WorstUsernameEver
But best title ever!
In short, an application for a "Fallout: Shadow of Boston" trademark has appeared recently on the German Patent and Trade Mark Office's website. The application had already been spotted at the end of October, but started actually being reported today thanks to a NeoGAF thread. Since then, the trademark application has been reported by IGN, Shacknews and VG247.
If it isn't clear already, my opinion is that this trademark application isn't legitimate. Tagaziel laid down a lot of good reasons at The Vault (he summarizes a number of discrepancies between this and Bethesda's previous trademarks, and also notes that the title doesn't fit Bethesda's M.O. concerning branding), but there's really one big test that the trademark doesn't pass: it hasn't been examined yet. Considering the frankly hilarious number of hoaxes involving trademarks, there's simply no reason to take applications like this seriously anymore. If nothing else, I suppose this shows there's an appetite for a new Fallout, though what Bethesda is likely developing right now probably doesn't match what I'd actually get excited for.
EDIT: Bethesda confirmed via Twitter that the Trademark filing isn't real.
If it isn't clear already, my opinion is that this trademark application isn't legitimate. Tagaziel laid down a lot of good reasons at The Vault (he summarizes a number of discrepancies between this and Bethesda's previous trademarks, and also notes that the title doesn't fit Bethesda's M.O. concerning branding), but there's really one big test that the trademark doesn't pass: it hasn't been examined yet. Considering the frankly hilarious number of hoaxes involving trademarks, there's simply no reason to take applications like this seriously anymore. If nothing else, I suppose this shows there's an appetite for a new Fallout, though what Bethesda is likely developing right now probably doesn't match what I'd actually get excited for.
EDIT: Bethesda confirmed via Twitter that the Trademark filing isn't real.
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