Manchester United, one of Europe’s top football clubs, has sued Football Manager series creator Sega Publishing and Sports Interactive (SI Games) for allegedly infringing on the use of its trademarked club name “extensively throughout the game” according to the Guardian.

The football club also alleged that SI Games infringed on their trademark by not using the actual Manchester United logo, and instead using a simpler default red and white logo. Manchester United stated that this “deprives the registered proprietor of its right to have the club crest licensed.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/18/football-manager-2020-announce-trailer"]

Sega and SI Games have rebutted by saying that the use of Manchester United’s name is “a legitimate reference to the Manchester United football team in a football context” and added that the club name has been used in the video game franchise since 1992, when it was known as Championship Manager, according to the Guardian.

Both sides of the lawsuit exchanged statements asserting their own control over or freedom to use the club name. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=21-football-manager-2020-screenshots&captions=true"]

Manchester United lawyer Simon Malynicz QC stated that the club’s name is one of the most valuable brands in the world, adding that the money received from licensing is “very significant,” and that Sega’s use of the Manchester United name benefits their own properties.

“Consumers expect to see the club crest next to the name Manchester United,” Malynicz said, “and this failure to do so amounts to wrongful use.”

Malynicz asked Mr. Justice Morgan, the judge overseeing the lawsuit proceedings, to allow Manchester United to amend the claim against Sega and SI Games to include the use of patches and mods, arguing that the use of such modifications allows players to incorporate the Manchester United logo into their game without proper licensing.

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=igns-top-25-modern-pc-games&captions=true"]

Defense lawyer Roger Wyand opposed Manchester United’s attempts to amend their claim.

“The claimant has acquiesced in the use by the defendants of the name of the Manchester United football team in the Football Manager game and cannot now complain of such use,” Sega and SI Games said in a written defence.

Sega and SI Games also added that efforts to prevent the companies from using the Manchester United name “would amount to an unreasonable restraint on the right to freedom of expression to restrain the use of the words ‘Manchester United’ to refer to a team in a computer game.”

Wyand also pointed out that SI Games and Manchester United have already established a mutually agreeable business relationship of sorts.

 [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/29/euro-2020-in-football-manager-feat-football-ramble-daily-part-1"]

“Copies of the game have also been sent by SI to a number of officials and players at the [club] for a number of years and there have been a number of positive press comments and tweets about the game by them,” Wyand stated, adding “further, the claimant’s staff working in the data analytics and scouting teams have contacted SI on various occasions asking for access to the Football Manager database for scouting and research purposes.”

Justice Morgan has reserved his judgement on United’s proposal to amend its claim for a later date, the Guardian reported.

IGN has reached out to SI Games for additional comment.

Football clubs in Europe certainly do hold a vast amount of financial and political sway, much like American football clubs across the United States and other major leagues. Manchester United has in recent months come under increased pressure to address its rapidly growing debt, with the Guardian reporting the club’s debt had risen by £127.4 million to £429.1 million in the 12 months prior to March 31, 2020.

Sega’s Football Manager series has managed to establish itself as one of the top sports management games of its kind, and has only risen in popularity with the onset of shelter-in-place restrictions. Forbes recently reported that the game had reached 130,000 peak concurrent players, with a total weekly player count of 875,000.

Football Manager’s player database is also a widely lauded feature of the game -- so much so that real-world player scouts often use it to discover new and rising talent. Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer himself has credited the game for helping prepare him for running the club, according to Manchester Evening News.

Check out our review of Football Manager 2020, which IGN dubbed “still addictively enormous, but more open to newcomers than ever.” [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/ignorant American for IGN.

Manchester United, one of Europe’s top football clubs, has sued Football Manager series creator Sega Publishing and Sports Interactive (SI Games) for allegedly infringing on the use of its trademarked club name “extensively throughout the game” according to the Guardian.

The football club also alleged that SI Games infringed on their trademark by not using the actual Manchester United logo, and instead using a simpler default red and white logo. Manchester United stated that this “deprives the registered proprietor of its right to have the club crest licensed.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/18/football-manager-2020-announce-trailer"]

Sega and SI Games have rebutted by saying that the use of Manchester United’s name is “a legitimate reference to the Manchester United football team in a football context” and added that the club name has been used in the video game franchise since 1992, when it was known as Championship Manager, according to the Guardian.

Both sides of the lawsuit exchanged statements asserting their own control over or freedom to use the club name. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=21-football-manager-2020-screenshots&captions=true"]

Manchester United lawyer Simon Malynicz QC stated that the club’s name is one of the most valuable brands in the world, adding that the money received from licensing is “very significant,” and that Sega’s use of the Manchester United name benefits their own properties.

“Consumers expect to see the club crest next to the name Manchester United,” Malynicz said, “and this failure to do so amounts to wrongful use.”

Malynicz asked Mr. Justice Morgan, the judge overseeing the lawsuit proceedings, to allow Manchester United to amend the claim against Sega and SI Games to include the use of patches and mods, arguing that the use of such modifications allows players to incorporate the Manchester United logo into their game without proper licensing.

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=igns-top-25-modern-pc-games&captions=true"]

Defense lawyer Roger Wyand opposed Manchester United’s attempts to amend their claim.

“The claimant has acquiesced in the use by the defendants of the name of the Manchester United football team in the Football Manager game and cannot now complain of such use,” Sega and SI Games said in a written defence.

Sega and SI Games also added that efforts to prevent the companies from using the Manchester United name “would amount to an unreasonable restraint on the right to freedom of expression to restrain the use of the words ‘Manchester United’ to refer to a team in a computer game.”

Wyand also pointed out that SI Games and Manchester United have already established a mutually agreeable business relationship of sorts.

 [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/29/euro-2020-in-football-manager-feat-football-ramble-daily-part-1"]

“Copies of the game have also been sent by SI to a number of officials and players at the [club] for a number of years and there have been a number of positive press comments and tweets about the game by them,” Wyand stated, adding “further, the claimant’s staff working in the data analytics and scouting teams have contacted SI on various occasions asking for access to the Football Manager database for scouting and research purposes.”

Justice Morgan has reserved his judgement on United’s proposal to amend its claim for a later date, the Guardian reported.

IGN has reached out to SI Games for additional comment.

Football clubs in Europe certainly do hold a vast amount of financial and political sway, much like American football clubs across the United States and other major leagues. Manchester United has in recent months come under increased pressure to address its rapidly growing debt, with the Guardian reporting the club’s debt had risen by £127.4 million to £429.1 million in the 12 months prior to March 31, 2020.

Sega’s Football Manager series has managed to establish itself as one of the top sports management games of its kind, and has only risen in popularity with the onset of shelter-in-place restrictions. Forbes recently reported that the game had reached 130,000 peak concurrent players, with a total weekly player count of 875,000.

Football Manager’s player database is also a widely lauded feature of the game -- so much so that real-world player scouts often use it to discover new and rising talent. Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer himself has credited the game for helping prepare him for running the club, according to Manchester Evening News.

Check out our review of Football Manager 2020, which IGN dubbed “still addictively enormous, but more open to newcomers than ever.” [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/ignorant American for IGN.

Musicians Sting and Shaggy will both debut new music on Animal Talking, the live-streamed talk show hosted from Animal Crossing by Rogue One writer Gary Whitta.

Whitta made the announcement on Twitter and during his wrap-up of season one of the show, which aired Friday morning.

Shaggy, the reggae artist known for hits like “It Wasn’t Me” and “Angel,” is scheduled to join the show for the debut of its second season on June 1 to perform new music he is currently working on, Whitta said.

Sting, the former frontman for The Police and a solo act since the mid-80’s, will be joining Animal Talking on June 8 to similarly debut new music. “It’s pretty nutty, and I’m excited about where we’re going to be going,” Whitta said on the show. Whitta didn't give any major details beyond those dates, so make sure to keep an eye on his Twitter feed for details. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/15/animal-crossing-new-horizons-theme-song-performance"]

The two legendary musicians join an increasingly star-studded guestlist on Animal Talking. Season one of Whitta’s show has already included film stars like Elijah Wood, Danny Trejo, and other musicians like T-Pain. The show has also featured some familiar faces from the video game industry, like Double Fine’s Tim Schaefer, Cliff Bleszinski, and Naomi Kyle.

Whitta hosts the show alongside band leader and game developer Adam Nickerson.

Don't forget to check out our huge list of Animal Crossing guides and tips. Celebrity guests not guaranteed.

[poilib element="accentDivider"]

Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer for IGN, and he should really get back to those weeds on his island.

Musicians Sting and Shaggy will both debut new music on Animal Talking, the live-streamed talk show hosted from Animal Crossing by Rogue One writer Gary Whitta.

Whitta made the announcement on Twitter and during his wrap-up of season one of the show, which aired Friday morning.

Shaggy, the reggae artist known for hits like “It Wasn’t Me” and “Angel,” is scheduled to join the show for the debut of its second season on June 1 to perform new music he is currently working on, Whitta said.

Sting, the former frontman for The Police and a solo act since the mid-80’s, will be joining Animal Talking on June 8 to similarly debut new music. “It’s pretty nutty, and I’m excited about where we’re going to be going,” Whitta said on the show. Whitta didn't give any major details beyond those dates, so make sure to keep an eye on his Twitter feed for details. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/15/animal-crossing-new-horizons-theme-song-performance"]

The two legendary musicians join an increasingly star-studded guestlist on Animal Talking. Season one of Whitta’s show has already included film stars like Elijah Wood, Danny Trejo, and other musicians like T-Pain. The show has also featured some familiar faces from the video game industry, like Double Fine’s Tim Schaefer, Cliff Bleszinski, and Naomi Kyle.

Whitta hosts the show alongside band leader and game developer Adam Nickerson.

Don't forget to check out our huge list of Animal Crossing guides and tips. Celebrity guests not guaranteed.

[poilib element="accentDivider"]

Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer for IGN, and he should really get back to those weeds on his island.

Back to the Future Part II has been restored on Netflix in the USA after a marginally censored version of the movie originally made for a different country was sent to the streamer. Bob Gale, the film's screenwriter and producer, told The Hollywood Reporter that a fan alerted him to the error a couple of weeks ago. The scene where Marty McFly finds the "Oh Là Là" magazine in the sports almanac was cut short so that the magazine cover wasn't seen. Gale got in touch with Universal Pictures to fix the problem and points the finger at them. "The blame is on Universal who somehow furnished Netflix an edited version of the movie," Gale said. "I learned about it some ten days ago from an eagle-eyed fan, and had the studio rectify the error. The version now running is the uncensored, unedited, original version." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/23/back-to-the-future-screenwriter-reveals-answer-to-infamous-marty-mcfly-plot-hole"] Gale said that he and the film's director, Robert Zemeckis, didn't know this version of the movie existed and is requesting Universal to delete the censored copy for good. "Apparently, this was a foreign version which neither director Robert Zemeckis nor I even knew existed, for some country that had a problem with the Oh Là Là magazine cover.  I asked that the studio destroy this version," Gale told THR. "FYI, Netflix does not edit films — they only run the versions that are supplied to them.  So they're blameless.  You can direct your ire at Universal, but I think they will be a lot more careful in the future — and with 'the future.'" This comes about a month after Disney+ was caught censoring nudity in Splash, a PG-rated movie from 1984. That movie at least comes with a message at the beginning that claims the movie "has been edited for content." Back to the Future Part II had no message, but has since been fixed. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-sci-fi-movies-on-netflix&captions=true"] A Twitter user shared the Netflix edit for anybody who is curious, but falsely assumed it was Netflix who did the editing. The first two Back to the Future movies became available for streaming on Netflix in the USA on May 1. All three Back to the Future movies are now streaming on the service and will receive a 4K Ultra HD release later this year. Gale recently explained the ending to the original Back to the Future movie for James Gunn and showed up to the Back to the Future virtual reunion on Josh Gad's YouTube series for charity. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN.

Back to the Future Part II has been restored on Netflix in the USA after a marginally censored version of the movie originally made for a different country was sent to the streamer. Bob Gale, the film's screenwriter and producer, told The Hollywood Reporter that a fan alerted him to the error a couple of weeks ago. The scene where Marty McFly finds the "Oh Là Là" magazine in the sports almanac was cut short so that the magazine cover wasn't seen. Gale got in touch with Universal Pictures to fix the problem and points the finger at them. "The blame is on Universal who somehow furnished Netflix an edited version of the movie," Gale said. "I learned about it some ten days ago from an eagle-eyed fan, and had the studio rectify the error. The version now running is the uncensored, unedited, original version." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/23/back-to-the-future-screenwriter-reveals-answer-to-infamous-marty-mcfly-plot-hole"] Gale said that he and the film's director, Robert Zemeckis, didn't know this version of the movie existed and is requesting Universal to delete the censored copy for good. "Apparently, this was a foreign version which neither director Robert Zemeckis nor I even knew existed, for some country that had a problem with the Oh Là Là magazine cover.  I asked that the studio destroy this version," Gale told THR. "FYI, Netflix does not edit films — they only run the versions that are supplied to them.  So they're blameless.  You can direct your ire at Universal, but I think they will be a lot more careful in the future — and with 'the future.'" This comes about a month after Disney+ was caught censoring nudity in Splash, a PG-rated movie from 1984. That movie at least comes with a message at the beginning that claims the movie "has been edited for content." Back to the Future Part II had no message, but has since been fixed. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-sci-fi-movies-on-netflix&captions=true"] A Twitter user shared the Netflix edit for anybody who is curious, but falsely assumed it was Netflix who did the editing. The first two Back to the Future movies became available for streaming on Netflix in the USA on May 1. All three Back to the Future movies are now streaming on the service and will receive a 4K Ultra HD release later this year. Gale recently explained the ending to the original Back to the Future movie for James Gunn and showed up to the Back to the Future virtual reunion on Josh Gad's YouTube series for charity. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN.

Snag three new Golden Keys with this Shift Code, valid until May 24.

Snag three new Golden Keys with this Shift Code, valid until May 24.

Captain Price, the famously mustachioed protagonist of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series, could potentially be a new operator in season four of the game’s multiplayer if some teasers are to be believed.

First reported by Eurogamer, the teasers began with a message from the Call of Duty app, saying some sort of meeting would be taking place on May 21. That day, Activision sent out an email linking fans to a page on the Call of Duty website that included a mysterious video.

 The video shows off a few familiar Call of Duty voices (one sounds like the CIA’s Kate Laswell, who handles player character Alex), a few gruff Russians, and one very obvious picture of Captain Price, complete with his fishing hat.

It’s a pretty obvious teaser that Price, who is referenced in the video as a “senior operator,” will have some role to play in the near future. With season four expected to start on June 2, that would certainly follow the trend of teasing past operators like the reworked Ghost and Alex for seasons two and three. Both of those operators were purchasable via the battle pass, with alternate skins available as high tier rewards for finishing the battle pass.

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-2020-video-game-release&captions=true"]

Thanks to Modern Warfare’s success, Call of Duty has also become the fourth fastest-selling release in recorded US history, and followed only Final Fantasy 7 Remake for the highest-selling game in April 2020. Call of Duty 2020 is also reportedly still releasing this year, despite possible complications stemming from COVID-19. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/operator/muppet for IGN.

Captain Price, the famously mustachioed protagonist of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series, could potentially be a new operator in season four of the game’s multiplayer if some teasers are to be believed.

First reported by Eurogamer, the teasers began with a message from the Call of Duty app, saying some sort of meeting would be taking place on May 21. That day, Activision sent out an email linking fans to a page on the Call of Duty website that included a mysterious video.

 The video shows off a few familiar Call of Duty voices (one sounds like the CIA’s Kate Laswell, who handles player character Alex), a few gruff Russians, and one very obvious picture of Captain Price, complete with his fishing hat.

It’s a pretty obvious teaser that Price, who is referenced in the video as a “senior operator,” will have some role to play in the near future. With season four expected to start on June 2, that would certainly follow the trend of teasing past operators like the reworked Ghost and Alex for seasons two and three. Both of those operators were purchasable via the battle pass, with alternate skins available as high tier rewards for finishing the battle pass.

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-2020-video-game-release&captions=true"]

Thanks to Modern Warfare’s success, Call of Duty has also become the fourth fastest-selling release in recorded US history, and followed only Final Fantasy 7 Remake for the highest-selling game in April 2020. Call of Duty 2020 is also reportedly still releasing this year, despite possible complications stemming from COVID-19. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/operator/muppet for IGN.