Valve dropped two copyright lawsuits against third parties over 'Steam Machine', an unofficial Steam Deck skin rebranding the console as Companion Cube — both cases won by Valve quickly before they were settled in 2017 after the makers negotiated limited permission to continue selling under their own name, with the original trademark case dismissed on December 8. The lawsuit was filed against three companies: a Philadelphia distributor operating 'Steam Machine' and two others producing Companion Cube-branded products; the defendants argued that Valve has no right to ban non-profit projects, but court records show those defenses were rejected by Judge Richard G. Williams in Philadelphia County Court.
In a separate 2017 legal dispute, Epic Games was also sued for trademark infringement over its 'Fortnite Creative' mode and Fortnite logos appearing on third-party products; that case ended in an out-of-court settlement where Fortnitemart agreed to remove infringing branding from all merchandise by April 16. The broader context is Valve's aggressive enforcement of IP, including earlier lawsuits against counterfeit hardware sellers (e.g., the 'Steampunker' and Steam Deck cases), which has shaped how third-party creators approach its ecosystem. This isn't just one case; it reflects a long history of legal action defending brand integrity and licensing revenue from unauthorized use.
Source: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/valve-dropped-that-steam-machine-companion-cube-case-down-the-legal-incinerator-after-its-makers-neglected-to-get-their-permission
In a separate 2017 legal dispute, Epic Games was also sued for trademark infringement over its 'Fortnite Creative' mode and Fortnite logos appearing on third-party products; that case ended in an out-of-court settlement where Fortnitemart agreed to remove infringing branding from all merchandise by April 16. The broader context is Valve's aggressive enforcement of IP, including earlier lawsuits against counterfeit hardware sellers (e.g., the 'Steampunker' and Steam Deck cases), which has shaped how third-party creators approach its ecosystem. This isn't just one case; it reflects a long history of legal action defending brand integrity and licensing revenue from unauthorized use.
Source: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/valve-dropped-that-steam-machine-companion-cube-case-down-the-legal-incinerator-after-its-makers-neglected-to-get-their-permission