Opus Dei Threatens Atheist Philosophy Game Publishers in Denmark with Lawsuit

Dema Games, a small, independent Danish game publisher, is being sued over trademark legalities by the notorious Catholic organization, Opus Dei, well known by its mention in the Dan Brown novel “The Da Vinci Code”. They are demanding Dema Games to cease all activity regarding their flagship card game concept, otherwise threatening that the powerful organization will use all legal means possible to force them.

This seems incredible to most people, until it is revealed what Dema Games believe the matter really is about: The game they wish to obliterate, is an atheist themed card game that is set in the field of historic philosophy, conveyed in layman terms with bonus information for the most prominent free-thinkers (and -thoughts) throughout history.

“It feels like we are being pulled into an all-out war, when we really just were trying to create some light debate with our game” says Mark Rees-Andersen, Managing Director of the small 2-person company, Dema Games, who is chocked to be threatened by the powerful Opus Dei organization, a prelature to the Vatican Church.

Since the proportions are not exaggerated by a comparison to David and Goliath, not only by size, but in the degree of aggression the organization has displayed towards the small company, Dema Games believe that the Opus Dei is more likely waging war against the popularization of the rational, atheist, world-view.

The Name Of The Game
After reading The Da Vinci Code, the game developers (Allan Schaufuss Laursen and Mr. Rees-Andersen) thought that the organization was fictional, like the rest of its characters, claiming “it made no logical sense that such an organization [as depicted in the novel] could exist in real life”. This might seem naïve, but the Opus Dei has no actual representation or activity, the young producers could be aware of in the first place, in the very secular nation of Denmark, Scandinavia.

Both being students of philosophy at the time, the Latin concept of “opus dei” (meaning “work of God”) intrigued them enough as an academic concept, to name their game “Opus-Dei: Existence After Religion”. The name thereby debates, according to Dema Games, whether an existence without religion in fact would truly be the work of a benevolent God, since they believe that organized religion (in the wide spectrum of things) has been the most regressive force in history – “the Dark Ages weren’t just dark because of the plague!”, Managing Director Mark Rees-Andersen expresses.

Further Details

Dema Games obtained the legal rights for the trademark on January 15 2009, via the appropriate official Danish authorities that adhere to general EU law. On February 24 they received a threatening legal-letter from the Opus Dei lawyers in Madrid, Spain, only two months after the game was first released. On March 30 the organization officially objected to the trademark, a case which now awaits treatment by the Danish authorities. Dema Games’ lawyer has pointed out that the case should be in their favor due to:

1) Opus Dei has no activity or representation in Denmark, where the Trademark was deemed legitimate and registered by the Danish Trademark and Patent Office.
2) The Trademark Class (28, re. business activity) it was registered under is uniquely different from those held by the catholic organization abroad.
3) There is a requirement to have used any trademark actively within a Class or Country for at least within a period of 5 years to uphold ones’ rights, which Opus Dei has not in both cases.
4) The Latin concept of “opus dei” is an academic concept, used commonly also without reference to the organization.
5) Because the full trademark held by Dema Games can in no way be confused with the “Prelatura Del Opus Dei”, as it conveys meaning opposite to the very purpose of the religious organization.

On the other hand it is regarded likely that the organization, with strong ties to the Vatican, will not be stopped by a verdict in Dema Games’ favor, as their financial strength allows them to repeatedly press charges for any legal reason they can come up with.

The game is currently distributed in the UK, Germany and Denmark, besides the online store at: www.opus-dei.co.uk and www.opus-dei.dk, the latter a back-up address if they lose the domain rights in the UK, which already has been challenged by the catholic organization, via nominet.org.uk.

For more information on the trademark and the objection, search for “Opus-Dei: Existence After Religion” at www.dkpto.org/e-services.aspx

For more information, please contact media-contact@demagames.dk.