New Oddworld Trademarks

[Wil]

It seems that Oddworld Inhabitants have been up to things, recently filing a number of trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Although, they're not under the name of Oddworld Inhabitants, Inc. They're under the name of OddMobb, Inc.

OddMobb is definitely another name for OWI, albeit a separete company. Lorne Lanning is listed as "Lorne Lanning, OddMobb Inc." on the Social Gaming Summit 2009's list of attendees.

Just look through this list of trademarks to see the scope of media OddMobb seems to be publishing:

1. Online social networking services; Internet based introduction and social networking services; online social networking services, namely, facilitating social interaction among individuals, social introductions, and for finding persons with particular hobbies, interests and backgrounds
   
   
2. Computer services, namely, hosting an on-line 3D virtual environment featuring a wide variety of user-defined subject matter and user generated content, and hosting an on-line 3D virtual environment featuring a wide variety of user-defined subject matter and user generated content accessed by means of communications networks
   
   
3. Publishing of electronic publications; electronic publishing services, namely, publishing of online works of others featuring user-created text, photos, audio, video, audiovisual, and graphics; providing on-line journals and web logs featuring user-created content; online journals, namely, blogs in the field of games; online journals, namely, blogs in the field of social networking; entertainment services, namely, providing on-line interactive, computer, video or electronic games; providing interactive, computer, video or electronic games through computer networks or television or other telecommunications networks; providing websites featuring content and information in the field of games, interactive game content, computer game content, video game content or electronic game content; providing temporary use of non-downloadable interactive games, computer games, video games or electronic games; entertainment services, namely, conducting contests; entertainment services, namely development, design, production and distribution of interactive, video, electronic, computer and online games and CD-ROMs; providing online facilities and tools via the Internet to enable users to create, share, and access user-generated content in the form of audio, video, text, multimedia and data; entertainment software, namely, software that is used for providing multi-player access to an on-line game environment
   
   
4. Audio and video broadcasting services over the Internet; electronically transmitting information by electronic communications networks; providing on-line chat rooms, electronic bulletin boards, listservs, blogs, and on-line forums for transmission of messages among computer users concerning user-defined content; providing on-line chat rooms, electronic bulletin boards, listservs, blogs, and on-line forums for transmission of messages among users in the field of general interest; providing on-line chat rooms, electronic bulletin boards, listservs, blogs, and on-line forums for transmission of messages among users in the field of games; providing email and instant messaging services; communication services in the nature of text messaging and electronic mail services used in an online virtual environment
   
   
5. Arcade games; games; board games; card games; action figures and accessories therefor; card games; playing cards; trading card games
   
   
6. Printed materials, namely, novels and series of fiction books and short stories featuring scenes and characters based on interactive, electronic, computer and/or video games; series of interactive, electronic, computer and/or video game hint books; trading cards; comic books, strategy guides for playing entertainment computer programs, and interactive, electronic, computer and video games; instructional leaflets and manuals for computer games
   
   
7. Interactive game software; computer game software; video game programs and cartridges; electronic game programs; virtual reality game software; game software for use on any computerized platform, including game consoles, televisions, hand-held electronic devices, electronic entertainment devices, telecommunications devices, mobile phones, electronic communication devices or personal digital assistant devices; downloadable interactive, computer, video and electronic game programs; pre-recorded DVDs featuring drama, action, adventure and/or animation; computer software editing and development tools; computer software game editing and development tools; user generated content tools; software used for providing multi-user access to an on-line 3D virtual environment; computer 3D virtual environment software, namely, software for use in creating, manipulating and participating in 3D virtual environments

Reported on OddBlog, but supererogatory found it before me and probably understands it a lot better.

[Josh]

Those look like intresting names...

EDIT: OH! I see what you did there.

OddMobb = Oddworld Mobile? Oddworld on a phone?

[Bullet Magnet]

These aren't patents, are they? It's the registration of OddMobb as a trademark associated with these services.

[Josh]

Regarding new material, we hope to have an announcement soon, but I’ve been saying that for awhile now so I’ll just shut up and hope for the best.

He has something planned that will be BIG

[Wil]

These aren't patents, are they? It's the registration of OddMobb as a trademark associated with these services.

Yeeeeees. I don't know why, but I kept using the word 'patent' when I know I meant 'trademark'. I had to correct myself loads. Seems I missed an important one. I believe you're right, but also note that it's the name of the company that owns those trademarks. This page explains what's actually happening here.

[Jordan]

Well, this is it. Oddworld is coming back fershur.

[Grandi]

OddMobb = Oddworld Mobile? Oddworld on a phone?

It's Oddworld car from 1911.

[abe is now!]

Those look like intresting names...

EDIT: OH! I see what you did there.

OddMobb = Oddworld Mobile? Oddworld on a phone?

Yes, Oddworld Mobbile...

I wish they can realize their projects.

[Manco]

I hate to be a pessimist, but maybe they've just decided to change the company name? I mean, OddMobb is much shorter to say than Oddworld Inhabitants.

Of course, with all those rights to different things, maybe it's not that simple. Any idea what the original OWI name is trademarked under?

[Nate]

It's probably trademarked as 'Oddworld Inhabitants'.

My guess is that they're doing this to differentiate the company as it is now (small core groups of creative people working on films and games) from how it was then (large company that only produces games), to try and reduce comparisons and control their PR image.

[Xavier]

OddMobb is probably the equivalent as the 343 Industries (they oversee all the Halo products and make sure they are consistent). It would explain the wide diversity of media it crosses.

So my guess is that OddMobb is going to be a superior level above OWI and that OWI is going to retain its purpose of creating game ideas, perhaps even going back to make some themselves.

Oooh I spotted "action figures"!

I'm genuinely excited by this news.

[moxco]

I thought OWI studio was in San Luis?

http://maps.google.com/maps?source=i...-8&sa=N&tab=wl

[Wil]

Old news:
http://oddworldlibrary.net/oddblog/2..._to_Emeryville
http://www.oddworldforums.net/showthread.php?t=11560
http://uk.gamespy.com/articles/599/599811p1.html

[Xavier]

That was a very long time ago my friend...

[shaman]

Nothing can dampen my spirits now Great news!

[AlexFili]

Awesome!

[hidden]

7.Interactive game software; computer game software; video game programs and cartridges; electronic game programs; "virtual reality game software"

Is this what they mean by 'for players the war is real'?
I mean at present we don't have mainstream virtual reality equipment, unless you count Wii, but my impression was that it would be released online, via PC.

[AlexFili]

Personally I'd love to see Oddworld from the eyes of a Slig
Perhaps Wii/Natal are being considered?

[Wil]

I should think that "For players the war is real" is an in-universe description of the arena event depicted in those images. They are, after all, from the pitch for the film.

[Plexius]

What ever OddMobb is going to turn out to be i hope they can release more of the old OWI kind of things even if it is a movie or a game i know it should turn out great.