Sony Trademarking "Let's Play"?

[Alyce: Old Media Enthusiast]

trademarks.justia.com/868/01/let-s-86801899.html

Well, this is gonna go over well

[wisdomwizard]

I have no idea if this is true, but a number of people are saying this is by a troll.

[MiLB Fan]

Nope, it's true. Directly from the US Patent & Trademark Office website:

Word Mark LET'S PLAY
Goods and Services IC 038. US 100 101 104. G & S: Electronic transmission and streaming of video games via global and local computer networks; streaming of audio, visual, and audiovisual material via global and local computer networks
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 86801899
Filing Date October 28, 2015
Current Basis 1B
Original Filing Basis 1B
Owner (APPLICANT) Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY DELAWARE 2207 Bridgepointe Pkwy San Mateo CALIFORNIA 94404
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE


Now here's the interesting part: the USPTO is refusing Sony's application based on likelihood of confusion. A company called Let'z Play of America has already registered a similar trademark, as you can see here.

Word Mark LP LET'Z PLAY
Goods and Services IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment services, namely to provide online and offline opportunities for video game enthusiasts to meet and participate in live video game tournaments and on-demand console gaming. FIRST USE: 20120701. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20121001
Mark Drawing Code (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Search Code 26.01.02 - Circles, plain single line; Plain single line circles
26.01.21 - Circles that are totally or partially shaded.
26.05.21 - Triangles that are completely or partially shaded
26.19.01 - Spheres (geometric)
Serial Number 85936053
Filing Date May 18, 2013
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition October 15, 2013
Registration Number 4459011
Registration Date December 31, 2013
Owner (REGISTRANT) Let'z Play of America, LLC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY GEORGIA 2649 Grady St SE Smyrna GEORGIA 30080
Description of Mark The color(s) green, black, silver, white and gray is/are claimed as a feature of the mark. The mark consists of a green sphere highlighted in a white, silver and gray border divided in three sections. In the sphere is a silver and gray colored letter "L" and a black colored letter "P". The letter "L" has a silver and gray triangle located at its base with one tip pointing to the right. The circle is surrounded by a gray, white and silver colored thin, angled ring. The wording "LET'Z PLAY" appears to the right of the aforementioned image with gray and black colored characters.
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

Sony can appeal the refusal if it so chooses, and the company has until June 29 of this year to do so.

[Giul T.]

Jan 8, 2016 20:11:22 GMT -5 MiLB Fan said:

Nope, it's true. Directly from the US Patent & Trademark Office website:
Now here's the interesting part: the USPTO is refusing Sony's application based on likelihood of confusion. A company called Let'z Play of America has already registered a similar trademark, as you can see here.

Sony can appeal the refusal if it so chooses, and the company has until June 29 of this year to do so.

I love that it's "It's too close to a company with a Z and not "It's a really common PHRASE, you greedy gits"

[Mr PONYMANIA Mr Jenzie]

it's FAR too generic anyway, if they had added SONY at the end that would have been fine

[Deleted]

I'm deeply opposed to all this trademarking. Especially with suck a general term like lets play.

Common sense has to win out here.

[Alice Syndrome]

Good luck enforcing that. You're trying to get the rights to a phrase used for profit by tens of thousands of youtubers, and thet has earned frigging millions

[Blindkarevik]

"Let's Play" is a genre by now. Most Let's Players don't even refer to themselves as Lets Players.... most just let their handle be what they go by. So by trademarking the words, you're really not changing anything.

[wisdomwizard]

With that other trademark, this isn't happening. Even if it does, there's plenty of ways to get around it. It's not a rule you have to put the phrase "Let's Play" into your video titles.

[ShaolinHandLock]

I don't see how this could possibly work.

[Sponsored by Groose Wipes]

In a counter move. Microsoft is trying to trademark "Walkthrough "

[Futureraven: Beelzebruv]

Jan 9, 2016 0:34:13 GMT -5 Sponsored by Groose Wipes said:

In a counter move. Microsoft is trying to trademark "Walkthrough "

This goes very well with your avatar.

[SsnakeBite, the No1 Frenchman]

Hum, considering the term was created by SomethingAwful forum members, I imagine if anyone had a valid claim to copyrighting it, it would be them. Seriously, how can this be in any way legal? They didn't invent the concept or the term, and it's easy to prove it. Since when can you copyright something that someone else invented?

Goddammit, Sony, don't make me side with f'n SomethingAwful.

[James Fabiano]

Anything to do with GSN vs. Buzzr?

[Alice Syndrome]

Yeah, if anyone has the rights to the name, it's Slowbeef and Diabeetus from Retsuprae, who were the first 2 people to ever do Let's Plays

[Bo Rida]

On the plus side the trademark/copyright/whatever for loading screen mini-games has expired.