A police simulation video game recently released for Sony’s PlayStation infringes on trademarks owned by the cities of New York City and Los Angeles, The Washington Post has confirmed.
Starting May 23rd, “Cop Officers: Police Simulator of NYPD City” will be on sale for $14.99. PlayStation Storewhich has the lowest rating of 1.63 out of 5. The PS4 game invites players to “put themselves in the shoes of a NYPD officer and test your resolve and professionalism in a variety of situations.”
But officials from both cities said the game infringes on New York City’s long-held “NYPD” trademark, as well as the Los Angeles city seal and the LAPD’s famous slogan, “To Protect and to Serve.”
A City Hall spokesman told The Post: “The matter is under investigation.”
A Los Angeles spokesman said city lawyers would likely respond with a cease and desist letter against Sony.
The game is developed and published by a Pakistan-based company. Game to Top Co., Ltd.No comment was available.
To begin the game, players choose their police officer character, including the option for an obese cop.
Then, take to the streets to stop and search pedestrians, issue parking tickets and arrest daring lawbreakers. Criminals will be handcuffed and follow you to the police station for arrest. Your cop character can even go out on patrol on a Segway.
Inside the police station, LAPD slogans actually appear in virtual frames hanging on pixelated walls, and gameplay unfolds within the confines of an open, generic cityscape that bears little resemblance to either New York or Los Angeles.
The game is sloppily designed, with sub-100 graphics and counter-intuitive controls, and Cop Officers: Police Simulator of NYPD City boasts some of the crudest gameplay imaginable.
The city has had to deal with trademark infringement before.
After 9/11, FDNY and NYPD merchandise began flooding the gray market, forcing the city to take legal action to protect its trademarks.
In 2002, a man was arrested after continuing to sell NYPD badges on eBay despite being warned by city officials.
