Sega loses trademark of Shemue due to inactivity

[timothy80]

Source: [url]http://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=75643558&caseType=SERIAL_NO&searchType=statusSearch[/url]
[url]http://gamingbolt.com/shenmue-trademark-lost-by-sega-following-continued-inactivity[/url]
[url]http://www.dualshockers.com/2014/02/19/sega-loses-shenmue-trademark-due-to-lack-of-use/[/url]

There goes the final nail

RIP

[ieptav]

Where does it go now? Trademark limbo?

Well Sega still owns the IP I guess.

[woolio1]

[QUOTE=Sam Za Nemesis;43972450]Also means that fans can make a sequel without lawyer harrassment[/QUOTE]

If only this could happen to MegaMan.

[lapsus_]

[QUOTE=woolio1;43972464]If only this could happen to MegaMan.[/QUOTE]

[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mighty_No._9]Mighty N°9[/url] ?

[Diet Kane]

[quote] At the very least, it seems that having [B]Ryu Hayabusa[/B] in Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing Transformed wasn’t a good enough reason.[/quote]

[artdeco]

[QUOTE=Diet Kane;43973006][/QUOTE]It's like deciding to play with an action figure after years of it collecting dust, and having it's head pop off.

[Wiggles]

[QUOTE=timothy80;43972281]There goes the final nail

RIP[/QUOTE]

If anything, this is the best thing to happen to the series in years. Yu Suzuki, who directed the series, no longer works for Sega and has been keen on developing new Shenmue games, but it's been Sega that have always been reluctant to do so. Now with the trademark up for grabs it's possible that Suzuki could secure it and work on the franchise without interference. Of course, the likelihood of a new Shenmue game on the same scale as the others is still slim, but I would be really happy to see some sort of conclusion to story.

[The Baconator]

[QUOTE=Diet Kane;43973006][fp won't show this][/QUOTE]

holy shit I didn't notice that wow game journalism is amazing

[Skelosk]

So that means someone can get the IP and fially make a sequel
thank fucking god

[Popularvote]

What does this mean from a legal perspective? Is Shenmue as a whole up for grabs, or does Sega still own the characters and scenario? Does this just mean other games called Shenmue could come out, regardless of if they have anything to do with the series?

[timothy80]

and I just realized I forgot the n in the title.

great.

[MightyLOLZOR]

Shenmue was almost as high up as Zelda OoT in my childhood. I remember I was so desperate for the sequel, that my mom bought the Japanese import for me.