OK to use cross promotional links /'More Games' Buttons?

[MetaMan]

I have been unable to get a clear answer by googling so I’m hoping someone here can answer this question

Is it STILL OK to have a button in our games which links to our other games?

Of course, this is an obvious thing but there are some blogs dated from July of this year (2012) where a couple of mobile developers were being sued by Lodsys (A big patent Troll) just for having a link in their app to another of their apps!

Are you guys still using "more games" buttons in your apps / games and have you had any legal issues ?

Thanks

[dre]

Yes, it's OK to have links to other games. I never had any problems with that. I even made a tiny web-site with links to the games (through linkshare) and show it with UIWebView.

[twerner]

Yes !

[PlutoPrime]

Originally Posted by MetaMan

I have been unable to get a clear answer by googling so I’m hoping someone here can answer this question

Is it STILL OK to have a button in our games which links to our other games?

Of course, this is an obvious thing but there are some blogs dated from July of this year (2012) where a couple of mobile developers were being sued by Lodsys (A big patent Troll) just for having a link in their app to another of their apps!

Are you guys still using "more games" buttons in your apps / games and have you had any legal issues ?

Thanks

You may get slapped by a lawsuit from Lodsys regarding their in-App up-sale and purchase patent. But as far as Apple is concerned it's cool.

[dre]

Originally Posted by PlutoPrime

You may get slapped by a lawsuit from Lodsys regarding their in-App up-sale and purchase patent. But as far as Apple is concerned it's cool.

There are many ways to deal with patent trolls. Moving the company offshore for example.

[Mariusz Kowalczyk]

Is there anyone on this forum who decided to pay Lodsys? From what I remember they want 0.5%. Am I right? I would like to know how the whole thing looks. Or maybe someone knows someone who knows someone who paid them?

[dre]

Originally Posted by Mariusz Kowalczyk

Is there anyone on this forum who decided to pay Lodsys? From what I remember they want 0.5%. Am I right? I would like to know how the whole thing looks. Or maybe someone knows someone who knows someone who paid them?

Watch these videos, they explain.

06 Victims of Extortion, Michael McCoy, Chief Legal Officer of Appsterdam, interviews Raul Portales, about the package he received from Lodsys. Key message...

Wanting "0.5%" is just a trick to make you sign a contract which will simply hand them all your business. Don't ever do that. There are many ways to fight patent trolls, especially for the small guys.

[Mariusz Kowalczyk]

Thank you for the link.

I don't have any app with In App Purchases yet, I could give them 0.5%, but I would not sign anything

OK I can (barely) stand they claims about In App Purchases. But the thing with "more apps button"... I know this world is weird, but this is just...

What if there will be no "more apps" label on the button? Just a screen or something.
What if the link will point to one app only?
What if the link will point to my website?

I am not sure if I want to live on this ridiculous planet anymore

[MetaMan]

Originally Posted by Mariusz Kowalczyk

Thank you for the link.

I don't have any app with In App Purchases yet, I could give them 0.5%, but I would not sign anything

OK I can (barely) stand they claims about In App Purchases. But the thing with "more apps button"... I know this world is weird, but this is just...

What if there will be no "more apps" label on the button? Just a screen or something.
What if the link will point to one app only?
What if the link will point to my website?

I am not sure if I want to live on this ridiculous planet anymore

Mariusz - Sign me up for the space ship !!

[Touchmint]

me too lol... how can they get away with this...