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Update: King cans 'Candy' trademark application in US

Developer 'files for trademark abandonment'

Update: King cans 'Candy' trademark application in US

UPDATE: King has confirmed that it has "withdrawn its trademark application for Candy in the US" in a statement issued to several media outlets.

The company claims the application was made before it acquired the rights to BlackBerry puzzler Candy Crusher.

Speculation suggests the application has been dropped as King will now be able to use the Candy Crusher IP in court rather than registering 'Candy' as a fresh trademark.

Crucially, King has also confirmed it has not abandoned its 'Candy' trademark in the EU and it will "continue to take all appropriate steps to protect our IP.”

King has withdrawn its trademark application for 'Candy' in the United States following weeks of criticism and bad press for the Candy Crush Sagadeveloper.

That's according to Kotaku, which claims the UK-based outfit filed documents detailing the abandonment with the US Trademark Office yesterday.

The website claims King has "confirmed" the news, but had also "declined the comment".

No sweet success

King filed for its 'Candy' trademark back in 2013, though the application caused controversy when it was revealed it was taking legal action against CandySwipe studio Runsome Apps.

CandySwipe was launched back on the App Store in 2010, with the developer behind it taking to his blog to detail his disgust at King's attempts to, in his view, close down his business.

"I have hundreds of instances of actual confusion from users who think CandySwipe is Candy Crush Saga, or that CandySwipe is a Candy Crush Saga knockoff," said Ransom.

"I myself was only trying to protect my hard work. I wanted to take this moment to write you this letter so that you know who I am. Because I now know exactly what you are."

'Inevitable'

However, speaking to PocketGamer.biz in reference to the tussle, Paul Gardner of Osborne Clarke – one of Europe's leading interactive entertainment law firms – described King's legal challenge as "inevitable".

Candy Crush Saga

"It appears that the owner of the CandySwipe mark was attempting to challenge King's right to use the name Candy, so in a sense this step is simply King fighting back against that challenge," detailed Gardner.

"Given the value of this name, it is inevitable that King has to take whatever steps are necessary to protect its right to use this name.

"This sort of action is very common in a trademark dispute; if someone claims that your use of a name infringes their registered trade mark, then attacking their registration - which can be done in various ways - is one way of defending against that claim."

[source: Kotaku]

With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.