Sony Denied Trademark Application for "Let's Play"

You may not realise this as it wasn't announced to any great fanfare, but back in October, Sony made an attempt to copyright the term "Let's Play." Despite the fact that it's a common English phrase and it's use within the context of game streaming is well established, they apparently still felt it was something they could trademark. The application requested that they own the rights to the phrase for "Electronic transmission and streaming of video games via global and local computer networks; streaming of audio, visual, and audiovisual material via global and local computer networks".

That trademark application has been received by the USPTO and reviewed. Their answer? A big fat "No". Although the reason might surprise you. It's not the fact that it's now in common vernacular of YouTubers and Twitchcasters everywhere, but in fact the denial was based upon an existing trademark. 

There exists a company called "Let'z Play of America" and they have already trademarked the phrase, albeit with a Z instead of an S. The fact that this trademark exists though is enough to mean that Sony aren't able to trademark it. No, we hadn't heard of them either, but we're glad they exist so nobody has to coin a new term for Let's Play videos.

Where Sony have made no statement about the reason for wanting the trademarks, we can only speculate. The application makes it clear that they are wanting to use it in the same context that it's already known: the streaming of games. Was it all part of a re-branding exercise of the PS4 streaming feature? Or just an attempt to make a quick buck from YouTubers? We may never know, but give us your thoughts in the comments box down below.