Category: Trademarks

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News Trademarks Video Games

Microsoft files trademark for “Avatar Motocross Madness” game [UPDATED]

Avatar Motocross Madness

Microsoft Corporation filed a trademark application on April 5, 2012, for “Avatar Motocross Madness” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The goods and services in the trademark filing (Serial Number: 85590644) cover “Game software” and “Providing a website featuring information in the field of games and home entertainment; entertainment services, namely, providing online video games”.

Motocross Madness was first released by Microsoft Games back in 1998 for the PC, followed by a sequel in 2000.

Based on the title, “Avatar Motocross Madness”, it sounds like Microsoft may be releasing Motocross Madness on the Xbox 360 and allow you to create and use your own avatar in the game with the Kinect.

As of today, Microsoft has made no announcement regarding “Avatar Motocross Madness”.

UPDATE: As MCV reports, “Two screenshots posted to PlayXBLA have been released in effort to tease the new title ahead of its reveal during Microsoft’s E3 press conference.”

Talking about this story: Xbox 360: The Official Xbox Magazine, Shack News, Eurogamer.it, VG247, GameZone, Eurogamer.pt, Multiplayer.it, Eurogamer.net, VG Nett, Videogamer.com and N4g

(Image of Motocross Madness via Microsoft.com)

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News Technology Trademarks

Samsung files trademarks for Galaxy Sire, Lift, and Perx smartphones

Samsung Electronics

On March 30, 2012, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. submitted trademark applications for the Galaxy Sire (Serial Number: 85585397), the Galaxy Perx (Serial Number:85585381), and the Galaxy Lift (Serial Number: 85585386).

As with many of Samsung’s recent filings over at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the goods and services described in each application cover the same thing: Mobile phones; Smartphones.

Other than the limited information in the trademark applications, there’s not much to go on at this point.

No details on specs just yet.

At the time of this writing, Samsung has made no official announcement of releasing these smartphones.

Discussion: Phandroid, Geeky Gadgets and Android Police

(Image of Head of Samsung’s Mobile Communications Business via Samsung.com)

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News Technology Trademarks

Google trademarks Showy for software that turns a device into a remote control

Showy Trademark

Late last month, Google registered the domain name GoogleShowy.com.   With such generic words in the name there was not much to go on.

But now, Google has filed a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office revealing more details as to what “Showy” will be when it’s finally released.

The goods and services in the trademark application (Serial Number:  85570895), which was submitted on March 15, covers: “Downloadable software which allows users to use their computer, tablet device, or mobile phone as a remote control to operate video display devices and televisions; and downloadable software which allows users to remotely control the content on internet-connected digital signage.”

The information in the trademark filing sounds related to a Google patent which was recently talked about in news sites and blogs.

In February, Patently Apple reported that Google was developing a new remote for Google TV.

“The new remote will use voice controls associated with Google’s own cloud services. The user will be able to use their Android Phone as the remote to make inquiries about TV shows and the TV will list what’s available as illustrated in our cover graphic,” wrote Jack Purcher.

But of course, nothing is certain until Google actually releases Showy.

As of today, Google has made no official announcement on releasing Showy and the domain name GoogleShowy.com does not resolve to a web page.

Discussion: Techmeme, Business Insider, MobileSyrup.com, Android Police, San Francisco Chronicle, Electronista, Phandroid.com, Softpedia, Marketing Land, Android Authority, androidandme.com, Yahoo! News and 9to5Google

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News Trademarks Video Games

Electronic Arts files trademark applications for ‘Full Contact Bingo’

Full Contact Bingo

This may be one of the stranger trademark filings I’ve seen by Electronic Arts, but it should make for an interesting game.

On March 5, 2012, EA submitted two trademark applications (Serial Numbers 85560267 and 85560275) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for “Full Contact Bingo.”

Serial Number 85560267 covers, “Entertainment services, namely, providing an on-line computer game; Provision of information relating to electronic computer games provided via the Internet.”

Serial Number 85560275 covers, “Computer game software; Downloadable computer game software via a global computer network and wireless devices; Video game software.”

As of today, Electronic Arts has made no announcement on releasing Full Contact Bingo.

Discussion: Game Informer, Kotaku, VG247, Hard OCP, Shacknews, HardGamers, AusGamers and Kotaku Australia

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Disputes National Arbitration Forum News Trademarks Video Games

Google files a complaint over the GooglePlay.com domain name

Google Play

Google introduced Google Play earlier this week and one of the key missing pieces for the online launch was the domain name GooglePlay.com.  That’s because the name has been owned by someone else and not the search engine giant for years.

But Google isn’t wasting any time trying to get the domain name to go with its new entertainment hub.  A complaint (Case No. 1432449) has now officially been filed with the National Arbitration Forum.

Google submitted a trademark application (Serial Number: 85560994) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on March 5, 2012, one day before officially announcing the launch of Google Play on its official blog.

The goods and services in the trademark filing cover:

computer software for transmission and display of digital content, audio works, visual works, audiovisual works, electronic publications, books, movies, and music; computer software for browsing and accessing digital content, computer software, computer games, audio works, visual works, audiovisual works, electronic publications, books, movies, and music

online retail store services featuring digital content, computer software programs, computer games, audio works, visual works, audiovisual works, electronic publications, books, movies, and music

providing temporary use of non-downloadable computer software for browsing and accessing digital content, computer software programs, audio works, visual works, audiovisual works, electronic publications, books, movies, and movies; providing temporary use of non-downloadable computer software for transmission and display of digital content, audio works, visual works, audiovisual works, electronic publications, books, movies, and music

Today, GooglePlay.com is owned by a resident of Japan according to Whois records.  The site displays third party ads in Japanese.

Google uses play.google.com as its online destination and is most certainly bleeding traffic to GooglePlay.com.

In order for the name to be transferred to Google, the National Arbitration Forum Panel will determine if the disputed domain meets the following three elements required under the ICANN policy:

(1) the domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark in which the complainant has rights
(2) the owner has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name and;
(3) the domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith. 

As I reported at the beginning of the month, Google registered a slew of googleplay domain names in late February through the brand protection company MarkMonitor, but missing in the list was googleplay.com.

Discussion: The Next Web, Techmeme, Electronista, NU.nl, Marketing Land, WebProNews and Softpedia