U.S. Patent Office suspends Nintendo 'Wii Remote' trademark

by David Hinkle { Dec 2nd 2008 at 3:36PM }

Nintendo recently filed a trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which, as you might have guessed, has been shot down. Apparently, the word "remote" is far too common and incapable of being trademarked, said a letter sent to Nintendo from the USPTO last week.

The attempt to trademark the term "Wii Remote" was filed back in March by Nintendo, and even though it has been put on hold, Nintendo still has the ability to trademark the term. It would merely require that Nintendo "disclaim" any ownership of the word "remote," except for when used with "Wii Remote."

[Update: Removed uses of "patent" -- it's a trademark, duh.]

Tags: lawsuit, patent, trademark, uspto, wii-remote

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

rTwelve xbl:Chilblane @ Dec 2nd 2008 3:46PM

Why not go with Wiimote then? It's pretty common usage, at least that I've seen.

bukizzle715 @ Dec 2nd 2008 3:46PM

They should just patent the word "Wiimote". I don't think I've ever heard anyone call the remote a Wii remote. Always Wiimote.

CubeGuy @ Dec 2nd 2008 3:58PM

Even Reggie calls it a Wiimote.

Edge @ Dec 2nd 2008 3:58PM

Then, shouldn't the title be: "U.S. Patent Office denies Nintendo 'Wii Remote' TRADEMARK"? Because Nintendo being denied for a patent on a word is a bit strange...

R @ Dec 2nd 2008 4:00PM

Even that toy company which did have a "wemote" eventually gave Nintendo permission to use the term "Wiimote" so do it Nintendo.

leonus11 @ Dec 2nd 2008 4:10PM

i agree with what everyone here says. they should just go with "wiimote" and file a patent for that term (word?). besides i also know TONS of people who call it a "wiimote".

bhengh @ Dec 2nd 2008 4:18PM

I am not a lawyer, but the post is very confusing because you are mixing up the terms "patent" and "trademark". Patents are not being discussed here, this is only about the trademark of the term "Wii Remote."

Patents are for inventions, trademarks are for names.

critter42c @ Dec 2nd 2008 4:18PM

The patent office cares not one whit what you call your device. The TRADEMARK office, on the other hand, does. Get your facts straight, please?

Either a) The Patent Office rejected the patent on the Wii Remote, which has nothing to do with the name or b) The Trademark office rejected the trademarking of the word "Remote" as being too common (although I don't see why it would have a problem with "Wii Remote" as a trademarked phrase given that it has no problem with Microsoft trademarking "Microsoft Windows"...)

davivman @ Dec 3rd 2008 9:45AM

Nice try, but patents and trademarks are handled in the same office, the US Patent and Trademark Office (uspto.gov).

bhengh @ Dec 2nd 2008 4:21PM

The reason they are not going with "Wiimote" is because the company that has a "Weemote" is NOT giving them permission to call it that. That company wanted Nintendo to buy the name from them, and Nintendo said no.

http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/07/24/nintendo-comments-weemote-wiimote-flap-online-retailer-pressured

David Hinkle @ Dec 2nd 2008 4:43PM

Sorry about the confusion, folks. I put "patent" in a few places where "trademark" was supposed to be, and vice versa. It's been resolved in the post.

Thanks for the corrections, all!

taylor @ Dec 2nd 2008 6:04PM

of course the did, to give it to microsoft. duh.

Covarr @ Dec 2nd 2008 6:41PM

What the hell? Sony wasn't denied a trademark on Playstation just because they can't trademark the individual words "Play" and "Station". Microsoft was able to trademark XBOX without running into issues with the word "box". Do they think people will get confused or something?