Despite painfully obvious licensing qualms, the amusement park Joyland recently opened its ironclad gates to the fantasy fans of Changzhou, China. As large as they are unauthorized, the colorful theme park features towering statues, depicting the heroes and legends of the World of Warcraft, a fantasy universe that falls squarely within the intellectual property rights of Blizzard, an American games developer.
Yet, the 60-square-kilometer IP infraction is safe from the reprisals of U.S. law; for now, gamers can safely wander around Joyland without fear of arrest. But how can that be?
Well, the managers of the park deceptively renamed all of the mythical characters; World of Warcraft is now the 'Terrain of Magic' and Starcraft is ostensibly known as 'Universe of Starship.' It may not be enough to trick you, but it's enough to stave off the lawyers for now.
It's fascinating to see a $31 million investment built atop such shaky legal ground, an observation which leads me to believe that Joyland probably won't be shut down anytime soon.
Litigious Amusement Parks
Joyland Opens Its Doors, Despite Legal Concerns
Trend Themes
1. Unauthorized Intellectual Property - The opening of Joyland amusement park highlights the trend of unauthorized use of intellectual property, presenting opportunities for legal solutions and licensing innovations.
2. Deceptive Rebranding - The renaming of characters at Joyland reflects the trend of deceptive rebranding to avoid legal consequences, creating opportunities for creative branding and marketing strategies in the face of copyright infringement.
3. Risk-taking Investments - The $31 million investment in Joyland demonstrates the trend of risk-taking ventures in uncertain legal environments, prompting potential opportunities for legal consulting services and risk management solutions.
Industry Implications
1. Legal Services - The unauthorized use of intellectual property in amusement parks creates a demand for legal services to protect copyright and intellectual property rights.
2. Branding and Marketing - The deceptive rebranding at Joyland presents opportunities for branding and marketing industries to develop innovative strategies for navigating copyright infringement issues.
3. Risk Management - The risky investments in establishments like Joyland highlight the need for risk management solutions in uncertain legal environments, creating opportunities for consultancies and risk assessment industries.