Monday, April 7, 2014
Fraudulent Claim To Fast-track The Cancellation Of Ubisoft’s ‘Watch Dogs’ Patent Trolls The Entire Internet

Fraudulent Claim To Fast-track The Cancellation Of Ubisoft’s ‘Watch Dogs’ Patent Trolls The Entire Internet

This is high level trolling, people. Apparently someone fraudulently asked the USPTO to fast track the cancellation of Ubisoft’s ‘Watch Dogs’ patent, sending the internet into a tailspin of discussion, with many wondering whether the game had been cancelled or was facing the same.

No, it absolutely hasn’t been cancelled. In fact refinement of the game continues, but behind the scene Ubisoft has been frantically trying to get the attention of the USPTO to inform them that the request was not done by Ubisoft, and that they should not honor the request. Weird stuff, eh? 

Here’s the notice the publisher sent to the USPTO earlier today (emphasis added):

Ubisoft Entertainment submits this Petition to the Director under Trademark Rule 2.146 to prevent the abandonment of Application Serial No. 85642398. A fraudulent Request for Express Abandonment was recently filed in connection with Application Serial No. 85642398.

Facts

On February 1, 2014, Ubisoft Entertainment received an email from notifying Ubisoft Entertainment that a Request for Express Abandonment had been filed in connection with Application Serial No. 85642398. The Request for Express Abandonment purports to be signed by the Chief Executive Officer of Ubisoft Entertainment, Yves Guillemot.

Mr. Guillemot, however, did not sign the Request for Express Abandonment, nor did Ubisoft Entertainment file the Request for Express Abandonment. The Request for Express Abandonment is fraudulent and was not filed by Ubisoft Entertainment or its representative.

Ubisoft says “We are working directly with the USPTO on reinstating the trademark for Watch Dogs and it will be active again in the coming days. The matter has no impact on the Watch Dogs’ development.”

It’s absolutely crazy that someone would go through the process of not only recreating Ubisoft’s logo but also forging the company’s CEO signature to make this a reality. Trolling of the highest order, there. Wouldn’t you say?

Thanks, kotaku.

About Ernice Gilbert

Ernice Gilbert here. Founder and Editor-In-Chief of Gamesthirst. Thanks for stopping by, make yourself at home!