Category: Trademarks

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News Trademarks Video Games

Crowdstar working on next unannounced game called Modern Girl [UPDATED]

Modern Girl by Crowdstar

[UPDATED:. Crowdstar released Modern Girl on March 6, 2012.]

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Original story:

Mobile social gaming company Crowdstar appears to be working on its next iOS “Girl” game called Modern Girl.

In a filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on February 6, 2012, Crowdstar Inc. filed to trademark “Modern Girl by Crowdstar”.

The goods and services covered in the trademark filing (Serial Number: 85534912) include:

Downloadable computer game software for use on wireless devices and computers; computer-game software, video game software, and computer game application software; interactive-video-game programs; electronic game software and electronic game application software that may be accessed via the Internet, computers and wireless devices; computer software to enable uploading, posting, showing, displaying, tagging, blogging, sharing or otherwise providing electronic media or information regarding the fields of virtual communities, electronic gaming, entertainment and general interest via the Internet or other communications networks with third parties

Crowdstar’s Social Girl which launched in December 2011, snagged a million downloads in its first week of going live.

At the time of this story, Crowdstar has made no announcement about Modern Girl.

The trademark filing for Modern Girl comes at a peculiar time.  The same week Crowdstar submitted the application, Apple warned developers not to manipulate App Store rankings.

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News Trademarks

Microsoft files trademark for “People Powered Stories”, more Google bashing?

People Powered Stories

People Powered Stories

Since Google announced changes to its privacy policies, it has come under an onslaught of criticism from all directions including rivals. 

Microsoft has already taken aim at Google with its “Putting People First” advertising campaign and a YouTube video called “Gmail Man”.

Now it looks like Microsoft may have something more in store for Google in the coming days, something that is powered by everyday people.

On January 31, 2012, Microsoft Corporation filed a trademark application (Serial Number: 85530034) for “People Powered Stories”.  And as the phrase and trademark description suggest, Microsoft may launch an advertising campaign that is supplied by user-generated content.

The goods and services covered by the trademark filing cover two categories:

Advertising and marketing services; Advertising consultation; Providing information in the field of advertising

Providing online, non-downloadable software and tools for creating advertisements that include user-generated feedback and content

As of today, Microsoft has made no announcement as to its plans for “People Powered Stories” and no website exists.

One thing also to note with the filing is there no first-use date reported, indicating that Microsoft has not started using the mark.

[Update 2 on Feb. 14, 2012:.  Microsoft officially announced People Powered Stories, a new social advertising solution.]

[Update 1 on Feb. 5, 2012:.  A resident of China registered the domain name peoplepoweredstories.com (Whois) shortly after this story ran.]

Discussion:  The Next Web, Simply Zesty, Marketing Land and Neowin.net

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News Technology Trademarks

Sony files trademark for “Xperia Sola” smartphone with USPTO [UPDATED]

Sony Xperia Sola

Sony Xperia Sola

Sony may have revealed what the ‘S’ stands for in its new Xperia S smartphone expected to be released in March.

On January 30, 2012, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB filed a trademark application for “Xperia Sola”. 

‘Sola’ means ‘alone’ or ‘only’ in English.

The goods and services covered in the filing (Serial Number: 85528680) include mobile phones and accessories.

In early January, Sony introduced four new smartphones at CES 2012: the Xperia Ion, the Xperia NX, the Xperia Acro HD, and of course the Xperia S, Sony’s first smartphone in the next generation series.

If the ‘Xperia Sola’ is actually a different device other than the ‘Xperia S’, Sony hasn’t made any official announcement at the time of this story. 

So, I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

[Updated March 14, 2012:. Sony has launched the Xperia Sola with ‘floating touch,’ NFC, 3.7-inch Reality Display, and Android 2.3.]

Discussion: MobileSyrup.com, tweakers.net, Gizmodo, AndroidAppTests, Phandroid, Electronista, MobiFrance, Geeky Gadgets and Xperia Blog

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News Trademarks

Microsoft to launch new publication? Company files trademark for Latinzine

Latinzine

It looks like Microsoft may have something in the works for a new publication, focusing perhaps on Latin America.

On January 24, 2012, Microsoft filed a trademark application (Serial Number: 85524272) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for “Latinzine”.

The goods and services listed in the application include “streaming of video material via the Internet and mobile networks” and “providing on-line magazines accessible via the Internet and mobile networks in the fields of lifestyle, news, entertainment and sports; On-line journals, namely, blogs featuring content in the fields of lifestyle, news, entertainment and sports“.

Microsoft has opened two major technology centers in Latin America in the past six months. 

In January, the company inaugurated a major technology center in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  In October 2011, it inaugurated its first Latin America MTC in Mexico City.

At the time of this story, Microsoft has made no announcement about Latinzine.

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News Trademarks Video Games

Electronic Arts files trademark applications for ‘Trouble Makers’ game

Electronic Arts - Trouble Makers trademark

Electronic Arts filed two trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on January 18, 2012, for the term “Trouble Makers”.

Serial number 85519088 covers: “Entertainment services, namely, providing an on-line computer game; Provision of information relating to electronic computer games provided via the Internet.” 

Serial number 85519072 covers: “Computer game software; Downloadable computer game software via a global computer network and wireless devices; Video game software.”

At the time of this story going online, EA has not made an official announcement.  However, if EA has any serious interest at all in developing a “Trouble Makers” game and launching it online, it may have to open its wallet wide to get the matching web address.  

Troublemakers.com has been listed for sale on the web for years.  The current asking price is $50,000 USD or best offer.

Care to guess what EA has in store for “Trouble Makers”?

Could it be the next installment of Need for Speed rumored to be out later this year?

Discussion: Game Informer and This is Xbox