Dino Patti and Arnt Jensen, the creative minds behind Playdead, are currently embroiled in a public conflict over intellectual property. This dispute has been simmering since a post on LinkedIn in 2024, which Patti posted but later removed. The post featured a picture that Jensen claimed as his own, prompting him to demand about $72,600 (or DKK 500,000) from Patti as compensation and reimbursement, according to Game Developer.
Jensen’s lawyers addressed this issue in what they referred to as a “legal love letter,” which Patti himself shared on LinkedIn. The lawyers warned, “Your continued use of Playdead’s assets and the sharing of insider knowledge for commercial purposes breaches confidentiality agreements.”
The letter further accused Patti of misrepresenting his role in the development of the game Limbo. Jensen’s team asserted, “By giving insights into the Limbo development process, you’re misleading others into believing you had a major creative role, which is not accurate and misleads partners and the gaming community.”
In response, Patti claimed that Jensen’s actions in the past have felt like bullying, which prompted his decision to bring the issue to light publicly.
In an email to Game Developer, Playdead clarified that they have made official demands to Patti, citing what they consider to be “infringement and unauthorized use of Playdead’s trademarks and copyrighted materials in commercial and marketing settings.”
The studio emphasized, “We feel compelled to take these steps to safeguard our trademarks and copyrights, as they are vital to Playdead’s business integrity and reputation.”
Playdead dates back to its founding in xxx, and it has since garnered acclaim for indie hits such as Limbo in 2010 and Inside in 2016. Patti left the company in 2016 amid reports of a falling out between him and Jensen, hinting at a history of tension.
