Hex Shards of FateWizards of the Coast today filed suit in federal court against Cryptozoic over the Hex: Shards of Fate online trading card game. WOTC claims infringement of various intellectual property rights in Magic: The Gathering.

In a deliberate attempt to profit from Wizards’ valuable intellectual property and hard-earned reputation, Cryptozoic [has] copied the look and feel, the ornamental aspects, and the pleasing and ornamental layout of the functional features of Magic trading cards. Cryptozoic [has], further, implemented those copied playing cards in promulgation of a game that substantially duplicates the mechanics, plot, actions and elements of Magic, often retaining the same name for actions within the game play. Moreover, Cryptozoic’s willful intent to trade off of Wizards’ intellectual property and to create a false association between Hex and Magic is evident by the fact that it chose to copy the distinctive Magic playing pieces. Wizards brings this suit to address its considerable losses and prevent the willful infringement of its valuable intellectual property rights. Cryptozoic’s willful and malicious misappropriation has caused and will continue to cause irreparable and continuing harm to Wizards.

Specifically, Wizards of the Coast alleges infringement of copyright, trade dress, and patents and seeks $1.5 million in damages.

Interestingly, the complaint filed by WOTC quotes extensively from a blogger’s review of Hex, using the opinions stated by Threshold as evidence of similarity between the games.