SecretBonusPoint said:
Why do Apple keep pulling the game down?
Well, strictly speaking, while Edge has the "Edge" trademark registered in the US with respect to videogames, Apple is oblidged to at least approach Mobigames. Until the trademark is declared invalid by the USPTO (which may happen via the EA action), Langdell has a legal claim. Changing the name to "Edge by Mobigames" doesn't necessarily avoid infringement entirely. "Edgy" as Mobigames first offered would have I would argue, though the dick move by Langdell was to trademark that too.
The biggest problem with trademark law is that infringement is not black and white. Infringement occurs when there is a chance for consumers to confuse products or services which make it very grey and ambiguous.
That being said, I just went to the USPTO site (
http://tess2.uspto.gov/) and checked up on the situation, and there are conflicting registrations which is odd. Info is below, Edge registered trademark first, then the Mobigames registered trademark. The USPTO should not have allowed the Mobigames registration seeing as it overlaps the use and categories the existing Edge registration had. The fact they allowed it confuses matters.
Word Mark EDGE
Goods and Services IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: computer game software, computer game programs, video game software, video game programs, computer game software that may be downloaded from a global computer network, video game software that may be downloaded from a global computer network, computers, plug-in boards, peripheral devices, flash cards, video game accessories, video game peripherals, games designed for use with mobile entertainment devices. FIRST USE: 19840601. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840601
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 78807479
Filing Date February 5, 2006
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Owner (APPLICANT) EDGE GAMES, INC. CORPORATION 530 SOUTH LAKE AVENUE #171 PASADENA CALIFORNIA 91101
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Prior Registrations 1853705;2219837;7502940
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
Word Mark EDGE
Goods and Services IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Apparatus for recording, transmitting, reproducing or processing sound or images; data processing and computer equipment; computer game software
IC 028. US 022 023 038 050. G & S: Games, namely, board games, puzzles, Toys, namely, building blocks
IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment, namely, organization of computer and video game competitions, providing online computer games
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 79067304
Filing Date January 12, 2009
Current Filing Basis 66A
Original Filing Basis 66A
International Registration Number 0998834
Owner (APPLICANT) MOBIGAME S.A.R.L. FRANCE 85 boulevard Pasteur F-75015 PARIS FRANCE
Type of Mark TRADEMARK. SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE