IGN reported that SIE had recently filed a notice of objection with the United States Trademark Patent Office (USPTO) to protest a trademark application called Naughty Cat Co., Limited.
The “Naughty Cat” trademark was submitted by a small independent game development company at the end of 2023 and is intended for play development, animation and related entertainment services. The trademark description overlaps with Sony’s “Nughty Dog” operation, which includes “electronic game software” and “recreational services”.
Naughty cat.The company had recently set up two recreational games in App Store, offering cash incentives, and although the style was far from the classic naughty dogs that had been created, such as The Last Survivors and The Mystery Sea, Sony was still suspected of intentionally “shocking his face”.
The documents provided by counsel indicate that the Naughty Cat trademark is very close to the pronunciation, word composition and image of the Naughty Dog trademark and that the overall commercial impression and connotation are similar.
“The first and dominant element of the two trademarks `NAUGHTY’ is the same. The second element, “dogs” and “cats” are highly similar, because they all refer to domestic pets, and may well lead consumers to misperception.” Naughty cats are associated with SIE’s “dat dogs” or their merchandise is authorized and approved by SIE or “dat dogs”.
Sony stressed that since its inception in 1984, naughty dogs had become a global brand name, with a cumulative sales of over 70 million works on PlayStation, with significant brand value. Sony maintains that “any registration of a naughty cat trademark may affect the uniqueness of a naughty dog and may well cause confusion as to its origin, lead to error or deception of the public, to the detriment of SIE and the public”.
USPTO has made it mandatory for Naughty Cats Ltd to respond to Sony ‘ s objection by 12 July. In the event of a failure to respond, USPTO may mark the application as a waiver and Sony will win. If its trademark application is passed, the dispute between the parties may enter the trial stage in 2026.
