Blizzard may have to revise its plans for Overwatch, as the USPTO has suspended their trademark for the name.
It seems that Blizzard has only themselves to blame for the problem, as it turns out Innovis Lab already has a prior claim on the name for a smartphone app that already exists. Innovis’ Overwatch is, ironically, inspired by first person shooter games, that adds gamification to airsoft and paintball play.
After attaching your smartphone to your paintball/smartphone gun via rail, or on your forearm, you can use the app as GPS radar to track your allies and enemies, chat, command center, and it even gives you in-game perks.
Blizzard was notified of the possible conflict last July, but did not act on it at all. To be specific, they should have sent the USPTO arguments as to why the application should not have been refused. It is due to their inaction that their trademark has been suspended, although to be fair, so has Innovis’.
Blizzard’s Overwatch being the company’s first real original IP in 17 years, getting no less than the name taken from under them could be a serious setback to its launch. At this point, Blizzard has several costly options, including taking Innovis to court, but also simply defending their claim with the USPTO, and/or just settling with Innovis.
I would like to recommend one other option, which would be bringing back the project’s original name, Titan, but what do you think? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
