The trademark question is the strongest - the name can absolutely be protected, especially if there are multiple timestamps everywhere (you posting about it, git, steam, your assets with the game’s name, whatever).
If your game was in some developer’s area on Steam for a long time, just go and write to them right now, explaining the stolen name situation. If it’s not like this, the name issue can be resolved in court in your favour, and you have a case.
But speaking of the game mechanics, story, or anything like that, it’s hard or impossible to prove anything, so you can only rely on your game being better and attracting more people. You do what you do, and the “thief” will give up eventually
Road_Warrior_10@lemmy.world 4 days ago
Thank you! Yeah I don’t think I have the right to complain about similar gameplay. Let them do what they do, It was just interesting how similar it sounds, but having the exact same name is a problem. I was just in an indie fest and someone might see my trailer but then find their game instead. This is the part that I don’t like
toofpic@lemmy.world 4 days ago
I mean, large software developers are fighting over game mechanics, but they have salaried legal teams, and general need to “not look weak” in terms of protecting their IP. On your scale, I would only take sure-shots, such as protecting your IP’s name on basis of using it long before someone else.
Just in case, I’m not a legal specialist, but I have some general knowledge on this (some from uni, some from working in marketing agencies who create and develop brands, naming, copy, for others)