Ever since last year about the buzz for Universal Orlando’s 4th gate theme park that is currently being built and many developments have occurred recently about it. While it’s being rumored for intellectual properties of going into the new park such as; Nintendo, Dreamworks, and the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise from the universal world of Harry Potter.
Last year in July, in which NBCUniversal/Comcast held their second-quarter earrings call that held a Q&A session and the president of NBCUniversal Steve Burke did address Universal Orlando’s 4th gate park rumors. Burke did address in his statement and said that-
“In terms of as a new gate in Florida, we are looking at it. We filed, basically, a name registration,” Burke said. “We have a lot of great (intellectual property). We love the theme park business, it’s one of our best, most-consistent businesses, and we think we have a very long runway. Another gate in Florida would have the advantage of turning Florida from a two- or three-day destination to potentially a week-long destination. We think that would be attractive.”
During that time it was being long rumored for the new park in being called “Fantastic Worlds” that was accepted as a patent filing last year during the summer. Recently from last month, the name of “Fantastic Worlds” got leaked out during a Comcast Town Hall meeting and discovered by Alicia Stella, owner from Orlando Park Stop for discovering the leak image of “Fantastic Worlds” (original image source by @jacqueshca)
Now fast forward for the current month of January and this where things just got a whole lot more interesting. Discovered by Park Rumors and posted on the Inside Universal forums in where Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., the partnered company with NBCUniversal/Comcast and where Warner Bros. is “trying” to prevent Universal’s trademark registration for “Fantastic Worlds”. Universal has filed two requests for “Extension of Time to Oppose”.
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Universal Creative are the two visionary teams that brought the The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Parks & Resorts worldwide with from worldwide famous author, J.K. Rowling based off her novels.
Here’s what the trademark states:
“After a trademark is filed and its application is reviewed and approved by the USPTO, there’s a 30 day period where the mark is published in the Official Gazette to notify the public of the intent to register the mark. During this period, any party can file for opposition for any number of reasons, but typically, the most common reason is if they believe the mark is too close to one of their own and may cause confusion.”
“The Fantastic Worlds mark was published on November 6th 2018, and less than a month later on December 4th, Warner Brothers filed a 30 day Request for Extension of Time to Oppose”:
Source: (©Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.)
The request was granted and Warner Bros. had until January 5th, 2019 to set up a case to file the opposition. The 30-day extension wasn’t enough time and couple days before on January 3rd, 2019 and they filed another request for Extension Time to Oppose but, this time for a 60-day window. This time with the added language of “for Good Cause” specifically citing the need for “additional time to confer with counsel”.
Source: (©Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.)
Currently, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) is handling this case and Warner Bros. is not suing Universal for this matter. However, Universal is going to try to defend this trademark and it’s only a matter of time if “it does or does not” get passed by the TTAB. It should be noted that, “the Board does not have authority to impose any monetary sanctions.” and no court hearings will be taking place.
Between both companies they have now till March 6th, 2019 to file their “Note of Opposition” to outline their case for the name of “Fantastic Worlds” “might” infringe on Warner Bros. existing marks.
Here are some examples down below, for merchandise products based off “Fantastic Beasts” that the name can be too similar of “Fantastic Worlds” if Universal got the trademark name passed by the TTAB. This also could apply on theme park merchandise as well for the similar names.
For right now, more updates will to come and how the TTAB will handle this case. What you guys think, and should Universal change the name or defend it to get it passed? Leave it down in the comments section below!
You can read the full forum discussion here about the trademark debate.
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Source: Park Rumors
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