So... Valve just registered Half-Life 3.

(http://neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=688589). It's happening. 

It could be that they just didn't want anyone else to make and release their own "Half Life 3".

It could be that they just didn't want anyone else to make and release their own "Half Life 3".

Would not be possible, since Half-Life as a videogame is already trademarked by Valve Corp. 

Would not be possible, since Half-Life as a videogame is already trademarked by Valve Corp. 

 

Oh. But then what would be the purpose of trademarking Half Life 3?

Oh. But then what would be the purpose of trademarking Half Life 3?

I'm guessing to be allowed to sell it on stores and on Steam. I'm sure someone can explain it better. American copyright laws are quite a mess to understand for a Swede :P

I'm guessing to be allowed to sell it on stores and on Steam. I'm sure someone can explain it better. American copyright laws are quite a mess to understand for a Swede :P

 

Yeah, they could probably get away with not trademarking it, but if someone decided to use "Half Life 3", it would probably result in an expensive court battle.

 

First, this is trademark law, not copyright law. They're extremely different on the details; they aren't even handled by the same offices (trademark is the USPTO, copyright is the Copyright Office).

Second, they *don't* technically need to register it. There are some benefits to a registered trademark, but they mostly just involve proving your ownership nationwide and making it easier to win lawsuits around it. There is no requirement to registration to legally use a trademark, and many trademarks are unregistered. Even if Steam had its own policies about registering trademarks for games published there, Valve can ignore any Steam rules they want (seeing as it's their product). So, I'd say that this is most likely something Valve's business or legal department recommended they do to deter people from using variants of HL3; it's not like trademarks are *that* expensive to register.

Now, it could be that they're doing this to prepare for an announcement. That is quite possible. But it could also easily be that they want some extra protection.

First, this is trademark law, not copyright law. They're extremely different on the details; they aren't even handled by the same offices (trademark is the USPTO, copyright is the Copyright Office).

Second, they *don't* technically need to register it. There are some benefits to a registered trademark, but they mostly just involve proving your ownership nationwide and making it easier to win lawsuits around it. There is no requirement to registration to legally use a trademark, and many trademarks are unregistered. Even if Steam had its own policies about registering trademarks for games published there, Valve can ignore any Steam rules they want (seeing as it's their product). So, I'd say that this is most likely something Valve's business or legal department recommended they do to deter people from using variants of HL3; it's not like trademarks are *that* expensive to register.

Now, it could be that they're doing this to prepare for an announcement. That is quite possible. But it could also easily be that they want some extra protection.

Thanks for clearing it up, always very detailed explainations! I've heard that now that it's registered, Valve has to do something with the Half-Life brand within a certain timespan. Is there any truth in this? Because if it is, it's possible they will announce it together with SteamOS (would be logical, what other game would be better as a release title than HL3?). 

Edited October 1, 201312 yr by ineseri

Wait, is this an EU registration? What I said applies to US trademark law, but I can't speak to European law.

Also, if this is a Steam Box launch game, it probably means Steam Box will come out in ~5 years. This is Valve, remember. If they say it'll come out in a year, you know it won't.

Wait, is this an EU registration? What I said applies to US trademark law, but I can't speak to European law.

Also, if this is a Steam Box launch game, it probably means Steam Box will come out in ~5 years. This is Valve, remember. If they say it'll come out in a year, you know it won't.

 

Is it possible that they also filed for a trademark in the US, but it's not listed due to the website not being updated/government shutdown?

Wait, is this an EU registration? What I said applies to US trademark law, but I can't speak to European law.

Also, if this is a Steam Box launch game, it probably means Steam Box will come out in ~5 years. This is Valve, remember. If they say it'll come out in a year, you know it won't.

We all love Valve-time, don't we? 

Thanks for clearing it up, always very detailed explainations! I've heard that now that it's registered, Valve has to do something with the Half-Life brand within a certain timespan. Is there any truth in this? Because if it is, it's possible they will announce it together with SteamOS (would be logical, what other game would be better as a release title than HL3?). 

 

 

Wait, is this an EU registration? What I said applies to US trademark law, but I can't speak to European law.

Also, if this is a Steam Box launch game, it probably means Steam Box will come out in ~5 years. This is Valve, remember. If they say it'll come out in a year, you know it won't.

 

Yes, it's a European trademark.

 

According to what I've heard, they have to use the trade marked name within 3 months, but they can file up to 5 extensions of 6 months meaning they have to use it within 33 months. But, according to what I've read (which is probably more reliable since I read it on the OHIM website) "[Community trade marks] shall be put to genuine use in the Community within a period of five years following registration."

 

As previously said, it's possible that there isn't a US trade mark yet because of the government shutdown.

Everyone can go back about their business, Valve has removed the copyright filing.