The ambitious multiplayer shooter Overwatch from Activision Blizzard is at risk of a name change due to trademark issues. As it turns out, the name is already taken.
In April 2014, Blizzard filed a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to secure the name “Overwatch.” Unfortunately, Innovis Labs Inc. had already registered a smartphone app under the same name. This is evident from two documents published on uspto.com – a Suspension Letter and an Examiners Amendment – which indicate that a change in the content of the patent application is necessary and that the application has initially been suspended, i.e., rejected.
The smartphone app Overwatch has been available on iTunes for some time and can be used to enhance paintball, laser tag, and airsoft matches. However, it is unclear which of the two companies will be awarded the trademark – both applications are currently on hold until a decision is made. There has not yet been an official objection from Blizzard. In the worst case, the developer would have to rename the game, which is supposedly set to start its beta in 2015.
Conclusion: Twice Overwatch seems to be once too many – a tough break for Blizzard. Those who research carelessly end up with the short end of the stick (although further details about this patent issue are likely to follow). I can practically feel the tense atmosphere in Blizzard’s marketing department. It seems that we might get to know the title under a different name in the future – in case no agreement can be reached between the court, Blizzard, and Innovis Labs Inc.
