009, 00:59 BST
@Party On Dude - It has nothing to do with Nintendo? WTF?
9. Chrono Cross
05 May 2009, 01:59 BST
@Nanaki & Adam
Keep it up guys!
10. Nintendo-Naut
05 May 2009, 02:36 BST
A bit touchy, no?
11. odd69
05 May 2009, 04:59 BST
umm nintendo has every right to do this.it cost money to register the "wii name" so they have every right to tell this man that he cannot use it. they own it, it belongs to them case closed.
12. MickEiA
05 May 2009, 08:17 BST
i dont really get this
13. NESGamepro
05 May 2009, 09:21 BST
I think Nintendo is doing the right thing to protect their trademarks. OK, so he happens to have "Wi" in his name, big deal. He's clearly trying to ride the Wii wave of success, no matter what he says. Why not just call it "Wi Smile" if you claim it has nothing to do with Wii. I'll bet he's a kid's dentist too.
It reminds me of the Mike Rowe Soft story from a few years ago. At least that is his real name though and he actually makes software.
14. Ian Daemon
05 May 2009, 14:07 BST
The dentist is obviously wrong. Good for Nintendo.
15. MegaRockman 1990
05 May 2009, 16:05 BST
HAHA funny story
16. Starwolf_UK
05 May 2009, 17:14 BST
Does Nintendo really need to flex its legal muscles like this? I'm really not impressed. I do agree the dentist should have been more careful with the naming.
17. pie4prez
05 May 2009, 17:57 BST
It would be cool to have a Dentist Simulator.
The Final Boss could be a 5 year old kid who has never brushed his teeth.
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