"Wii Smile" Not Smiling Much Anymore
Posted by Damien McFerran
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...
[via kotaku.com]
#1
mastersworddude said:
If a Dentist simulator comes out fro Wii i am gonna be pissed.
#2
Nanaki said:
The sad tooth of the matter is that Nintendo are greedy about the Wii brand...
#3
Hardcore_Nintendo_Fa said:
thats what the dentist get lol
#4
Adam said:
Oh Nanaki, that was tooth good.
#5
Token_Girl said:
Trauma Center: Dentist?
#6
Objection said:
That last part has me scared/excited. Let's rip some teeth out, Trauma Center style!!
#7
Neomega said:
Nanaki you win the Internet!
I read this at 0700 on kotaku
#8
Damo said:
@Party On Dude - It has nothing to do with Nintendo? WTF?
#9
Chrono_Cross said:
@Nanaki & Adam
Keep it up guys!
#10
NintendoNaut said:
A bit touchy, no?
#11
odd69 said:
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 said:
i dont really get this
#13
Ian_Daemon said:
The dentist is obviously wrong. Good for Nintendo.
#14
MegaRockman_1990 said:
HAHA funny story
#15
Starwolf_UK said:
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.
#16
Pastry said:
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.