Are the words “dog” and “cat” similar enough to cause confusion? Naughty Dog owner Sony thinks they are, and has used that as the basis of an official opposition to a trademark application for 'Naughty Cat.'
This is a trademark dispute. This is why it’s filled with the USPTO as opposed to a court case. Bar for this is way, way lower. Sony has an incredibly good chance to prevail. Sony winning here at the USPTO would deny a trademark for Naughty Cat. But if there is a decent rebuttal from the studio, it may have to go to court to be settled.
That said, Naughty Cat is likely doing exactly what Sony details in their complaint. As the publisher’s works are mostly cheap slot machine themed games.
Naughty Cat only has two apps listed on the App Store, and both are gambling games that promise real cash rewards.
It’s very likely this is one of those cheap Chinese drive by studios and it pinged on Sony’s radar a lot earlier than the studio thought it would.
But motions of opposition are not the same as a full blown suit in Court. So Sony does have an incredibly good chance to have their trademark invalided.
God, why is the games industry so fucking illiterate when it comes to IP law. File a trademark opposition? They’re suing! File a patent application without issued claims or even substantive examination? They’ve patented it! These aren’t crazy fucking complicated concepts, but the journalism for games industries like actively stunts the understanding of these things by the market.
This is a trademark dispute. This is why it’s filled with the USPTO as opposed to a court case. Bar for this is way, way lower. Sony has an incredibly good chance to prevail. Sony winning here at the USPTO would deny a trademark for Naughty Cat. But if there is a decent rebuttal from the studio, it may have to go to court to be settled.
That said, Naughty Cat is likely doing exactly what Sony details in their complaint. As the publisher’s works are mostly cheap slot machine themed games.
It’s very likely this is one of those cheap Chinese drive by studios and it pinged on Sony’s radar a lot earlier than the studio thought it would.
But motions of opposition are not the same as a full blown suit in Court. So Sony does have an incredibly good chance to have their trademark invalided.
God, why is the games industry so fucking illiterate when it comes to IP law. File a trademark opposition? They’re suing! File a patent application without issued claims or even substantive examination? They’ve patented it! These aren’t crazy fucking complicated concepts, but the journalism for games industries like actively stunts the understanding of these things by the market.