Editing Bethesda Softworks (section)

==Conflicts with other developers==
In 2001, Bethesda Softworks published ''[[Echelon (2001 video game)|Echelon]]'' in the United States, a video game developed by the Russian development studio Madia. Madia stated that Bethesda did not pay for boxed sales of the game, as was allegedly specified in the contract. The developers at Madia wrote an open letter to Bethesda in which they have detailed the affair, but Bethesda refused to pay. In the end Madia decided not to take it to court. Pete Hines, VP of PR at Bethesda, stated that Madia presented misleading allegations about Bethesda's role as publisher of ''Echelon'' in North America and that Bethesda had no contractual obligations to Madia.<ref>{{cite web |first=Peter |last=Koshits |url=https://www.bluesnews.com/a/268/open-letter-to-bethesda-softworks |title=Open Letter to Bethesda Softworks |publisher=Blue's News |date=November 18, 2001 |access-date=July 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827165156/https://www.bluesnews.com/a/268/open-letter-to-bethesda-softworks |archive-date=August 27, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=viewthread&boardid=1&threadid=30665&id=15756&start=20 |title=Bethesda Open Letter Follow-up |publisher=Blue's News |date=November 20, 2001 |access-date=July 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827170005/https://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=viewthread&boardid=1&threadid=30665&id=15756&start=20 |archive-date=August 27, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Bethesda Softworks and ZeniMax Media have been accused of attempting a hostile acquisition of [[Human Head Studios]], as well as a successful hostile acquisition of [[Arkane Studios]] before that.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://metro.co.uk/2016/05/25/bethesda-may-be-planning-prey-2-reveal-at-e3-5903789/ |title=Bethesda may be planning Prey 2 reveal at E3 |date=May 25, 2016 |access-date=July 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729231310/http://metro.co.uk/2016/05/25/bethesda-may-be-planning-prey-2-reveal-at-e3-5903789/ |archive-date=July 29, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to a report from [[IGN]], ZeniMax started purposefully failing Human Head's project milestones so that they would not get paid, allowing ZeniMax to buy the company at a reduced rate. They were accused of doing the same thing with Arkane Studios, although in Arkane's case, the studio gave in and allowed themselves to be bought.<ref>{{cite web |first=Mitch |last=Dyer |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/05/what-went-wrong-with-human-heads-prey-2 |title=What Went Wrong with Human Heads Prey 2 |website=[[IGN]] |date=June 5, 2013 |access-date=July 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724042539/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/05/what-went-wrong-with-human-heads-prey-2 |archive-date=July 24, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> The failed hostile acquisition of Human Head Studios led to cancellation of Human Head's ''[[Prey 2]]'', according to the report.<ref>{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Goldfarb |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/18/bethesda-explains-prey-2-silence |title=Bethesda Explains Prey 2 Silence |website=[[IGN]] |date=June 18, 2013 |access-date=July 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820054548/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/06/18/bethesda-explains-prey-2-silence |archive-date=August 20, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Bethesda also pressured developer No Matter Games to change the name of their game ''Prey for the Gods'' to ''[[Praey for the Gods]]'', as Bethesda felt the initial title infringed upon the trademark of their own game, ''[[Prey (2017 video game)|Prey]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Allegra|first=Frank|date=May 3, 2017|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/5/3/15534924/prey-for-the-gods-praey-for-the-gods-trademark-name-change|title=Prey for the Gods changes name to avoid fight with Bethesda's Prey (update)|publisher=Polygon|access-date=September 24, 2020|archive-date=October 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031234815/https://www.polygon.com/2017/5/3/15534924/prey-for-the-gods-praey-for-the-gods-trademark-name-change|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Wales|first=Matt|date=May 4, 2017|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-05-04-bethesda-lawyers-force-another-indie-game-name-change|title=Bethesda lawyers force name change on indie game Prey for the Gods|publisher=[[Eurogamer]]|access-date=September 24, 2020|archive-date=October 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004013927/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-05-04-bethesda-lawyers-force-another-indie-game-name-change|url-status=live}}</ref> Pete Hines, who serves as Bethesda's VP of marketing, said Bethesda would have risked losing their ''Prey'' trademark if they had not requested the title change.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Paget|first=Matt|date=May 6, 2017|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/bethesda-executive-responds-to-prey-for-the-gods-trademark-dispute/|title=Bethesda executive responds to 'Prey for the Gods' trademark dispute|magazine=[[PC Gamer]]|access-date=September 24, 2020|archive-date=September 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920032026/https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/bethesda-executive-responds-to-prey-for-the-gods-trademark-dispute/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Lawsuits===
In September 2009, Bethesda Softworks sued [[Interplay Entertainment]] over ''Fallout'' [[trademark infringement]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Michael |last=McWhertor |url=http://kotaku.com/5357724/bethesda-sues-interplay-over-fallout-trademark-infringement |title=Bethesda Sues Interplay Over Fallout Trademark Infringement |publisher=[[Kotaku]] |date=September 11, 2009 |access-date=July 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730023549/http://kotaku.com/5357724/bethesda-sues-interplay-over-fallout-trademark-infringement |archive-date=July 30, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> After a lengthy legal battle the lawsuit was settled in January 2012, with Interplay receiving {{US$|2&nbsp;million}} while Bethesda Softworks gained the right to develop a ''Fallout'' massively multiplayer online game, as well as the rights to ''[[Fallout (video game)|Fallout]]'', ''[[Fallout 2]]'' and ''[[Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel]]'' after December 31, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |first=Kevin|last=Parrish|url=http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Interplay-Bethesda-Fallout-MMO-ZeniMax,14457.html |title=Fallout MMO Rights Officially Restored to Bethesda |publisher=tomshardware.com |date=January 9, 2012|access-date=July 25, 2016}}</ref>

In September 2011, Bethesda's parent company, ZeniMax Media, filed a lawsuit against [[Mojang]], claiming that Mojang's planned trademark of the title ''[[Scrolls (video game)|Scrolls]]'' infringed upon Bethesda's trademark of ''[[The Elder Scrolls]]'' series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/113339-Mojang-and-Bethesda-Are-Going-to-Court |title=Mojang and Bethesda Are Going to Court |work=Escapist Magazine |date=September 27, 2011 |access-date=July 25, 2011 |author=Chalk, Andy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021114624/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/113339-Mojang-and-Bethesda-Are-Going-to-Court |archive-date=October 21, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> On October 18, [[Markus Persson]] announced that Mojang had won the interim injunction, but that Bethesda still had the option to file an appeal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/120/1200949p1.html |last=Goldfarb |first=Andrew |title=Notch Wins First Round Against Bethesda |work=[[IGN]] |date=October 27, 2011 |access-date=September 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020204711/http://pc.ign.com/articles/120/1200949p1.html |archive-date=October 20, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In March 2012, Mojang and Bethesda reached a settlement, in which Mojang would not trademark Scrolls, but Bethesda would not contest Mojang's naming of ''Scrolls'', so long as it would not be a direct competitor against ''The Elder Scrolls''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/bethesda-mojang-settle-scrolls-trademark-lawsuit |last=Graft |first=Kris |title=Bethesda, Mojang settle 'Scrolls' trademark lawsuit |website=[[Gamasutra]] |date=March 11, 2012 |access-date=July 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721144331/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/165441/Bethesda_Mojang_settle_Scrolls_trademark_lawsuit.php |archive-date=July 21, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2018, Bethesda Softworks sued [[Behaviour Interactive]], the company responsible for developing ''[[Fallout Shelter]]'', for appearing to copy the game's design onto a tie-in mobile game for the ''[[Westworld (TV series)|Westworld]]'' franchise.<ref>{{cite web |first=Michael |last=McWhertor |date=June 22, 2018 |access-date=June 24, 2018 |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/22/17492806/bethesda-lawsuit-warner-bros-westworld-mobile-game-fallout-shelter |title=Bethesda sues Warner Bros, calls its Westworld game 'blatant rip-off' of Fallout Shelter |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624003936/https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/22/17492806/bethesda-lawsuit-warner-bros-westworld-mobile-game-fallout-shelter |archive-date=June 24, 2018 |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref> The issue was settled with undisclosed terms, allowing Bethesda to drop the lawsuit.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/333752/Bethesda_resolves_copyright_lawsuit_against_Westworld_devs.php | title = Bethesda resolves copyright lawsuit against Westworld devs | first = Emma | last = Kidwell | date = January 3, 2019 | access-date = January 3, 2019 | work = [[Gamasutra]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190104025903/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/333752/Bethesda_resolves_copyright_lawsuit_against_Westworld_devs.php | archive-date = January 4, 2019 | url-status = dead }}</ref>