Considering Epic Games is still embroiled in its lawsuit with Apple, which is ultimately all about Fortnite being removed from the Apple store last year, one would think that it wouldn't be getting involved with any others. It turns out that's not the case, as Epic is also suing another company, this time over trademark infringement.
According to The Verge, Epic Games filed a lawsuit last week against Nreal, a Chinese company that makes smart glasses. The name is similar to Epic's Unreal Engine, but Epic believes that the name choice is deliberate on Nreal's part. With Nreal planning to launch its products in the US later this year, Epic wishes to not only recoup damages but also prevent Nreal from infringing its trademark and misleading customers with its name.
What's more, Nreal has created a new augmented reality headset called the Nreal Light, which can project objects into a 3D space and can be used to play video games, including games made using the Unreal Engine. Epic believes the company is already guilty of ripping off Epic's name and, because it lists the Unreal Engine as one of the development platforms that can be used to make games for the Nreal Light, it's only creating confusion.
As if that wasn't enough, Epic argues that both it and Nreal are targeting the same industries. It basically sounds as if Epic thinks Nreal is trying to use the Unreal name to trick customers into buying Nreal products by making them think they have some sort of association with Epic Games.
Epic and Nreal have been fighting over the name for a few years now. In a 2019 report by Next Reality, Epic moved to block Nreal from using the name before it could start a business in the US, but the two apparently attempted to settle things out of court. Settlement talks seem to have fallen through, with Epic's lawsuit calling them fruitless and that it was left with no choice but to file the suit.
Nreal has denied all of the allegations. A spokesperson for the company provided the following statement to The Verge:
"Nreal has developed a reputation as the leading hardware manufacturer of mixed reality and augmented reality glasses currently sold in Asia and Europe. We’re aware of the litigation that has been filed by Epic. We respect intellectual property rights, but we believe that this lawsuit lacks merit and plan to defend vigorously against the claims brought by Epic."
It's far too early to tell where the lawsuit will go or what sort of effect it will have depending on how it resolves. It's unlikely to be as eye-grabbing as the Epic v. Apple lawsuit, however, which has been making frequent headlines because of how much confidential information has leaked from it as a result, such as a bunch of planned Fortnite skins.
Not only that, but some have simply found aspects of the trial rather amusing. For example, there was an entire conversation surrounding the character of Peely (Fortnite's iconic banana man skin) and whether or not it would have been inappropriate for him to be depicted in court without wearing a suit.
Source: The Verge, Next Reality, CourtListener