Season 5, Episode 9. Insert Lawsuit to Continue: IP Legal Sidequests You Didn’t Ask For

Behind every pixel, mechanic, and character design lies a hidden battlefield where intellectual property law shapes the games we play. From energy drinks to tattoos, the unlikely legal showdowns that define modern gaming are stranger than fiction.

Play IP Sidequest Showdown. An escape-room-style game inspired by this episode. Drop a comment if you cracked the code.



Monster Energy’s aggressive pursuit of any game title containing the word “monster” forced Ubisoft to abandon “Gods and Monsters” despite zero connection to beverages. When NBA 2K rendered LeBron James’s tattoos with perfect detail, the copyright holders demanded millions—only to have the courts rule that realistic depictions qualify as fair use. And who knew that the shattered glass texture in Resident Evil was actually a photographer’s copyrighted work, leading to one of the largest copyright claims ever filed by a single artist against a game studio?

The patent wars are equally fascinating. Nintendo secured a $30 million settlement from fellow Japanese developer Colopl over touch controls—yes, the way your finger moves across a screen can be proprietary. Sega claimed ownership of gacha mechanics where duplicate characters fuse to unlock abilities. And Palworld’s “Pokémon with guns” approach triggered Nintendo’s legal team to pursue patent infringement rather than the expected copyright route.

Even legends aren’t immune. Diego Maradona discovered his likeness in Pro Evolution Soccer without permission, leading to a lawsuit that transformed into a sponsorship deal. Meanwhile, Call of Duty successfully defended using Humvees in-game without a license, establishing crucial First Amendment protections for realistic depictions in interactive entertainment.

These cases reveal the invisible forces shaping what makes it to our screens. Next time you’re playing your favorite game, remember that behind every design decision might be a legal battle that determined not just how the game looks, but how it fundamentally works. The gaming industry’s most consequential battles happen in courtrooms, not on our screens.

Ready to explore more? Remember to try our IP Sidequest Showdowngame on our website and see if you can navigate the legal labyrinth yourself.

From Spark to Impact, the Conscious Path of an Idea Intangiblia™

In this special episode, Leticia Caminero steps into the guest’s seat to explore the ideas behind her book Protection for the Inventive Mind. Through an honest and reflective conversation, she shares how creativity, human-centered design, and intellectual property come together to turn fragile ideas into real, sustainable value. This episode is an invitation to think differently about innovation, protection, and the courage to build with intention.Ever had an idea feel bright in the shower and dim by lunchtime? We open the door to a different path: a living, pencil-in-hand guide for taking an idea from spark to market with intellectual property as structure, not handcuffs. Leticia moves from host to guest to share why she wrote Protection for the Inventive Mind and how it helps creators make small daily moves that reduce anxiety, protect originality, and build sustainable income.We walk through the mindset shift that turns books into workspaces and readers into builders. Instead of chasing a finish line like “file the patent,” we reframe protection as a bridge to value—licensing, partnerships, investment, and fair deals. You will hear how to sequence complexity, choose what to cut without losing the soul of the idea, and align patents, utility models, or industrial designs with a clear strategy. The String of Thought method takes center stage: an honest chain that captures fear, sparks, contradictions, and breakthroughs without polishing too soon. That chain becomes both creative x-ray and strategic map, revealing what deserves protection and where the market fit can take root.From user-first thinking to documentation practices that stand up in conflict, we stitch together design thinking, practical IP, and monetization in a humane way. This is about creative justice: giving your idea the structure it needs to breathe, be recognized, and be paid. If you are tired of vague advice and hungry for a process that respects both magic and rigor, this conversation will meet you where you are and move you one concrete step forward today.If this episode helps you see your idea more clearly, share it with a friend who needs a nudge. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us the next small step you will take.Send us a textCheck out "Protection for the Inventive Mind" – available now on Amazon in print and Kindle formats. The views and opinions expressed (by the host and guest(s)) in this podcast are strictly their own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the entities with which they may be affiliated. This podcast should in no way be construed as promoting or criticizing any particular government policy, institutional position, private interest or commercial entity. Any content provided is for informational and educational purposes only.
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