Trademarks 02-18-2008

Verizon Wireless Outset and Ozone Cellphones
On February 4, 2008, Verizon Wireless files to protect the trademarks Outset and Ozone in relation to “cellular telephones” and “telecommunication services”. Why Verizon would name a cellphone after a Moldavian boyband, Mork can’t say.

Nickelodeon Fanboy and Chum Chum
On February 4, 2008, Viacom International filed to protect the trademark Nickelodeon Fanboy and Chum Chum in relation to a TV show. This appears to be a project based on a short animated film by Frederator Studios, Eric Robles and Red Eye Animation that featured Scientologist Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson.

Battleship Motion Picture
On January 31, 2008, Team Angry Filmworks filed to protect the trademark Battleship in relation to a “motion picture film production”. A search for Team Angry Filmworks turns up nothing. In addition, Mork found no filings or rumors that Hasbro has licensed their Battleship brand in relation to a movie. Thanks Hasbro. You sank my dreams of a Battleship movie!

Comcast Anyroom Wireless Cable TV
On February 7, 2008, Comcast filed to protect the trademark Anyroom in relation to “digital video recorders, cable television set-top boxes, hardware for transmitting, broadcasting, recording, and playback associated with cable television and video-on-demand; apparatus for sending, recording, transmitting and reproducing sound and/or images”. Sounds like you’ll be able to have cable even in rooms not wired for it. Now you can watch all those channels you don’t need in a room you don’t really need a TV in. Sweet!

ING EsGrow Accounts
On February 10, 2008, Dutch banking giant ING Direct Bancorp filed to protect the trademark EsGrow in relation to “interest bearing escrow deposit accounts”. Nice, clever play on words there ING. No, seriously.

Ghost Wars Comic and Movie
On February 1, 2008, comic book publisher Platinum Studios filed to protect the trademark Ghost Wars in relation to “live action and/or animated motion picture films” as well as a variety of other items such as comic books, video games, action figures and apparel. Mork finds no current info on the mystery project from the company that recently went public and is credited with bringing the Men In Black franchise to Sony Pictures.

Samsung Spex Mobile Telephone
On January 24, 2008, Samsung Electronics files to protect the trademark Spex in relation to “mobile telephones”. Will this be the name of the rumored Sun-Samsung Java-phone? Probably not. Its called an unsubstantiated rumor, people. Move along… Update: Samsung “Spex” en route to a MetroPCS shop near you (April 1, 2008)