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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBlizzard files trademark for "Cataclysm"
by Mike Schramm 
Jul 1st 2009 at 4:15PM
Of course, that doesn't confirm that we're actually talking about the next-gen MMO, or that Blizzard is planning on releasing a game called "Cataclysm" at all (StarCraft: Ghost was also trademarked, and we all know what came out of that). It could be another WoW expansion (though you'd think that WoW would be in there somewhere if that was the case), or it could be a completely separate game. Not that we know of one, but Blizzard certainly is working on all kinds of projects that we haven't yet heard about officially.
So. "Cataclysm." Trademark Blizzard Entertainment. Keep an eye out for it at BlizzCon this year.
Thanks, Ryan!
Update: We noticed the domain wowcataclysm.com expired on June 26th, 2009. The domain was previously held and parked out in Australia. June 26th is the same day the trademark was filed with the US Patent & Trademark Office. The domain is also now held by GoDaddy, who we know handles Blizzard domains. That's just a little too much coincidence for us to stay quiet about. It's entirely possible Blizzard just acquired the domain name.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Economy, BlizzCon, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 8)
Trevor Jul 1st 2009 2:59PM
I'm doubtful that it's a trademark for a game, more than likely it's just the name of new development software or maybe even something as boring as server tech.
jvelite Jul 1st 2009 3:05PM
Did you even read it?
The trademark subjects includes things as mousepads, greeting cards, next to the normal computer games, computer game server software, etc... it's not something internal. I think it's about the new game, but the name really points to the Maelstrom expansion.
edbailey815 Jul 1st 2009 3:28PM
Blizzard actually has three (3) trademarks filed for "Cataclysm", each of which covers different types of products. Significantly:
Word Mark CATACLYSM
Goods and Services IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment services, namely, providing on-line computer games; providing computer games that may be accessed via a global computer network; and providing on-line information in the field of computer gaming entertainment
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 77769023
Filing Date June 26, 2009
Current Filing Basis 1B
Original Filing Basis 1B
Owner (APPLICANT) Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. CORPORATION DELAWARE 16215 Alton Parkway Irvine CALIFORNIA 92618
Attorney of Record Rod A. Rigole
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
Alanid Jul 1st 2009 3:01PM
The Sundering - which created the maelstrom - is also referred to as the Cataclysm. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!
edbailey815 Jul 1st 2009 3:07PM
I am so pissed. I have been checking the USPTO infrequently, looking for a new filing. I think I checked last Tues. or Wed. Damn!
And they don't include Warcraft in the name. If you look back at BC and WotLK, they did it the same way. No Warcraft in it.
Ryan Jul 1st 2009 3:32PM
Because when you register a trademark you don't need to included already trademarked or registered names. World of Warcraft is already registered to Blizzard. All Blizzard needs to do is register the name with a "look" (type treatment). If you look at the WOTLK and TBC logos "Wrath of the Lich King" and "The Burning Crusade" are trademarked while World of Warcraft is registered. They're basically treated as separate entities.
Otome Jul 1st 2009 3:10PM
'Paper-based products' = Trading card tie-in?
While I like the idea of it being the next ex-pac, simply calling it Cataclysm seems kinda off. It just feels like it's too short of a name, but that's probably because the last two expansions had at least two words to their names. I do understand the reasoning behind it though.
Blizzcon can't come fast enough.
FifthDream Jul 2nd 2009 9:52AM
Well "Cataclysm" *is* the same amount of syllables as "Burning Crusade"...
Zoidberg Jul 1st 2009 3:12PM
So, someone at wow.com has to go to Blizzcon with a t-shirt that makes them look like a minor Blizzard employee and say things like this to other Blizzard employees:
"Hey, I haven't seen you around. Are you working on Cataclysm?"
"What do you think would happen if we told everyone about the physics engine in Cataclysm?"
morkuma Jul 1st 2009 3:14PM
that's a win right there
Brian Jul 1st 2009 3:13PM
So there might be an expansion called "Cataclysm of the (Blank Blank)".
I'm banking on it introducing the Emerald Dream as a playable area.
Josin Jul 1st 2009 3:40PM
Ugh. Whole expansion centered around druid lore. Blech.
On the other hand, Cataclysm does lend itself to a LOT of possibilities for WoW, especially if they live up to the word and do something DRASTIC to change the face of Azeroth.
bob Jul 1st 2009 4:11PM
There is not enough going on in the Emerald Dream to do an entire expansion. Besides the Emrald Dream is a view of what Azeroth would be had the cataclysm that caused the Maelstrom never happened, in fact if none of the sentient races had ever arisen. The dream could be a raid. Especially if the Emerald Nightmare is somehow tied to the Naga or the Legion. But there just isn't enough going on inside to warrant an expansion.
Artificial Jul 1st 2009 4:30PM
@Josin: The whole game is based around what you call "druid lore". Even the events of the original WarCraft game are a direct result of the events in question, thousands of years later. The backstory of the game universe is your so-called "druid lore".
Endless Jul 1st 2009 8:24PM
Why "Cataclysm of the (...)"? Why not "(...) of the Cataclysm"?
For instance, "Shadow of the Cataclysm"... sounds kinda catchy.
slimj091 Jul 2nd 2009 3:02AM
"@Josin: The whole game is based around what you call "druid lore". Even the events of the original WarCraft game are a direct result of the events in question, thousands of years later. The backstory of the game universe is your so-called "druid lore"."
leave it to people who play the druid class to state that their class created the entire game. ya dolt.. the "backstory" of the game universe is "Titan lore". druids are a tiny spec in the world that is warcraft.... right under warriors, and gnomes.
Suzaku Jul 3rd 2009 7:48AM
If they trademarked "Cataclysm" then the title would just be "Cataclysm."
See: http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4007:u0a62s.2.1 (THE BURNING CRUSADE)
And: http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4007:u0a62s.3.1 (WRATH OF THE LICH KING)
This is for: http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4007:u0a62s.5.1 (CATACLYSM)
If it's a World of Warcraft expansion, it'll just be called World of Warcraft: Cataclsym. If not, then it's a new IP called Cataclysm.
Gessilea Jul 1st 2009 3:20PM
I misread "Rod A. Rigole" as "Rob Riggle" and thought it was a spoof.
Carry on!
Ryan Jul 1st 2009 3:23PM
From Wikipedia
The cataclysm is the Greek expression for the Deluge, from the Greek kataklysmos, to 'wash down' (kluzein "wash" + kata "down").[citation needed] and it has also been used to describe events such as the Flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the tenth plague of Egypt. The modern usage of cataclysm is mostly confined to geological phenomena of high significance, such as the destruction of Pompeii, the Tunguska event, or the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.
95% sure this is the name of World of Warcraft's third expansion! :D
ps I'm the one that submitted the news. :)
Badger Jul 1st 2009 6:55PM
Good catch, sir!