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[Rösti]

This actually happened a while ago, back in August, I don't know why I didn't write about it then. Anyway, on August 15, 2014, Random House LLC had the trademark Turok (US Serial Number 76435306) for computer game software cancelled due to:

Registration cancelled because registrant did not file an acceptable declaration under Section 8. To view all documents in this file, click on the Trademark Document Retrieval link at the top of this page.

Source: http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=76435306&caseType=SERIAL_NO&searchType=statusSearch

So, they either filed no Declaration of Use under section 8 or a Declaration of Use that was deemed invalid. I haven't been able to access the proceeding itself, so I can't tell exactly what happened. A Declaration of Use must be filed even if the owner has NOT continuously used the mark in commerce for five (5) consecutive years, else it will be cancelled. This mark was filed on July 29, 2002, and registered in January, 2004. The Turok trademarks shifted owner in 2010 when they went from Classic Media, LLC to Random House.

Two other Turok trademarks, one for "comic books, magazines in the field of entertainment, graphic novels, posters, post cards, greeting cards and calendars" and another for " manuals, namely computer game instruction.", are still live. The most recent Turok comic book, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter #8, was published by Dynamite Entertainment in September this year. Perhaps someone will pick up the game trademark in some way (come on, Retro Studios), though I doubt it. The franchise lost much of its flair with the 2008 installment. Of course, the IP is still very much alive as it originated as a comic book series, and thus any desire to develop a new Turok game must be through an agreement with Random House, otherwise all new trademark applications for Turok will be contested. Thanks to JaseC for pointing out this.

I searched for this but found no earlier posts/threads. Cerebral Bore if old.

Goodnight Sweet Prince.

 

[McDougles]

Brb, opening up Unreal Engine 4.

 

[Bl@de]

Let's trademark it GAF and remake the Shooter on Kickstarter! Now with more than 5 feet visibility

 

[Wind's Howling]

Had an amazing time with Turok Dinosaur Hunter and Turok 2.

One of the finest shooters on the N64.

 

[Skab]

:[

Lets all listen to Port of Adia in remembrance.

 

[Melon Husk]

So this means the franchise is in public domain and everyone can make Turok games now?

Spoiler

/falsehope

 

[BreezyLimbo]

I've never played Turok, but I cannot deny it's place in gaming.

 

[StoOgE]

IP still exists in comic form, so it's not up for freebies.

 

[Tenki]

Wasn't the first Turok made by the people who are now Retro or something like that?

 

[Jawmuncher]

Bish this doesn't mean anything for Turok 2008 once again i'm guessing, since disney had already dropped the game?

 

[Neuromancer]

Zenimax should buy it back and let Machine Games make a reboot.

 

[Wynnebeck]

I blame Bish for this tragedy.

 

[Bedameister]

I used to love both games as a kid. Didn't really get very far but it was fun.
I'd be cool with a remake or a reboot.

 

[Kiru]

:[

Lets all listen to Port of Adia in remembrance.

Have that one in my ipod along with this remix:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBnCqgxtS6o

Really awesome theme.

 

[JaseC]

The trademark that relates to video games is dead. The trademark that relates to the comics -- which is the important one as it's where the IP originated -- is still very much alive.

 

[delSai]

Zenimax should buy it back and let Machine Games make a reboot.

I'd play that.

 

[Rösti]

Wasn't the first Turok made by the people who are now Retro or something like that?

I believe there are some people from Iguana Entertainment at Retro Studios, yeah.

The trademark that relates to video games is dead. The trademark that relates to the comics -- which is the important one as it's where the IP originated -- is still very much alive.

Yes, I made this clear in the third paragraph in the OP.

 

[KainXVIII]

For good, i guess.

 

[zephervack]

Anyone knows how to play Turok 2 with the graphics seen in the OP?

Someday I will actually beat that game, even if I have to use this overhead maps:

 

[cacildo]

Im playing Turok 2 and im having a blast.

When i was a kid i had to obviously rent n64 games. And the port of adia is SO HUGE that i never even got to understand the save points. I think i got to save once and never had the time to play it again before returning the game

Now i own the cartrige... and im playing it slowly for two months

 

[DMczaf]

I blame Bish for this tragedy.

So do I.

 

[xDUMPWEEDx]

Turok 1 was a really great game, that had a few great months in the sun until Goldeneye released.

 

[Vagabundo]

Let's trademark it GAF and remake the Shooter on Kickstarter! Now with more than 5 feet visibility

Put Bish in charge of it.

 

[Triggerhappytel]

I'm not familiar with trademark law, but does this mean that anyone could register Class 9 trademark on the name 'Turok' and make a Turok FPS? There's no legal ramifications to using an abandoned trademark?

(Of course, the franchise's comic roots make this less straightforward than if we were discussing an abandoned trademark for a game that merely originated as a videogame).

 

[Spades]

Missed the original but I do remember getting Turok 2 for Christmas when it came out. Loved that game. I didn't have an expansion pak at the time, though

 

[catashtrophe]

Great series that time forgot.

Who made the N64 games was it Iguana or Sculptured software?

Where are the teams now?

 

[MattyG]

Zenimax should buy it back and let Machine Games make a reboot.

.

 

[Ape]

Can I file a trademark for it under the use for a videogame

 

[Skab]

Great series that time forgot.

Who made the N64 games was it Iguana or Sculptured software?

Where are the teams now?

Iguana. Not sure about the rest of the team, but the founder of Iguana went on to found Retro.

 

[SturokBGD]

My screen name on just about everything other than GAF is inspired by Turok.

"Sturok".

Also the name I generally use for the player character in fantasy games.

It's very clever. Because I love Turok, because my name is Stu, and because I... rok.

 

[SolVanderlyn]

It's not like hunting dinosaurs is a particularly innovative premise. The world will continue, still with dinosaurs, without Turok.

 

[JaseC]

Yes, I made this clear in the third paragraph in the OP.

What you made clear is that there are other trademarks. What I was making clear is that the video game trademark isn't up for grabs because the original trademark is still active -- a company can't file for the video game trademark and expect to release a game without first licensing the actual IP from Random House. Any attempts to snag it will just be contested.

 

[Rösti]

Can I file a trademark for it under the use for a videogame

That would certainly be deemed an invalid application by the USPTO due to the history of the name, and also due to licensing issues with Random House. If anyone wants to develop anything Turok related, I believe an agreement must be made first with Random House. That agreement could of course be exclusive rights to and ownership of Turok as a video game character, but as others have stated, Turok originated as a comic book character and that is what makes this a bit more complicated than usual.

What you made clear is that there are other trademarks. What I was making clear is that the video game trademark isn't up for grabs because the original trademark is still active -- a company can't file for the video game trademark and expect to release a game without first licensing the actual IP from Random House. Any attempts to snag it will just be contested.

That's true, and what I wrote in response to Ape above (before I saw your post). I have updated the OP with further information. Thanks.

 

[AtomicShroom]

Poor person who got "Turok" tattooed for the marketing campaign back then.

 

[Ape]

That would certainly be deemed an invalid application by the USPTO due to the history of the name, and also due to licensing issues with Random House. If anyone wants to develop anything Turok related, I believe an agreement must be made first with Random House. That agreement could of course be exclusive rights to and ownership of Turok as a video game character, but as others have stated, Turok originated as a comic book character and that is what makes this a bit more complicated than usual.

Well that's that then.

 

[Jawmuncher]

My dream Turok game is still the Turok 2008 team working on a sequel or something similar. Loved that game and I know they would have knocked it out of the park even more had they been given another chance. Enjoyed it so much more than the N64 titles.

 

[Seik]

It's really sad because the Turok IP has a ton of potential.

It just need to land in the right hands.

 

[legacyzero]

Love this franchise so much! I'm hoping it gets a good, old-school revival.

 

[frankie_baby]

What you made clear is that there are other trademarks. What I was making clear is that the video game trademark isn't up for grabs because the original trademark is still active -- a company can't file for the video game trademark and expect to release a game without first licensing the actual IP from Random House. Any attempts to snag it will just be contested.

Well they could make a game called Turok, just so long as it doesn't have anything to do with the existing comic/character

 

[Cheat Code]

Zenimax should buy it back and let Machine Games make a reboot.

 

[Jackbooted]

After playing Far Cry 3 I thought it would be really cool to have a Turok game set in a similar style. Have an island filled with Dinosaurs and bad guys and Turok goes full open world with all his fancy guns.

 

[Hispanic! At the Disco]

Turok 2 is my favorite FPS game and one of my most favorite games ever.

Tis a sad day.

 

[Rains]

Had an amazing time with Turok Dinosaur Hunter and Turok 2.

One of the finest shooters on the N64.

Loved the first game and the 2nd their weapon designs where great

 

[Oxymoron]

The trademark won't truly die so long as that kid that got named Turok as a publicity stunt is still alive.

 

[killatopak]

Mah dinosaurs...

 

[Powatech]

I've never played Turok 3, is it any good?

 

[Hero of Legend]

Thing is, the IP was owned by Classic Media, who were bought by Dreamworks, so shouldn't they have dibs on it?

Also; Nintendo, we're looking at you!

Edit: Pretty damn sure it was in CM's name, I remember checking.

Edit 2: Ah:

The Turok trademarks shifted owner in 2010 when they went from Classic Media, LLC to Random House.

 

[Ricky 7]

The first two were so good, the weapons were so cool in them.

 

[Raide]

MS should buy it, give it to FromSoft and make their own Demon's Souls style reboot like Bloodborne and put hunting dinosaurs in it.

 

[woopWOOP]

:[

Lets all listen to Port of Adia in remembrance.

Still one of my favorite videogame BGMs

RIP sweet dinosaur hunting prince