"VTube, VTuber, VTubing" Trademark Application Filed in the US Patent Office
Applicant filed for the trademark for "factual historical accuracy," has no intention of charging others once application is approved
NewsDrop has learned that there is an ongoing application for "VTube, VTuber, VTubing" filed as a trademark in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Documents obtained by NewsDrop from the USPTO website show that the application was filed March 23 this year by an individual named Vincent Mota, who claimed that he coined the word in 2009. The application describes the terms as a culture currently on the internet, used by popular streaming platform Twitch.
Said trademark is identified in the document as "Entertainment in the nature of live performances by individuals who use virtual avatars with motion tracking or rigging set ups, primarily but not limited to the animation style of anime."
In a miscellaneous statement, Mota shared how he coined the term:
"[...] I had wrote down what the culture of Vtube, Vtuber, and Vtubing would be in a journal entry, including describing the methods of creating such a digital avatar, what the communities would be like, how the performers would act, and so forth.
In 2009 - 2010 I had posted the document online in a web forum during a topic discussion of describing the future of the internet. Since I had posted the term online it had grown in popularity and usage.
Now today people are Vtubers, Vtubing, and Vtube is a whole internet culture of its own. [...]"
He also told the USPTO in writing that he has no intentions of charging others to use the terms which have been adopted by the internet should the application push through:
"[...] I have no intentions of charging others to use my term and I would like to hold the trademark for factual historical accuracy for the term so that people may know its origins. [...]"
USPTO currently shows that the trademark application is live and awaiting examination.
Each trademark can be registered for goods and services indicated in the NICE Classification database published by the WIPO.
Real-World Examples: Examples of worldwide trademarks registered in the Madrid System include "hololive" and "NIJISANJI."
Inktober, a popular annual art movement, was trademarked. This matter was contested by a lot of artists who participated in it. The trademark continues to be in active use.