Gonzales Photo/Terje Dokken/PYMCA/Avalon/UIG via Getty ImagesIron Maiden is suing the makers of a video game called Ion Maiden for trademark infringement.
The lawsuit, obtained by ABC Radio, claims game publisher 3D Realms committed “incredibly blatant” and “willful” infringement with the game. “Defendant’s Ion Maiden name is nearly identical to the IRON MAIDEN trademark in appearance, sound and overall commercial impression,” the document reads.
The suit accuses Ion Maiden of using the same “steel cut font” as the Iron Maiden logo, and that the yellow skull in the game’s logo is “graphically similar” to Maiden’s Eddie mascot.
Additionally, the suit claims that the name of Ion Maiden main character, Shelly Harrison, is an “attempt to copy” the name of Maiden founder, bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris.
Iron Maiden seeks $2 million in statutory damages, and the ownership of the domain name IonMaiden.com to be transferred to the band.
In a Twitter thread, 3D Realms, which made the Duke Nukem games, calls the claims of the lawsuit “frivolous” and “over the top.”
“We…will review our options once we receive official notice of the lawsuit and will make any necessary decisions at the appropriate time,” the thread reads. “Regardless, everyone continues to work diligently on Ion Maiden to deliver the best possible experience later this year.”
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