Wii trademark surfaces, naysayers wiip

by Christopher Grant { May 4th 2006 at 1:47PM }

Remember last Thursday when some disappointed Wii (née Revolution) fanboys got to thinking, "Hey! There's no trademark on file! It's got to be a publicity stunt! Viva la Revolution!"?

Of course, we tried to set them straight, but the conspiracy theory persisted -- as conspiracy theories are wont to do -- and now, with the help of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, we can see that Nintendo has indeed registered the name "Wii" with no fewer than nine applications!

The trademark applications were filed on April 27 (the day the name was publicly announced), but have a "priority date" of November 11, 2005, meaning they had decided on the new name as far back as November of last year and delayed the trademark registration, lest the proverbial cat be let out of the proverbial bag.

The trademarks cover the use of the name Wii in applications ranging from "printed matter" like iron-on transfers or, who knows, console packaging to "clothing" like wrist-bands or, perhaps maybe, t-shirts. They also cover "watches containing a game function", "providing temporary use of non-downloadable video game programs provided via the Internet", and about a thousand other things, meaning there's a wealth of info to be misinterpreted here by the fan community.

You'd better put your tinfoil hats back on...let the crazy theories commence!

[Thanks, pn18]

(Update: Added links directly to the Trademark Document Retrieval system. Thanks Me Here!]

Tags: Revolution, TESS, Trademark, USPTO

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

karmaghost @ May 4th 2006 1:53PM

Man, that's too bad.

Splorky Fish @ May 4th 2006 1:54PM

I'm glad. What tangible benefit could Nintendo really hope to gain by tricking us with a fake name weeks before E3?

Presentlight @ May 4th 2006 1:54PM

So much for the hope of this all being an elaborate Nintendo prank...

newtypecj @ May 4th 2006 1:54PM

The name Wii is also referenced in the DS Lite press release from this morning (in the "About Nintendo" section), further proving the non-hoaxiness of the name. In other words, it's time to buck up and accept the name, naysayers.

ResidentGamer.com @ May 4th 2006 1:56PM

good try good try. Wii are just going to have to live with that name. Wii will get over it I hope.

Mike @ May 4th 2006 1:57PM

The timing is interesting. The priority right would have lasted until May 11th, the second day of E3. They must have planned that, right?

Neko Tsukimi @ May 4th 2006 1:58PM

XD I was waiting for this day. All these people writing up real serious lengthy articles just knowing 100% that Wii was fake. So rich :D

syco @ May 4th 2006 2:01PM

It's not THAT bad.

I mean, yeh, it's pretty bad, but in most other languages it's pretty apt. Maybe Nintendo just gave up on us. I wouldn't entirely blame them, considering our unfathomable tastes in things (example, Doom doing better in the box office than Serenity. Another example, Football games and GTA break records here, Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior break records there).

Point being, Wii is what it is, so Wii is what it is. It's still better than Revolution, if only marginally so. I'm probably still going to call it the N5 out of habit.

Limpit @ May 4th 2006 2:01PM

I'm glad that the 'fake name' rumour was quashed...

Besides, I can honestly say I'm really used to calling it Wii in conversations with mates now... Now if only I could convince them that they have wasted all that money on xbox 360's and hd tvs :D

Jouten Za @ May 4th 2006 2:07PM

The Revolution is over! Nothing to see here! Please move along!

Jut @ May 4th 2006 2:12PM

Holy crap! One of the trademark documents has this listed as one of the uses for the Wii�, "protective helmets for sports; machines and apparatus for immersions". Nintendo On does exist! And I can wear it while riding my bike!

Mullinator @ May 4th 2006 2:15PM

People will get over the name pretty easily I think. After all, people got over the "playstation" name sounding like a fischer price kids toy very early.

I suspect the name is meant to be something without a proper pronunciation. Personally when I first saw it I was thinking it was to be pronounced Nintendo "Why-eye". "Wee" only came into my head after all the more childish fanboys started making urine jokes.

ry @ May 4th 2006 2:21PM

those idiots never noticed the big TM sign that was on all Wii graphics when the name was launched. You can't exactly claim a false trademark, so I'm left to wondering the following: How stupid are some poeple?

PodMonkeys @ May 4th 2006 2:21PM

hmm... a watch that can play downloadable games... It'd really put the Watch in Game and Watch! :P

Sloopydrew @ May 4th 2006 2:21PM

Why am I starting to like the whole "Wii" thing? I find myself associating it less with urine and more with Nintendo. It is very community sounding-ish. Sure, it's a community with poor spelling ability, but a community, nonetheless. And a commercial with "Wii will, wii will ROCK YOU!" could be just what Nintendo needs to put the console over the top and turn Wii from toilet humor to a trendy console for users.

awdboxer @ May 4th 2006 2:24PM

Did anyone play Brain Age yesterday? I was doing the daily training and was greeted by the doctor guy who asked me what was an important news announcement made on 4/28...I made came up with some wise ass answer and he said no that's not it and said the correct answer was Wii. I was kind of shocked N knew what they were naming this thing so far in advance.

The1 @ May 4th 2006 2:26PM

No matter how much we like or dislike the name "Wii", everyone must admit this is a unique move by Nintendo.

J B Cougar @ May 4th 2006 2:32PM

You're starting to like it more and more because of the tried and true Internet formula. Given A you will have B for C before they are distracted by D and then E can take over.

A= controversial, silly name
B= Users of low intelligence with high speed Internet access, no life
C= typical attention span of an idiot, roughly 1-5 minutes
D= something shiny
E= common sense

So, without all of that distraction from the bottom feeders of the Net, it is easier to get used to or like the name. And no, the fact that many PS3 fanboys also fall into the category of B does not mean that the system sucks. Much.

Paul @ May 4th 2006 2:35PM

awd, I think your memory may be failing. In Brain Age, he probably asked you on 4/28 "What is an important announcement made today?", he asks these questions to test your memory later. Then when you play a few days later he re-asks the question. It seems you completely forgot he even asked you in the first place.

Bebi @ May 4th 2006 2:36PM

Lame. The name sucks arse. This was my only hope. Ah well, I'll still get it, but I'm not in denial like a lot of other people. The name sucks, admit it.

boylie @ May 4th 2006 2:37PM

#14

unique how? the logo looks alot like the one for the ipod. it's an awkward name that sounds weird to say, and just because, from an advertising standpoint, revolution was apparently a bad name, doesn't make this one good. i'd have rather told people that i had a ps3 or a revolution or a xbox 360 than a wii.

Collie @ May 4th 2006 2:45PM

Why, oh, Why ai yai!

Actually, I dont care. So now its an officially registered bad name.

Maybe we ask TESS if Big N registered NADS as a trademark for the nunchakies remote.

That way we'll be playing with our Wii and Nads.

calthaer @ May 4th 2006 2:51PM

The name was and remains asinine. I can accept it as the name of the console merely because it apepars like it's going to be whether everyone likes it or not, but then again - we don't have to accept the console itself, now, do we?

Here's to hoping the big N keeps the handheld market going strong, and holds on to its third place in the home console market.

Me Here @ May 4th 2006 2:55PM

You can't direct link search result pages as the Joystick authors did in the OP.

You can link to the TDR page though:
http://tinyurl.com/nrsws

BTW, according to the application, the priority date was based on an Italian filing. So, to find out other trademarks Nintendo has on the back burner, might try searching the Italy Trademark Office.

A quick search shows that in the same time period, they filed applications for ("verbale" is the type of mark):
nintendo fanana verbale
TO2005C003357 17/11/2005 nintendo chilipop (verbale)
TO2005C003360 17/11/2005 nintendo g beam (verbale)
TO2005C003361 17/11/2005 nintendo bemo nintendo bemo (verbale)
TO2005C003362 17/11/2005 nintendo dopido nintendo dopido (verbale)
TO2005C003363 17/11/2005 nintendo wii nintendo wii (verbale)
TO2005C003366 17/11/2005 nintendo fanana

Go figure.

Jeff @ May 4th 2006 2:58PM

"those idiots never noticed the big TM sign that was on all Wii graphics when the name was launched. You can't exactly claim a false trademark"

It's moot, but you're right in a way you think you're not, and wrong in the way you think you're right.

You can't claim a false trademark, that much is true. But a "false trademark" would be a trademark held by someone else that you claim as your own. If no trademark exists, you are free to put a "TM" on there of your own - and in some cases it would even be a valid trademark.

You see, trademarks need not be registered to be valid. All you need to do is prove that you used the name before anyone else. A *registered* trademark is something different - that's what this is. When a trademark is registered, you can put that "R" symbol with the circle around it on the logo instead of the "TM". A registered trademark is much stronger than a regular one because it is government-documented proof of when the trademark first came into being. You can't use the "R" mark until the registration is granted, however.

So anyone can put a "TM" on anything. It doesn't prove anything one way or another.

But that's neither here nor there at this point.

heat @ May 4th 2006 2:58PM

all of you tools complaining about it should keep it to yourselves. obviously you have nothing to associate it with. the only context you can use the name "wii" in is either (a) speculation or (b) criticism.

anyways, the rest of the world has grown to accept it. it's cute, and catchy, and really not awkward to use at all. the wii doesn't need a traditional name because nintendo is completely taking another angle (and their dedication to this is demonstrated with the name, and rumored specs). if you cant recognize the conscious efforts nintendo is taking to change the way you think of gaming, how you play gaming, what your parents think of gaming, than dont pay any mind to it. buy an xbox360.

im tired of the whole condescending attitude toward wii.

jV @ May 4th 2006 3:04PM

#12:

There is a difference between a trademark symbol (tm) and a registered trademark symbol (�). A TM is simply a designation to alert the public to claim.

The � (as used in the Nintendo logo) is the federal registration symbol... meaning it has actually been registered with the USPTO.

So to quote your reply, I'm left to wonder: How stupid are you?

hepme @ May 4th 2006 3:11PM

wow, everything under the sun is under this trademark. fishing tackle? Fire extinguishers? Curling irons? WHAT IS GOING ON. I must have limited knowledge on the trademarking process.

There seems to be a lot on cellphones and messaging services...And checkers

hepme @ May 4th 2006 3:14PM

oh and it sounds like the Wii will communicate with the ds and allow downloadable games to rom cartridges. at least thats what I could gather out of the clutter, but I could be full of it. Anyone else look at these lists?

awdboxer @ May 4th 2006 3:16PM

#18
Nope, cause I didn't play it on the 28th and my brain isn't that bad! Plus I definitely would have remembered that. My gf is the only other one that plays it and she has no idea what a Wii is anyways.

32_footsteps @ May 4th 2006 3:18PM

You know, I would have loved the Nintendo Fanana.

Now, something for those who think this trademark means the name is set in stone:

http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/qs/ope/fee2006apr05.htm

That's the table for the fees associated with filing for a patent in the United States. I'm running on the basic assumption that other nations charge accordingly.

Now, note that the fees are around $300, before extras, for filing a trademark claim. So Nintendo could easily afford to file another trademark down the line should they want to change the system's name again. Heck, I could afford to change the name for them.

This trademark doesn't mean it's definitely going to be called the Wii. It just means Nintendo forked over $300 to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. I hold out hope for another name change.

Hevy @ May 4th 2006 3:18PM

Ok, I will dare to don the tinfoil hat since rest of you sissies have given up.

So Nintendo trademarked Wii. And what exactly does that prove? The better question is: why wouldn't they trademark Wii? If I were in Nintendo's marketing department, and I had this publicity stunt planned, I'd have trademarked Wii as well. From a marketing perspective, if you're trying to "sell" people on something (in this case, that Wii is the console's real name), you would think of trademarking it. Part of your job is to trademark stuff everyday.

Besides, even if it is just a stunt, the word "Wii" is now forever etched in Nintendo history. You wouldn't want another company to try to capitalize on the exposure you've given that name, even if ultimately you don't intend to use it. It would actually be incredibly stupid not to trademark it.

Something in the back of my head still thinks that Nintendo is going to announce that the name "Wii" was just "disruptive marketing." I mean, had Nintendo just announced the name of the console as Revolution, how many headline would that have grabbed. Basically none since that's what they (and we) have been calling the console all along.

But if you announce some goofy name ahead of E3, and really try to sell the public on the name (including TM'ing it), and then say "fooled ya" at E3 and change it back to Revolution, well, that makes people notice. From a marketing perspective, it's actually quite ingenious. In fact, it's a much smarter manuever than naming your console two weeks before the biggest annual gathering of fans and press in your industry. In fact, naming the console on April 27 makes no sense UNLESS this is a marketing stunt.

There are two thing that still make me think Wii is just a marketing stunt.

1. Wii is bad for naming games. What sounds better: Super Mario Wii or Super Mario Revolution? Smash Brothers Wii or Smash Brothers Revolution? Do you really think Nintendo hasn't thought that far ahead?

2. I've been checking wii.nintendo.com for something to come up since the announcement last week. Until today, it's been nothing but "page cannot be displayed." Finally today, it's a lame mirror of revolution.nintendo.com. Nintendo's webmasters probably noticed people like me trying to get to wii.nintendo.com and figured they better slap something up there before people figured out that THERE IS NO Wii.

Hey, I'm not discounting the chance that Wii is going to be the new name of the console. It remains a distinct possibility. But I still think there's a chance it's just a stunt. I guess we'll find out next week.

But I really don't see why "Revolution" fans would give up just because Nintendo trademarked Wii, when regardless of Nintendo's intentions it would have been ridiculously stupid not to trademark it. Jeesh!

Wade @ May 4th 2006 3:18PM

Has the Wii = XBox Live theory been debunked?

Wii play together, Wii talk to each other online.

Wii are getting sick of all this speculation and want the goods like a junkie wants heroin.

Saxon @ May 4th 2006 3:39PM

"My gf is the only other one that plays it and she has no idea what a Wii is anyways."

Sounds like an easily fixed problem to me.

Marc @ May 4th 2006 3:40PM

Dammit!

Oh well (my catchphrase won't change)
VIVA LA REVOLUTION!

D @ May 4th 2006 3:41PM

@32:

"1. Wii is bad for naming games. What sounds better: Super Mario Wii or Super Mario Revolution? Smash Brothers Wii or Smash Brothers Revolution? Do you really think Nintendo hasn't thought that far ahead?"

Well, I have a feeling the games aren't going to don the "Wii" suffix, and for this reason, it hasn't happened since the N64 as far as consoles. We didn't see "Super Mario Cube" or "Star Fox Cube" or "Metroid Cube." Theyad the Advance and DS suffix because they're handhelds.

Anyway, I can't see them adding Wii to the end of anything.

Oshi @ May 4th 2006 4:12PM

Anybody else already used to the name and not really caring anymore? >_>

Yeah, it's bad, but, giggling aside, it flows in conversation.

benjamin @ May 4th 2006 4:27PM

"I can't see them adding Wii to the end of anything"

There's at least one thing I like to add my Wii to the end of.

Sorry, everybody else had thier shot. I couldn't resist.

Anyway, I'm getting used to the name "Wii". I think it could become iconic if the console becomes as big a success as I hope.

The name may never shed the naughty joke association but neither did Dick Butkus. I've never watched an entire NFL game from start to finish but I can tell you who Dick Butkus was.

I think my point is obvious.

benjamin @ May 4th 2006 4:31PM

Hot brazilian tail. Female tail. Before anybody starts thinking of anything else. :)

ry @ May 4th 2006 5:40PM

If Nintendo hadn'tregistered that trademark, and advertised the name with the TM, someone would've snatched it up instantly, and I'd bet a lot of money that as soon as reports that Nintendo had neglected to do so hit the net, a bunch of applications came in for it that were summarily rejected. Had Nintendo not filed the trademark, someone would've picked it up and it would have become a falsely claimed TM.

We're both right.

Tao68 @ May 4th 2006 6:00PM

#34: "Anyway, I can't see them adding Wii to the end of anything."

Just for the fun: what about a "Star Wiirs" game?

Babylonian @ May 4th 2006 6:08PM

Fuck.

Matthew @ May 4th 2006 6:13PM

Wow. The comment about the Playstation sounding like a Fischer Price toy is a really good example. I was too young back then to know that Playstation can be related to that. But coming to know the Playstation brand, not once have I ever related it to something like that. But I can actually see that happening back then. All the more proof that people will get over this name. Trust me. Again, it's so true, a name does not define a product... A product defines a name.

Muskie @ May 4th 2006 10:32PM

Some formats the trademark's been filed for:

electric irons; electric hair curling irons; electric buzzers; warning triangles for vehicles break downs; road sign of a luminous or mechanical nature; fire hand drills; hand drills for leaks of gas; gloves for protection against accidents; fire extinguishers; fireproof hydrants; fireproof in rain apparatus; fire alarms; protective helmets; protective clothing; fire masks; gas masks; magnetic nucleuses; electric lighters for automobiles; wire resistance electrodes; jigs for welding; cinematographic exposed films; exposed films for slides;apparatus for filling stations; vending machines; coin operated gates for parking areas; cash registers; machines for counting and sorting coins; photocopiers; hand operated apparatus for calculation; design or squirting apparatus; date stamping machines; office machines; punch cards; voting machines; invoicing machines; stamp control machines; belts for weights for immersions; wet suits for immersions; protective helmets for sports; machines and apparatus for immersions; regulators for immersions; machines for electric arc welding; machines for metal cutting; electric door openers; ear plugs..

What the hell? :P

mDuo13 @ May 4th 2006 10:48PM

It's still a stupid name, because none of the things Nintendo says it represents are really apparent - at least, not to many people - without explanation. Nonetheless, I think I'm more or less used to it by now. I hope that we get a game named "Pilot Wiings" but aside from that I can't see the console name being used in game names.

It still doesn't flow in conversation, though. And that's why I'm still hoping against hope that it'll change back. Granted, 9 x $300 is no small fee, but if you think of it as the cost of gaining as much publicity as they have in the past week, it's not very expensive, and it makes sense even if the whole thing WAS a sham. I think Nintendo really is serious about this name, and it's really pathetic that they are if you ask me, but... at least the games will be good, right? I hope?

Man, I still don't wanna own a "wii" but I really want to play one...

satek @ May 5th 2006 1:14AM

Wow, nintendo fanana cracked me up. It is quite strange that all those names in post 23 could have been potential names for the "wii." Actually in comparison to that list, at least the Wii has the controller / people thing going for it as well as the "group" meaning that makes some sence of the word. Can you imagine trying to market something called the dopio, chilipop or fanana?

Spencer @ May 5th 2006 1:57PM

I can imagine marketing the chilipop or fanana, if I worked in the food industry...

Heck, I could kinda go for a chilipop right now....

Alcoholic Zombie @ May 5th 2006 3:13PM

Dammit! I was going to produce a Wii tshirt for someone to display at the E3 convention. But man, they sure wanted to make sure no one makes fun of the name on so if anyone tried to print posters (like I was going to do along with tshirts). Well, at least i will still show it off at my website, www.morbid-one.com, where it should be there soon. That's kinda of stupid you can make a simple funny bumper stick without ol' nintendo getting their imaginary panties in a twist should you decide to sell it. My plan is to ask for a donation to help me with my cost of running a website for making stickers, thsirts & junk like that. In return, I give them a choice of either a tshir or sticker as a personal thanks for donating. ;)