Sony Computer Entertainment has attempted to trademark the term ‘Let’s Play,’ but the United States Patent and Trademark Office has refused the application.
‘Let’s Play’ is a term coined by the video games community relating to captured video footage or streaming of a video game for entertainment purposes. The term has been used for many years by YouTubers who have created thousands of guides and walkthroughs, as well as streamed footage of games as they play.
An eagle-eyed NeoGAF reader uncovered the trademark application, which was filed in October. It refers to ‘Let’s Play’ as the: "electronic transmission and streaming of video games via global and local computer networks; streaming of audio, visual, and audiovisual material via global and local computer networks."
The application has been refused by the USPTO based on a similar trademark ‘LP Let’z Play’. USPTO states that the services of the new trademark and the existing one are very similar, and “customer confusion is likely.” Sony has six months to appeal against the refusal.
It’s uncertain why Sony wants to trademark a phrase used so widely by the gaming community, but the USPTO ruling suggests that the company planned to use the phrase in live consumer events.
“Entertainment services, namely to provide online and offline opportunities for video game enthusiasts to meet and participate in live video game tournaments and on-demand console gaming,” reads the application.
Whatever the case, Sony has been denied the trademark, which will likely be seen as a huge relief to the hundreds of users who currently use the term on various video channels.