Video game developer TimeGate Studios announced today that it has reached a settlement in its trademark infringement dispute with ABC Studios filed in United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas on March 19, 2008.

The lawsuit alleged that ABC Studios’ use of the name Section 8 for its upcoming television sci-fi drama, tentatively scheduled for the 2009 season, amounted to trademark infringement as a result of TimeGate’s pending trademark registration and ownership rights in the name.

TimeGate began development of its newest video game, Section 8, in early 2005.

As a result of the discussions between the parties, the Walt Disney Company, ABC Studios’ parent corporation, informed TimeGate that ABC will refrain from using the name Section 8 for its upcoming television series.

"Protecting one’s intellectual property rights is paramount in the entertainment business and it’s no different at TimeGate," said Adel Chaveleh, TimeGate’s CEO and President. Chaveleh added "With an amicable resolution to this issue in hand, we can continue our focus on making Section 8 an incredible and unforgettable first person shooter experience." TimeGate agreed to dismiss the lawsuit without prejudice once Disney acknowledged that it would forgo its plans to use the Section 8 trademark in conjunction with ABC Studios’ new series.

About Section 8

Section 8 is an intense sci-fi first-person shooter that gives players unprecedented strategic control over the battlefield, employing tactical assets and on-demand vehicle deliveries to dynamically alter the flow of combat. Set at the crossroads of a growing insurrection among its colonies, Earth dispatches the elite 8th Armored Infantry to turn the tide. Utilizing advanced powered armor suits, these brave volunteers are the only ones crazy enough to smash through enemy defenses and drop directly into the battlefield from 15,000 feet, earning them the nickname "Section 8." The nickname refers to a discharge from an old United States military regulation for reason of being mentally unfit for service. The near-suicidal missions this division volunteers for brands them as insane by all other military units. Section 8 is scheduled to be published worldwide by Gamecock Media Group in late 2009 for the PC as well as next-gen console platforms. For more information, visit the Section 8 official website, www.joinsection8.com.
About TimeGate Studios

TimeGate Studios is a world-class game development studio that boasts a record of huge success since its founding in 1998. Headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, TimeGate has released seven award-winning products; three of which are based on TimeGate-owned intellectual properties. In addition to its Section 8 development efforts, TimeGate is currently creating several new original properties that have yet to be announced for next-generation platforms. For more information please visit www.timegate.com.

Credits: IGN, SYN Romance