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The United States Patent and Trademark Office has suspended Nintendo's application to trademark the term Wii Remote.
A letter sent by the USPTO to Nintendo last week indicates that the word remote is too commonly used to be trademarked.
Nintendo submitted an official application to trademark Wii Remote in March of this year. The USPTO's letter indicates that it may still be possible for the console manufacturer to trademark the term, but Nintendo would need to "disclaim" any ownership of remote except when used in Wii remote.
If you're wondering why Nintendo doesn't trademark Wiimote, the term commonly - but unofficially - used to describe its Wii controller, that's an interesting question.
As GamePolitics reported in July, Fobis Technologies, a small Florida manufacturer which manufactures a T.V. remote control for children, has owned the trademark to Weemote since 2000. Fobis and Nintendo engaged in discussions regarding Nintendo's potential purchase of the trademark, but the console maker ultimately walked away from those discussions.
source
this is interesting.
A letter sent by the USPTO to Nintendo last week indicates that the word remote is too commonly used to be trademarked.
Nintendo submitted an official application to trademark Wii Remote in March of this year. The USPTO's letter indicates that it may still be possible for the console manufacturer to trademark the term, but Nintendo would need to "disclaim" any ownership of remote except when used in Wii remote.
If you're wondering why Nintendo doesn't trademark Wiimote, the term commonly - but unofficially - used to describe its Wii controller, that's an interesting question.
As GamePolitics reported in July, Fobis Technologies, a small Florida manufacturer which manufactures a T.V. remote control for children, has owned the trademark to Weemote since 2000. Fobis and Nintendo engaged in discussions regarding Nintendo's potential purchase of the trademark, but the console maker ultimately walked away from those discussions.
source
this is interesting.