All articles tagged with #trademarks
Ubisoft has internally branded its latest generative AI initiative as 'Motherbrain,' a name referencing the antagonist from Nintendo's Metroid series, according to recent trademark filings. The publisher is expanding its AI tools beyond previous projects like Ghostwriter and Teammates, even as it continues significant workforce reductions and studio closures.
Buc-ee's opened its 58th location in Benton, Arkansas, on August 17, 2026, creating 200 jobs and adding 120 fuel pumps. The company is expanding to six new states by 2027, while facing trademark lawsuits and traffic management challenges.
EA has filed new Ultima trademarks while Richard Garriott approaches the 35-year copyright window (2027) to reclaim the rights to his original work. If successful, Garriott could develop a new title based on his designs but could not release it under the Ultima name, while EA would remain free to push Ultima-branded projects—potentially creating two parallel directions for the series.
Patagonia sued Pattie Gonia (Wyn Wiley’s drag persona) in January 2026 over trademark applications for Pattie Gonia-branded clothing and related services, arguing the move could confuse consumers and dilute Patagonia’s brand identity. Pattie Gonia has pushed back, framing the suit as an attack by a corporation on activist work. Legal experts say parody has strict limits and that Pattie Gonia’s merchandise may not clearly qualify as parody; still, experts note a real risk of consumer confusion and brand dilution. The disputes hinge on trademark law and the boundary between activism and commerce, with analysts suggesting a quick settlement—potentially Pattie Gonia withdrawing applications and halting Pattie Gonia-branded products—as Patagonia seeks a resolution that preserves both brands’ environmental aims. The case spotlights the tension between brand protection and activist branding in the outdoor industry.
Sony Interactive Entertainment filed trademarks for “Break In” in the United States and Europe, fueling online speculation that it may rebrand Haven Entertainment Studios’ upcoming competitive heist game Fairgame$, with an official update possibly teased at Sony’s forthcoming State of Play on June 2.
Taylor Swift filed three trademark applications to protect her image and voice, including a famous concert photo and the phrases “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift” and “Hey, it’s Taylor.” The move comes as AI-generated deepfake ads on TikTok misuse celebrity likenesses to prompt viewers to share personal data. Copyleaks researchers identified clusters of these ads featuring Swift and other stars with realistic voices and textured visuals, often directing users to third-party services to enter sensitive information. The piece notes ongoing legal actions and FTC warnings about rising online scams, underscoring why Swift is seeking to curb reputational damage from deepfakes.
Taylor Swift’s legal team filed three new trademarks to guard her voice and image from AI recreations—two voice recordings of Swift saying 'Hey, it’s Taylor Swift' and 'Hey, it’s Taylor' plus an Eras Tour image—aiming to curb AI misuse and following a similar trademark win for Matthew McConaughey on AI-generated lines.
Taylor Swift filed three USPTO trademark applications—two sound marks for “Hey, It’s Taylor Swift” and “Hey, It’s Taylor” and a visual trademark depicting her with a pink guitar—to help guard her voice and likeness against AI-generated impersonations and manipulated images, a strategy IP experts say could bolster protection against “confusingly similar” uses in the AI era.
WWE filed eight USPTO trademark applications on March 13, 2026, for Hausen variants (Girlhausen, Ghoulhausen, Kidhausen, Kid-Hausen), with two filings per term—one for wrestling-related entertainment and one for merchandise; attorney Lauren A. Dienes-Middlen is listed for the filings, following earlier WWE filings like Myka Lockwood and WWE Hometown Hero.
Danhausen’s WWE debut as the mystery crate pull at Elimination Chamber drew a mixed initial reaction, but Fightful Select reports WWE appreciated his quick turnaround and resilience as he subsequently appeared on RAW and SmackDown. WWE’s filing of new trademarks—Girlhausen, Ghoulhausen, and Kidhausen—points to potential expansion of the Danhausen character’s branding in the near future.
The Trump Organization has filed trademark applications to cover any airports carrying the president’s name, including branding around the Donald J. Trump International Airport, signaling an effort to control naming rights for airports tied to his name.
Nintendo has filed new trademarks for Mario & Wario and Rhythm Heaven Groove, with renewal dates set for February 17 and February 24, 2026, fueling speculation that these franchises could appear in a future Nintendo Direct.
The viral AI agent Clawdbot has been renamed Moltbot after Anthropic pressed for a change due to Claude-related trademarks. Creator Peter Steinberger says he was forced to rename, not by choice. Moltbot maintains its open-source, multi-tasking mission with a new lobster-inspired logo, while the name change has stirred frustration among some crypto fans and caused brief account-related hiccups, but the project continues.
Matthew McConaughey’s lawyers have secured eight U.S. trademarks, including a sound mark of his iconic catchphrase and short video/audio clips, to protect his voice and likeness from unauthorized AI use and deter misuse—potentially giving him standing to sue in federal court. The move, part of broader IP protections alongside his collaboration with AI voice firm ElevenLabs and ongoing investments, aims to curb AI-generated content that could imitate the actor without permission.
Applications for trademarks have been filed for eight logos and wordmarks under the placeholder name "Utah Hockey Club," indicating the branding for Utah's NHL team is taking shape. The colors blue, black, and white have been claimed for some logos, but the final name and branding will be decided through a fan-voting process and won't be revealed until well into the first season.