Blizzard Entertainment could be forced to change the name of its upcoming shooter Overwatch due to trademark issues.
Overwatch, the upcoming shooter from Blizzard, could face a name change in the future, over issues with the Overwatch name trademark.
A company called Innovis Labs is claiming it registered the name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (UPSTO) over six months before Blizzard.
According to information obtained by NeoGAF, Blizzard Entertainment received a suspension letter for two applications related to the Overwatch trademark.
Both of Blizzard’s trademarks are suspended until the decision for allowance or abandonment by Innovis. If the latter decides to force Blizzard to abandon its trademarks, we could see a name change for the Overwatch game.
Innovis’ trademarks were filed under goods and services related to game software and similar, whereas Blizzard’s trademarks are filed under computer game software, game discs, downloadable programmes and other related topics.
Blizzard has yet to release an official statement on the potential name change for Overwatch, even though it is believed Innovis Labs do have the power to enforce the rebranding of the game.
Related: 8 things we learnt at Blizzcon 2014
Overwatch is a team-based multiplayer FPS that will enter beta sometime this year.
Revealed during BlizzCon 2014 back in November, Overwatch is the first brand new IP Blizzard has announced for 17 years.
It is set in the distant future where humans have given rise to the Overwatch; an elite conclave of heroes. There are different classes of characters, and each has special abilities, meaning no two characters are the same.
There’s only a PC release planned for now, with the closed beta coming at an unknown date.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
