UKIPO Ruled Opposition Dispute in Favour of Sony Interactive Entertainment

Advancement in technology has promoted growth in every sector, including video-based gaming. Nowadays, we can witness better graphics, features as well as easy access to video games, both online and offline. However, it is a stated fact that competition exists in every field and gaming is also under the clasps of it. Unfortunately, due to the launch and availability of more and more games, the trademark misuse and piracy rates have shown an upward trend. Dealing with a similar kind of issue, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) victoriously gained an opposition dispute in its favour.

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the broadcasting and technology giant, Sony Corporation. This 26-year old multinational video game and digital entertainment company are headquartered at San Mateo in California, United States of America. Till 2016, this gaming company was operating under the name Sony Computer Network; however, it was re-organized and combined into SIE 1st April 2016 onwards. SIE is the father organization of PlayStation system; therefore, since the launch of this gaming console, the company has uninterruptedly developed more and more consoles and its linked accessories.

One such game launched by SIE in the year 2018 that gathered huge market attraction was ‘God of War’. On the other hand, one China-based company known as, Beijing Elex Technology Company Limited, launched a video game titled ‘Lord of War’ and applied for its trademark registration on July 3, 2018. Dissatisfied from this launch, SIE filed a Notice of Opposition against this Elex Technology’s video game on October 12, 2018. SIE contended that, “having the same literal meaning, and that the services applied for are identical or highly similar to the goods and services of the earlier mark.” It further added that use of such a similar mark by Elex Technology would lead “public to believe that there is an economic connection between the applicant and the opponent, where no such connection exists”.

Recently, this legal opposition dispute came to an end, when the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) decided in favour of the video game giant, Sony. The 12-year old China-based video game manufacturer company was directed to pay £1,800 as costs.

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