Capcom is hoping that courts will help the firm protect their IP, after The MKR Group, apparent owners of the Dawn of the Dead (both the 1979 and the 2004 versions), claimed the game infringed their copyrights.

Capcom state that Dead Rising has little in common with these films, "vastly different storylines", the only common point being the "the very general, unprotectable idea of zombies in a shopping mall". That's what Capcom's court filing states, anyway.

The publisher is hoping for a declaration affirming these points, which could see off any future challenge from MKR, who sent a letter to in 2006 accusing the publisher of copyright infringement.

Dead Rising was of course set in a shopping centre and saw you playing as reporter Frank West, out to investigate odd happenings in small town America. A comedic and action-packed romp ensues.

By Luke Guttridge