WarZscam • UPDATE: EXCLUSIVE: "War Z" trademark SUSPENDED

UPDATE: EXCLUSIVE: “War Z” trademark SUSPENDED - Game will have to be renamed

***This is the first site to report this***
***Update at the bottom of the post***

There is something interesting showing up if you check the “United States Patent and Trademark Office” website for the “War Z” trademark that has been registered by OP Productions.

The trademark application by OP Productions for the name “War Z” has been SUSPENDED because the trademark office feels that the name is too similar to the name of Paramount Pictures upcoming movie “World War Z”.

See the suspension notice for yourself:

Source: http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=85682663&caseType=SERIAL_NO&searchType=statusSearch

What does this mean ?
*The name will very likely have to be changed because it is too similar to “World War Z”.
*If the trademark attorney feels that the similarity is too big, it’s obvious that Paramount Pictures may legally forbid the use of “War Z”.
*The trademark was only filled in July 2012, further evidence pointing towards that this game has been in development for only 6 months.
*They have received the suspension letter on 15th November 2012 already, so they know for over a month now that their name has to be changed.
*Paramount is already developing their own video game based on “World War Z”.

Thanks to the anonymous mailer who sent me these information regarding the “War Z” trademark. It’s in the interest of the mailer to make customers aware that they can fill a complaint against Arktos Entertainment Group and OP Production for their actions regarding false information, lies about their Alpha/Beta status and missing features/false advertisement.

To do so follow: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

And since it’s not easy to get information on these companies, here are the complete adresses of both:

Arktos Entertainment Group, Inc.
11400 Olympic Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90064
United States
Phone:
916-445-1254

OP PRODUCTIONS, LLC
11833 Mississippi Ave., Suite 100
Los Angeles
CALIFORNIA
90025
UNITED STATES
617-596-3208
617-812-2554

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Sergey Titov has now answered to this obvious suspension of their trademark application, but the funny thing is: He apparently doesn’t know how the trademark system in the US works and thinks his trademark is issued. Once again he answers before simply checking the facts.

In his statement on the offical forums he writes the following:

guys,

this is getting to be ridiculous.

1) go to uspto.gov
2) Go to TESS - trademark search
3) search for War Z
4) Enjoy LIVE trademark !

Why spread lies ?
even more -I was sent this link like three already - and looks like people are not even reading this document.

It basically says that this application is suspended because there’s another application with regards to this trademark.

here’s real trademark
http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield…002:756yk7.2.3

This is as stupid as saying that colorado map is only 3x3 km.

Sergey Titov
Executive Producer
The War Z

Source: http://forums.thewarz.com/showthread.php?83274-Sad-trademark-suspension-direct-proof&p=1286542&viewfull=1#post1286542

However this doesn’t mean anything - The “basic” search of the US “United States Patent and Trademark Office” ofcourse lists “The War Z” as “active” because OP Productions has 90 days of probation until the application expires. “Live” DOES NOT EQUAL “ISSUED”, Mr Titov.

What Sergey forgets to mention is that when you do the search as he says, and then in the overview click on “CHECK STATUS” -> TSDR (that stands for “Trademark Stauts and Document Retrieval” aka see what’s the status of the trademark right now) you WILL see the whole article about “The War Z“‘s trademark application under the tab PROSECUTION HISTORY that it indeed was SUSPENDED on 15th november.

But now for Mr. Titov and everyone else who is interested, here is a step by step guide on how to get the suspension notice on your screen:

Time to get in touch with your lawyer, Mr. Titov.

***UPDATE 12/27/2012***

Thanks for spreading this post and making more people aware of the bad business behind “The War Z”, here are some of the (gaming) news sites that have picked up our story:

Gamespy.com: The War Z Might Have to Change Its Name

Gamerfront.com: The War Z’s Trademark Has Been Suspended

Massively.Joystiq.com: The War Z’s trademark suspended, name change likely

Massively.Joystiq.com: The War Z’s creator disputes trademark suspension

Highdefdigest.com: Smell the Zombies: ‘The War Z’ Loses Its Name

Kotaku.com.au: War Z Creator Says His Game’s Trademark Wasn’t Suspended

Decryptedtech.com: War Z will have to change their name
Inquisitr.com: ‘The War Z’ Creators Face Trademark Suspension

Escapistmagazine.com: USPTO Suspends The War Z Trademark

Complex.com: ‘The War Z’ Needs a New Name, Since Its Trademark Was Suspended a Month Ago

Neoseeker.com: When it rains, it pours as The War Z will have to rebrand after its trademark is suspended

Gameranx.com: ‘The War Z’ Trademark Has Been Suspended Since November

Gamepolitics.com: Report: The War Z Was Released Even as the Game’s Trademark Was Suspended by the USPTO