For the second time, Monster Energy starts beef with a game developer over its name

gamesradar.com:

Monster Energy is involved in yet another trademark dispute with a game developer.

As reported by The Gamer (opens in new tab), the energy drink company is going after indie developer Glowstick Entertainment for using the word "monster" in the title of its game Dark Deception: Monsters & Mortals. 

The "non-negotiable terms" (opens in new tab) given to the developer by Monster Energy state that for the developer to continue using the game's current title, any of Glowstick's future games cannot contain the word "monster" or variations such as "monstrous" or "monstrosity". The words "beast" and "unleash" are also off the table.

Glowstick founder and CEO Vincent Livings has said he's prepared to fight back against the energy drink company. In a tweet, he wrote, "It's well known that Monster Energy is a notorious trademark troll. For a company that likes to target their drinks at gamers, they also like to try to bully and bankrupt game studios with lengthy high-dollar litigation."

1. It's well known that @MonsterEnergy is a notorious trademark troll. Unfortunately, they're at it again. For a company that likes to target their drinks at gamers, they also like to try to bully & bankrupt game studios with lengthy high dollar litigation. #indiegamedev #gamedev pic.twitter.com/8xvg7iWqQeMarch 29, 2023

In a subsequent tweet (opens in new tab), he said that Monster Energy "claim that our game is confusingly similar to their energy drink," adding that, "rather than roll over, I'm going to fight them in court." A tweet on Glowstick's official account (opens in new tab) reads, "This type of ridiculous trademark trolling needs to be exposed. Nobody owns the word 'monster.'"

This isn't the first trademark dispute Monster Energy has had