Bethesda Takes Action Against Memecoin Creator for Misusing Doom Trademark

Doom’s open license has sparked a wave of creativity within the gaming community, leading to unique adaptations and ports on various devices. However, some individuals have attempted to exploit Doom for personal profit, which violates the license terms. This has prompted Bethesda to reportedly take action against the creator of Doomsol, a browser game inspired by Doom that was used to promote the memecoin $DOOM.

In early August, the $DOOM memecoin emerged, featuring a website where users could play Doomsol. Players who climbed the leaderboard in Doomsol were rewarded with Sol, the native cryptocurrency of Solana. This token appeared more polished than many typical memecoins, attracting interest from both crypto enthusiasts and gamers. Although the website has since been taken down, Bethesda is now pursuing legal measures.

This isn’t the first instance of a memecoin linked to video games. Recently, the official Pokémon X account was compromised in a memecoin scam promoting $POKEMON, leading many fans to mistakenly believe it was a legitimate cryptocurrency due to its association with an official account. A similar situation seems to have unfolded with $DOOM. Sandy Petersen, a prominent game designer known for his work on several Doom titles, actively promoted this memecoin on social media, sharing videos of himself purchasing $DOOM and playing Doomsol.

While Bethesda encourages fans to creatively use the Doom license, it strictly prohibits its use for personal financial gain. This is why the company is taking legal action against the creator of Doomsol. Reports indicate that Bethesda has not disclosed who is receiving the legal papers, and Petersen’s exact involvement remains unclear. He is credited as the game’s creator on the now-defunct Doomsol website, but his connection to the memecoin is still ambiguous.

The $DOOM creator reportedly pulled the rug on the project as early as August 4, causing the memecoin’s value to plummet. Petersen briefly mentioned the project again on social media at the end of August but has not commented since. He argued that Doom’s open license made the project legally sound, but Bethesda clearly disagrees. A representative from Bethesda cited “a risk of confusion around affiliation or endorsement” as a key reason for their legal action.