Judge says Xynga game does not infringe Mattel Scrabble trademark

LONDON, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- A British judge has ruled that Scramble With Friends, a game from Farmville maker Zynga, does not infringe on Mattel's Scrabble trademark.

Mattel had argued in High Court Zynga's use of the word "Scramble" was too close to the word "Scrabble," but Justice Peter Smith was not convinced, the BBC reported Friday.

He did, however, agree Zynga's use of a curly letter M in the logo "gives the impression that the word is Scrabble when one looks at it quickly and has the propensity to confuse," ordering Zynga to change the game's logo but not the name itself.

Mattel, the world's biggest toy manufacturer, said despite the judges' ruling in its favor over the logo design, it would appeal the overall decision.

"We are pleased that the English High Court today affirmed Mattel's request for an injunction against Zynga, finding that the similarities between their Scramble With Friends logo and Mattel's intellectual property likely would confuse the public into thinking they were in fact downloading Scrabble," Mattel spokesman Alan Hilowitz said.

"We are, however, disappointed that the court did not rule that Zynga should cease using the Scramble name, which Mattel intends to appeal."

Zynga said it had no comment on the case.