Monster Hunter Rise / Monster Energy
Image: Push Square

Here's something we didn't realise was going on: Monster Energy has been going after other brands that have the word "monster" in them. As it turns out, this has been going on for quite a while, with the beverage company threatening legal action against other products that don't change their name. Recently, Monster Hunter has been hit with this, though nothing has come of it.

Perhaps the most famous instance of this practice was against Ubisoft's Immortals Fenyx Rising, which was forced to change its original name, Gods and Monsters. Other targets include indie game Dark Deception: Monsters & Mortals and even Pokémon (aka Pocket Monsters). A new report from Japan says Monster Energy has also now gone after Monster Hunter.

The reason for all the fuss is that the company doesn't want its customers confusing the energy drinks with other brands and products. The Japan Patent Office apparently denied Monster's complaints, saying "there is no risk of causing confusion as to the origin of the product", so it's not exactly working out.

Monster Hunter won't be needing to change its name, then. That'd be quite a major operation considering, between Monster Hunter World and Rise, the franchise is now enormous, both inside and outside Japan. Better luck next time, Monster Energy.

[source automaton-media.com, via thegamer.com]