Rolex Watch U.S.A., Inc v. Montres Jaquet Droz SA

Global market value of the gaming industry is estimated at $203 billion and is expected to increase up to $545.98 billion by 2028 [1]. Nearly two thirds of all adolescents and adults admit playing video games on at least one platform [2]. Thought-provoking insights in this article highlight the crucial role of brand protection through trademark registration in order to amplify the success of game developers!

Brands tend to evolve and undergo numerous changes over time. Many companies have changed their names to cater to a larger audience, either by altering their original logos for a more modern look or abandoning controversial words in their slogans. As the company expands beyond its planned offerings of goods and services or decides to take a different direction altogether, usually what follows are certain changes or even complete rebranding. A common question is then: can trademarks change over time? Well, it depends.

Taking a creative spin on an already established and renown brand may seem as a good strategy for devising a name for a startup company but it may backfire. This article summarises one of the contemporary cases in this area, revealing that Airbnb’s trademark protects the company against unexpected threats.