Ubisoft Didn't Abandon Watchdog Trademark

[Tom Bombadildo]

I was sitting in the Shoutbox today, and clarky brought up an image showing that Ubisoft has abandoned their Trademark for Watchdogs. I decided to take a look into it, and indeed it seems Ubisoft has abandoned their trademark.

A multitude of sites are contacting Ubisoft for confirmation, so there's not much info on what's going on.

EDIT: A note, though, Ubisoft has confirmed the game isn't cancelled (obviously).


Source


Update: Here's a nice explanation on what may be going on, but still no official statement from Ubisoft so keep that in mid.

http://www.polygon.com/2014/2/3/5374634/why-did-ubisoft-abandon-one-of-its-watch-dogs-trademarks

Update for the Update: The link above added this:

Update: A new filing submitted today with the United States Patent and Trademark Office is petitioning the director of the office to prevent the abandonment, saying the original request was fraudulent.

"On February 1, 2014, Ubisoft Entertainment received an email from [email protected] notifying Ubisoft Entertainment that a Request for Express Abandonment had been filed in connection with Application Serial No. 85642398," according to the filing. "The Request for Express Abandonment purports to be signed by the Chief Executive Officer of Ubisoft Entertainment, Yves Guillemot.

"Mr. Guillemot, however, did not sign the Request for Express Abandonment, nor did Ubisoft Entertainment file the Request for Express Abandonment. The Request for Express Abandonment is fraudulent and was not filed by Ubisoft Entertainment or its representative."

The petition is requesting that the director of the Patent and Trademark Office revive Ubisoft's trademark for Watch Dogs "promptly."

A Ubisoft spokesperson sent the following statement to Polygon:

"We are working directly with the USPTO on reinstating the trademark for Watch Dogs and it will be active again in the coming days. The matter has no impact on the Watch Dogs' development."

Looks like the abandonment filing was a fraudulent. Case closed, thread can be closed.

 

[VLinh]

Does this mean there renaming the game or possibly something like cancelling?

 

[Ryupower]

i say name change
the game is one of the most anticipated game of 2014, canceling would not be good
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=762701

or
Watch Dogs TM gone
Watch_Dogs TM to be then new one

 

[Qtis]

Watch_Cats confirmed, you heard it here first!

Odd that the trademark would be abandoned.

 

[Foxi4]

This might be a variety of things from a simple clean-up (for example, the trademark "Watch Dogs" is abandoned to make way for a "Watch_Dogs" trademark, or something along those lines), renaming the game (because some company, for example a watch dogs training facility from a backwater little city in the middle of nowhere, lays claims to the name, which has happened before in history) or abandoning the game altogether. Only time will tell, but it would be incredibly surprising that the game would be cancelled so close to its release date.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

I would assume it would be a name change or something similar. If you look at the history, it appears Ubisoft had previously filed for an extension of the trademark like...a couple days before they filed for abandonment.

 

[shakirmoledina]

w0w a name makes a huge difference. uhmm excuse me while i trademark watch dogs

 

[Gahars]

It seems like there's still an opening for Crotch_Dogs.

Anybody with an amateur porn production company willing to step up to the plate here?

 

[Wisenheimer]

It could also just be a hoax. I doubt it is canceled. It is probably a name change or hoax.

 

[Clarky]

Either a name change or perhaps being retooled for this christmas' Assassin's Creed. I would guess there has been too much work put into to just flat out cancel it

 

[Gahars]

It could also just be a hoax. I doubt it is canceled. It is probably a name change or hoax.

I don't think the US Patent Office has a habit of hoaxing video game enthusiasts.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

It could also just be a hoax. I doubt it is canceled. It is probably a name change or hoax.

Err...that's from the official US Trademark website, it's not a "hoax".

EDIT:

 

[Wisenheimer]

I don't think the US Patent Office has a habit of hoaxing video game enthusiasts.

It would not be the first time some troll filed fake paperwork.

 

[calmwaters]

Maybe they were faced with a hard decision: either risk going bankrupt by releasing it on the U as well as the PS4 and Xbone or cancel it. I really hope this isn't the case, though. But the DLC for the U version was canceled too, so who knows.

Edit: I just realized Tom is ignoring me and subsequently won't read and/or reply to my quote. I'd appreciate it if someone at least told him what I wrote and maybe get back to me if he replied. Thanks.

I would assume it would be a name change or something similar. If you look at the history, it appears Ubisoft had previously filed for an extension of the trademark like...a couple days before they filed for abandonment.

So the question is, why would Ubisoft file for an extension? And why would they cancel the game altogether a few days after? Maybe they weren't granted the extension on some legal grounds and just decided to cancel it. Or maybe they canceled it because it would bring financial ruin (or at least close enough to) after they released it. Or maybe they got short on funds and are in need of another company to buy them out so they can finish it. Or maybe they're just being dicks by trying to find out just how much outrage they can generate by canceling the game. It's not a smart way to generate hype, but hey...

 

[DiscostewSM]

They're teaming up with Disney to make it Watch Buddies!

 

[PolloDiablo]

maybe they're changing the name to avoid this...

 

[GameWinner]

No one mentioned Watch_Doge!?
WHAT!?

 

[Hyro-Sama]

No one mentioned Watch_Doge!?
WHAT!?

WOW

Such name
Much trademark

 

[Taleweaver]

Ugh...and for the most annoying gaming trend of 2014 I'd like to nominate...

"poor quality rumour spreading"

What am I supposed to watch on that link, really? At best, it's an abandonment by ubisoft of the trademark "watch dogs" (with a space, that is). Since the game is written with an underscore pretty much everywhere, I fail to see spectacular shit going down.

 

[emigre]

Who let the dogs out?