3 replies to this topic

[noatom]

Are all game studios registered trademarks? And does anyone have any ideea how much it would cost to register an international trademark?

[Hodgman]

Registered trade-marks are designated with the ® symbol, and regular trademarks with the ™ symbol.

Even if something doesn't have the ™ symbol next to it, if it's it's a name or logo that's used to identify a product that is being traded, then it's still a trademark nonetheless.

 

e.g. If I copied the gamedev.net logo and sold my own forum subscriptions using that logo, then the real gamedev.net could sue me for trademark violation, even though they haven't used the ™ symbol.

 

Simply putting "international trademark registration" into google will give you information about how much registration costs -- Likely between $100-$1000 per country.

Generally only very big brands, like Coca Cola use registered trademarks.

 

Note that regardless of whether a trademark is implicit (no ™ symbol displayed), explicit (™ symbol displayed) or registered (® symbol displayed), if someone violates your rights by copying your name/logo, the only thing you can do is hire a lawyer and start a lawsuit against them... 

Edited by Hodgman, 06 January 2013 - 04:40 AM.

[noatom]

Well...I have plans for making a game studio in the future and I don't know what to do regarding this trademark problem.If I register one,I have to register an international one...and that might cost...

[Tom Sloper]

1. Are all game studios registered trademarks? 2. And does anyone have any ideea how much it would cost to register an international trademark?

 

1. No.  Trademark registration is a different thing from trademark.

2. Yes. You should get a lawyer.  It's part of the cost of doing business.