Friday, October 28, 2016

Netflix Files 8 Trademark Applications for Existing and Upcoming Shows

October 24th was a busy day for Netflix Studios, LLC at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). On that date, the company filed eight trademark applications for existing and upcoming shows on the streaming platform.

The existing shows (those filed on an actual use basis) include:
The shows presumably upcoming (those filed on an intent-to-use basis) include:
Netflix filed each application in Class 41 for an ongoing television series and providing online non-downloadable video clips related to a television series.  HOT GIRLS WANTED and CAPTIVE are identified as docu-series.  The remaining shows are identified as comedies or comedic dramas.
Netflix also filed an application for the black and white version of its new logo as seen above.  According to my quick search, Netflix owns 41 live trademark applications or registrations at the USPTO.  Nine of those applications are for STRANGER THINGS, covering a variety of goods and services.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

NINTENDO SWITCH Trademark Application Filed

On October 20th, the day Nintendo posted a three-minute trailer of its new hybrid gaming console on YouTube, it filed a federal trademark application for the console's name - NINTENDO SWITCH.
The new application by Nintendo of America, Inc. covers not just the gaming console but a wide variety of goods and services across five different classes.  Some of those goods and services include "downloadable video game programs" (Class 9), ballpoint pens and pencils (Class 16), "pre-made wraps and skins for hand-held units for playing video games" and toy action figures (Class 28), "wireless electronic transmission of audio, data, graphics, images, music, news, text, video, and voice, pertaining to video games" (Class 38), and "organizing, arrangement, managing and producing video game events for entertainment purposes" (Class 41).

Nintendo filed the entire application on an intent-to-use basis, which indicates it is not yet using this mark in interstate commerce but has a bona fide intention to do so in the near future (this makes sense given Nintendo is not yet offering this console for sale).
On the same day, Nintendo filed another trademark application for the logo seen above covering the exact same goods and services.  Nintendo also filed a trademark application for JOY-CON covering various computer and video game programs in Class 9 and various computer game machines and video game consoles in Class 28.  These were also filed on an intent-to-use basis.

Friday, October 21, 2016

Royal Caribbean Files Trademark Application for Possible New Cruise Ship

Is a new cruise ship in the works for Royal Caribbean? Maybe, according to a recent federal trademark application. On October 17th, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., a Liberian corporation (ed. - Liberia?) filed a federal trademark application for ICON OF THE SEAS on an intent to use basis.
The services covered by the application are:
  • Cruise ship services; arranging and conducting cruises for others; transport of passengers (Class 39);
  • Entertainment services, namely, casino services, organizing and conducting stage shows, nightclub shows, contests, dances and parties, all provided aboard a cruise ship (Class 41);
  • Providing temporary accommodations aboard a cruise ship; restaurant and bar services provided aboard a cruise ship (Class 43)
Does this application hint that a new cruise ship is in the works? It's possible. The intent to use nature of the application means the cruise line has a bona fide intention to use this mark in commerce on the services listed above in the near future, but is not doing so currently (at least that's what the intent to use basis is supposed to mean).

The services listed are also the exact same services listed on the ANTHEM OF THE SEAS trademark registration. That mark registered on June 21, 2015 and the Anthem of the Seas is currently active in the Royal Caribbean fleet.

Monday, October 17, 2016

Ivanka Trump Files Eighth Trademark Application of 2016 Just 21 Days Before Election

While her father is busy on the campaign trail, Ivanka Trump has been filing federal trademark applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The trademark applications filed by the daughter of Donald Trump are not related to the election, however, but rather to a variety of goods.
For example, on October 12th Ivanka Trump Marks, LLC (an entity that appears to hold Ivanka's trademarks) filed a federal trademark application for the logo seen above in Class 3 for perfume, lotions, soaps, body wash, shampoos, and a variety of other skin and beauty products. The application was filed on an intent to use basis, like all of the entity's trademark applications filed in 2016.


Other trademark applications (in standard characters and designs) filed by Ivanka Trump Marks, LLC, like one for the logo seen above, cover jewelry, pillows, infant beddings, and crib mobiles. The entity also filed a trademark application for WOMEN WHO WORK covering e-books (Class 9) and traditional books (Class 16) in the field of fashion, lifestyle, motivation, inspiration, and self-improvement in January of this year.

Based on my quick search, Ivanka Trump Marks, LLC currently owns 49 live trademark applications or registrations at the USPTO.

As a side note, Melania Trump filed a federal trademark application for MELANIA, in standard characters, as it relates to various jewelry (in Class 14)  in August 2016.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Uber Files UBERFREIGHT Trademark Application for Automated Driving of Vehicles, Freight Brokerage Services

Just over a week after reports surfaced regarding it and its recently acquired self-driving truck startup Otto were getting serious about taking on the self-driving truck industry, Uber took another step in that direction by recently filing a federal trademark application for UBERFREIGHT (in standard characters).

Uber Technologies, Inc. filed the federal trademark application on October 6th in Class 9 for "software; hardware; control units for automated and semi-automated driving of vehicles; vehicles" and in Class 39 for "[f]reight brokerage services; global forwarding services; insurance services; freight logistics management; fuel advance services; freight transportation; freight factoring services; leasing of vehicles and trailers."

The UBERFREIGHT trademark application also covers business administration and business management services in Class 35, telecommunications services in Class 38, and website and SaaS services in Class 42. Uber filed the application on an intent to use basis, suggesting it is [probably] not using this mark in conjunction with these services in commerce yet but has a bona fide intention to do so in the near future.

Friday, October 7, 2016

Battleship the Game Show? Recent Trademark Applications by Hasbro Suggest Board Game TV Shows May Be in the Works

Guess Who?, Scattergories, Connect 4, Chutes and Ladders, Twister, Yahtzee, Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, Battleship, Don't Break the Ice, Lite Brite, and Nerf. All are classic board games (except maybe Nerf) that most of us remember well. All are also the subject of 12 federal trademark applications filed by Hasbro, Inc. on October 3rd in Class 041 for "Entertainment services, namely, an ongoing television game show" (one application for each mark).
That's right. These trademark applications suggest that Hasbro may be turning games like Guess Who?, Twister, Yahtzee, Scrabble, Chutes and Ladders, and others into some sort of game show.

Hasbro filed each application on an intent to use basis, suggesting it is [probably] not using these marks in commerce in conjunction with game shows yet, but has a bona fide intention to do so in the near future. While this does not guarantee a Scrabble game show, for example, it does suggest some sort of plans are in the works for the same.

Hasbro has filed applications covering television shows for some of these board games in the past, but none proceeded to registration and were abandoned. And while the entertainment company holds trademark registrations covering television shows like TRANSFORMERS, RESCUE BOTS, and even MONOPOLY, the applications filed on October 3rd are the only active applications covering television shows for the classic board games listed above.

According to my quick search, Hasbro, Inc. owns 842 live trademark applications or registrations with the Trademark Office.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

NBA Files Multiple Trademark Applications for NBA LEAGUE PASS in Chinese

Recent federal trademark applications filed by the NBA for Chinese versions of "NBA League Pass" appear to be related to the NBA's deal with a Chinese mass media company, announced in early 2015, to provide NBA League Pass games and other content in the Chinese market.
On September 30th, NBA Properties, Inc. filed 12 different trademark applications for the mark seen above and a couple variants. According to the applications, the characters are Chinese and say "lián méng tong" or "league pass." The NBA filed applications for the mark seen above (and another mark with slight variations in the Chinese letters), for NBA LIÁN MÉNG TONG (in English letters), for LIÁN MÉNG TONG in English letters, and for LIÁN MÉNG TONG in Chinese characters.

Each application was filed in Class 041 for a variety of entertainment services related to basketball (such as television and radio programs, basketball events, clinics, and camps, fan club services, and video games) and in Class 038 for a variety of broadcasting services (including cable television, radio, and subscription television broadcasting). The NBA also filed each application on an intent-to-use basis, suggesting (but not necessarily meaning) that the NBA is not yet using these marks in conjunction with these services in commerce yet, but has a bona fide intention to do so in the near future.

According to my quick search, these are the first Chinese character trademark applications filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by NBA Properties, Inc.  The NBA's intellectual property component is currently listed as the owner of 316 live trademark applications or registrations at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Monday, October 3, 2016

Quarterly Index (7/1/16 - 9/30/2016)

How to Lose Your Trademark Filing Fees:
Entertainment Trademark Filings:
Sports Trademark Filings: