Whoops! Blizzard May Need To Change Overwatch's Name

[Space Jawa]

What if they tried using a variant on the name like Over-Watch or O\/erW/\tch or OverW^tch?

 

[theNater]

I don't see any reason they couldn't share the trademark. The products are dissimilar enough that it's unlikely to cause confusion.

 

[WhiteTigerShiro]

Granted that I don't know copyright law that well, but since one of these is for a paintball-related app, and another is a PC video game, don't they not really clash since they're products for two completely different services and customer bases? I could swear I've seen cases like this where I would have thought that one company could sue the other for copyright infringement, but it didn't matter since it was two completely different products.

 

[BeerTent]

I don't think I'd want my smartphone anywhere near airsoft pellets. Those things could probably crack a screen.

Airsoft is so weak, I highly doubt they can crack anything.

Unless you're using metal pellets. Then I imagine you'd feel it at anything other than point blank.

But on topic, copy-right law confuses the fuck out of me. Is there a time limit? What about Taken, with aliens, and Taken, with Liam Neeson?

 

[Scarim Coral]

I suppose the app does sound more appropriate with that word but in saying so, what is an "overwatch"? Well ok it's a military tatic that one unit support another unit hence over watch. Still when I first watched the game trailer, I did felt the name didn't suit the game as it kinda look more fun (especially the cinematic) and than serious.

 

[Naqel]

what is an "overwatch"?

Within the game's lore, "Overwatch"(named after the millitart tactic and the fact that they watch over the world, so deep) was an organization that was created to bring peace to the world in light of a robot uprising(among other things). Once all the world wide threats were taken care of it disbanded. The characters we'll play are it's former members, and other people(or robots) that had dealings with them.

Even if the game changes name, that bit will probably stay true, but it'll be kinda like League of Legends getting rid of the League of Legends from it's lore: kinda awkward.

 

[Norix596]

Well good for that, it was super generic title anyway.

 

[Norix596]

Well good for that, it was super generic title anyway.

 

[Fappy]

They may just buy the name. Blizz does have that kind of cash to throw around and most app devs would probably jump at the chance to make some quick dough like that.

 

[Yossarian1507]

I don't think I'd want my smartphone anywhere near airsoft pellets. Those things could probably crack a screen.

Airsoft is so weak, I highly doubt they can crack anything.

Unless you're using metal pellets. Then I imagine you'd feel it at anything other than point blank.

There are also people (personally, I call them dickheads) who are modifying their ASGs (usually sniper rifle models) so they can shoot on a further distance. Those things can hurt like hell, I can tell you that. As for paintball... I have a friend who is frequently playing, and I've seen some of the bruises he got from a close range encounters. Yep, definitely wouldn't want my phone anywhere near those kind of activities.

The idea sounds cool though, if you're not scared and/or playing with the reliable crew.

OT: I wonder how many real, existing words are still up for grabs in term of patents for IPs, and how much of a problem this will be in the future, if no one will change those stagnant, outdated copyright laws. Sucks for Blizzard, either way, they'll have to pay some money for this oversight - probably to the app creators, since it's probably easier than rebranding an already hyped game.

 

[Baldr]

And this is why copyrights on already existing terms are stupid.

For fucks sake, it doesn't even need to be in the same ballpark as the other product to run into copy right problems, bullshit.

Granted that I don't know copyright law that well, but since one of these is for a paintball-related app, and another is a PC video game, don't they not really clash since they're products for two completely different services and customer bases? I could swear I've seen cases like this where I would have thought that one company could sue the other for copyright infringement, but it didn't matter since it was two completely different products.

Copyright laws are much different from Trademark laws. This is a trademark case.

 

[Olrod]

Instead of calling it Overwatch, how about they call it Overlook?

Y'know, because they overlooked trademarking the name when they first started developing the game...

 

[laggyteabag]

Hell, the game could be called Poopsandtoots for all I care, Im just in it for that sweet looking gameplay.

[small]Poopsandtoots GOTY 2015.[/small]

 

[Haru17]

Overwatch was always a lame title, and Titan is way too close to Titanfall for a shooter (like Battlecry and Battleborn). Find a creative title, maybe even go for two whole words, crazy!

 

[cathou]

I don't think I'd want my smartphone anywhere near airsoft pellets. Those things could probably crack a screen.

Airsoft is so weak, I highly doubt they can crack anything.

Unless you're using metal pellets. Then I imagine you'd feel it at anything other than point blank.

There are also people (personally, I call them dickheads) who are modifying their ASGs (usually sniper rifle models) so they can shoot on a further distance. Those things can hurt like hell, I can tell you that. As for paintball... I have a friend who is frequently playing, and I've seen some of the bruises he got from a close range encounters. Yep, definitely wouldn't want my phone anywhere near those kind of activities.

The idea sounds cool though, if you're not scared and/or playing with the reliable crew.

OT: I wonder how many real, existing words are still up for grabs in term of patents for IPs, and how much of a problem this will be in the future, if no one will change those stagnant, outdated copyright laws. Sucks for Blizzard, either way, they'll have to pay some money for this oversight - probably to the app creators, since it's probably easier than rebranding an already hyped game.

Actually, they also sell the mount for your gun. it seems to fully cover the back of your phone, so any shot that come from the front would it the case.

http://overwatchapp.com/

 

[WhiteTigerShiro]

And this is why copyrights on already existing terms are stupid.

For fucks sake, it doesn't even need to be in the same ballpark as the other product to run into copy right problems, bullshit.

Granted that I don't know copyright law that well, but since one of these is for a paintball-related app, and another is a PC video game, don't they not really clash since they're products for two completely different services and customer bases? I could swear I've seen cases like this where I would have thought that one company could sue the other for copyright infringement, but it didn't matter since it was two completely different products.

Copyright laws are much different from Trademark laws. This is a trademark case.

A semantic quibble as far as I'm concerned.

 

[walrusaurus]

Sweet deal for the app developer. I'm sure Blizzard will offer them more cash for the name then they could ever have hoped to make from actual sales of what seems to be an incredibly niche but legitimately interesting product.

 

[Jandau]

Well, they could always just name it something that acronyms into "HotS", since that's their default state...

 

[Strazdas]

well i got to say that smartphone app is more interesting than the game, so good on them for keeping the trademark.

has the "generic title marathon" finally hit the "its already named that" wall? Is that why we have games with 3 subtitles in the title just to avoid that?

Airsoft is so weak, I highly doubt they can crack anything.

Unless you're using metal pellets. Then I imagine you'd feel it at anything other than point blank.

But on topic, copy-right law confuses the fuck out of me. Is there a time limit? What about Taken, with aliens, and Taken, with Liam Neeson?

when i played paintball the instructor told us not to shoot eachother from too close because the guns had enough force that if hit at right angle it could shatter bones in your fingers.

of course, noone listened to him.

Also this is not a copyright law, this is trademark law. there are 3 DIFFERENT laws in US - Copyirght, patent and trademark. they deal with DIFFERENT THINGS.

My son just suggested they release it in a hyper-bugged and unfinished state and call it Overpatch.

i bet its already trademarked by Ubisoft.

P.S. did you really register just to say that?

 

[IMAGinES]

Well, Disney wound up having to borrow the trademark, "TRON" from an electrical component manufacturer for a while. Maybe Blizzard can ask Innovis nicely and work something out?