When word got out early July that a new MechWarrior title was in the works a lot of fans were extatic. Especially when the first images of the brand new addition to the already popular franchise were shown in a trailer.

It appears now that, apart from running into a giant Atlas 'Mech in that video, the 'Mechs also struck a trademark in the process.

At least, that's how it seems. IGN, the first website to cover the new MechWarrior game, and also the first ones to put the trailer of it online, have gotten a "cease and desist" letter demanding they pull the disputed trailer of the game off their website. The reason mentioned is that in the trailer certain elements of the Robotech/Macross universe - that are prohibited to be used since a settlement in 1996 - have been displayed.

Important to note is though that the Battletechn universe, which the MechWarrior games are situated in, has nothing to do with either Robotech or Macross. Seeing though how the robots in these series are similar, a trademark dispute seems to have arisen.

The consequences all of this has for the production of the game are unclear at this time. In any case it hopefully will not spawn a bitter legal struggle. In that case the wait for a new 'Mech title would turn out to be even longer, nobody wins in anything by that.

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