Lone Wolf Development’s attempt to remove what it considers the unauthorized use of its trademark term “Army Builder” in the discussion forums of various gaming sites has led to heated dispute on the Privateer Press forum and elsewhere.  Some members of the forum maintain that Lone Wolf Development sent a “cease and desist” letter, but Rob Bowes of LWD explains on his Website that “it was actually a post to the admins written by me and not by our attorney,” and therefore was not a cease and desist letter, merely an attempt to bring the “problem” of the misuse of the term “army builder” to the attention of Privateer Press and to address possible ways to eliminate the unauthorized uses of the term from the forum.

Bowes points out that LWD has trademarked the two-word phrase and explains the reasons that he wants to avoid the “trademark genericization” of the term “army builder.”  He does understand that trademark enforcement does create certain free speech issues and feels that Privateer Press’ reaction to his post was more drastic than necessary.

But Lone Wolf Development’s lawyers did send a “cease and desist” letter to the Forward Kommander Website, and that site has since switched to using the term “Army Creator.”  Some participants in the Privateer Press forum remain upset, claiming that “Army Builder” is already a generic term—one participant even wondered sarcastically if someone could trademark the phrase “Good Morning” and collect royalties.