Sony is attempting to trademark the popular term ‘Let’s Play’, that is according to a trademark filing made to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
The entry was filed back in October but was spotted by a NeoGAF user today. The filing related to the term Let’s Play and covers “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”. However it seems possible that Sony wants to trademark the term to stop competitors using it, such as Microsoft, rather than preventing YouTubers and gamers etc from titling their videos with the phrase ‘Let’s Play’.
One NeoGAF user who goes by the name of Radio mentioned that Sony probably plan to use the phrase as part of PS4 streaming and would therefore attempt to trademark it to prevent other competitors using Let’s Play as part of their streaming service, such as Microsoft with the Xbox One. Although if this is the case, surely YouTubers as well as Microsoft would all class as competitors since Let’s Play videos on YouTube can generate up to millions of pounds on the most popular videos?
It does look unlikely that Sony will be granted the term however, with the latest update on the filing from Trademarkia.com stating that further clarification was needed with regards to how Sony intended to use the trademark. That was on December 29 so it will be a while yet before a final decision is made.