A NeoGAF user has spotted and brought to light a notice issued last month by USPTO, which announces the suspension of Sony’s trademark application for Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds.
According to USPTO, there’s a “likelihood of confusion” between The Frozen Wilds and mobile slot machine game called Frozen Wild by Huuuge Global Limited, who filed its application before Sony. The notice states:
The effective filing date of the pending application(s) identified below precedes the filing date of applicant’s application. If the mark in the referenced application(s) registers, applicant’s mark may be refused registration under Section 2(d) because of a likelihood of confusion with that registered mark(s). See 15 U.S.C. §1052(d); 37 C.F.R. §2.83; TMEP §§1208 et seq. Therefore, action on this application is suspended until the earlier-filed referenced application(s) is either registered or abandoned.
The USPTO will periodically conduct a status check of the application to determine whether suspension remains appropriate, and the trademark examining attorney will issue as needed an inquiry letter to applicant regarding the status of the matter on which suspension is based. TMEP §§716.04, 716.05. Applicant will be notified when suspension is no longer appropriate.
Sony has the ability to argue that there won’t be any confusion between Huuuge’s application and Guerrilla’s expansion. The company has yet to comment.
