Sony's recently discovered October application to trademark the phrase "Let's Play" has been rejected by the United States Patent And Trademark Office due to the likelihood of "consumer confusion" arising from its similarity to the existing trademark "LP Let's Play", GamesIndustry reports.
"Registrant's services are '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.' Applicant's services are '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'", the official USPTO ruling commented.
"On balance, because the marks are highly similar and the services are closely related, consumer confusion is likely. Accordingly, registration is refused under Trademark Act Section 2(d)."
Sony has six months to appeal the verdict.
