GECs
Zynga asked to change logo following Scrabble trademark row
NEW DELHI: Online social game maker Zynga has been asked to change the logo of its ‘Scramble With Friends’ word Game.
US-based Mattel, the world’s biggest toy manufacturer owning brands such as Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price Toys, as well as Scrabble, alleged that Zynga’s use of the word ‘Scramble’ infringed the trademarks as it was too close to the word ‘Scrabble’.
While giving a judgment in favour of Zynga, a High Court judge ruled that while the name did not infringe the trademark, the use of a curly letter M in the logo ‘gives the impression that the word is Scrabble when one looks at it quickly and has the propensity to confuse’, and therefore it needed to be changed, the BBC reports.
Mattel spokesman Alan Hilowitz said that while it appreciated the ruling for finding similarities between Zynga’s ‘Scramble With Friends’ logo and Mattel’s intellectual property, the company was disappointed that the court did not rule that Zynga should cease using the name altogether.
Hiolwitz said that Mattel intends to further appeal the ruling.
Recently, Zynga was involved into another trademark row with casual sex app maker ‘Bang With Friends’ for its infringement of ‘With Friends’ trademark.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
