D&D 5E Kobold Press files to register 'Kobold Press' trade mark

[S'mon]

Came across this - TESS -- Error
On 24th January 2023, Kobold Press filed to register Kobold Press for A series of fiction works, namely, printed novels and printed books featuring role playing games; Printed books in the field of role playing games; Printed story books; Printed strategy guide books for card games; Role playing game equipment in the nature of printed game book manuals; Series of printed fiction books; Series of printed fiction works, namely, novels and books.

Why now, I wonder. Almost as if something spooked them.

 

[Scribe]

Its all fun and games, until one of the kids decides to be a bully.

Then, everyone has to lawyer up and dot their I's and cross their T's.

 

[Reynard]

Came across this - TESS -- Error
On 24th January 2023, Kobold Press filed to register Kobold Press for A series of fiction works, namely, printed novels and printed books featuring role playing games; Printed books in the field of role playing games; Printed story books; Printed strategy guide books for card games; Role playing game equipment in the nature of printed game book manuals; Series of printed fiction books; Series of printed fiction works, namely, novels and books.

Why now, I wonder. Almost as if something spooked them.

Huh. I would have guessed, if asked, that "Kobold Press" was already a trademark of theirs.

IP lawyery types: what purpose does registering the company name as a trademark serve? Why would they want or need to do this?

 

[S'mon]

Huh. I would have guessed, if asked, that "Kobold Press" was already a trademark of theirs.

IP lawyery types: what purpose does registering the company name as a trademark serve? Why would they want or need to do this?

As their brand name, it was already an unregistered trade mark, and indicated as such by the little (TM) beside the D in Kobold. But registering will give a lot more protection if anyone comes after them ("we own kobolds"!), or if someone else is selling Kobold-branded merchandise. In gives them a prima facie right over the mark.

 

[S'mon]

There are quite a few live Kobold registered marks at the USPTO BTW - see here

 

[dave2008]

Doesn't it give them trademark protection if the release something, I don't know what..., to CC?

 

[bedir than]

Doesn't it give them trademark protection if the release something, I don't know what..., to CC?

Trademark registration simplifies the defense of a trademark but isn't necessary to defend a trademark

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Well, there go my plans for a kobold-themed tortilla press.

 

[Clint_L]

Well, there go my plans for a kobold-themed tortilla press.

Not necessarily. That is distinct enough that a reasonable consumer would not confuse the two products (e.g. Apple (Beatles) v. Apple (Gates/Wozniak). And I mention this because if you actually made a kobold-themed tortilla press (or waffle iron, etc.) I would probably buy it!

 

[S'mon]

Not necessarily. That is distinct enough that a reasonable consumer would not confuse the two products (e.g. Apple (Beatles) v. Apple (Gates/Wozniak). And I mention this because if you actually made a kobold-themed tortilla press (or waffle iron, etc.) I would probably buy it!

It is true that Kobold Press have not registered their mark for tortilla presses.