The co-founders of Playdead, Dino Patti and Arnt Jensen, are caught in a highly publicized dispute over intellectual property rights. This conflict ignited after Patti posted, but later removed, a piece of content on LinkedIn back in 2024. The image he shared apparently belonged to Jensen, prompting him to seek compensation of DKK 500,000 (roughly $72,600) in damages, according to a report by Game Developer.
Jensen’s legal team addressed Patti directly in what has been termed a “legal love letter,” which Patti himself shared on LinkedIn. They wrote, “We want to emphasize and caution you that any continued use of Playdead’s property, as well as sharing insider information for commercial purposes, violates confidentiality agreements.”
They also accused Patti of misleading people about his involvement in the game development process of Limbo. “By sharing detailed insights on Limbo’s development, you create the mistaken impression that you significantly contributed, creatively or otherwise, to the game’s creation. This misleads our business partners and the gaming community as you were not a crucial part of Limbo’s creative process.”
In response, Patti has accused Jensen of past bullying attempts, which he says pushed him to bring the issue to the forefront.
Playdead, in an email to Game Developer, confirmed that they’ve made demands of Patti, alleging his breach of using Playdead’s trademarks and copyrighted material in commercial settings. The studio stated, “We felt compelled to act to safeguard our trademarks and copyrights, vital to our company’s business and reputation.”
Playdead, which launched its doors in a year yet to be filled in, has earned its reputation with two standout indie hits: 2010’s Limbo and 2016’s Inside. Patti parted ways with the company in 2016, amid swirling rumors of a falling out between him and Jensen.
