"COSPLAY" Registered as a "Word Mark" in the Philippines

So apparently, the word COSPLAY has been registered as a trademark or "word mark" in the Philippines by Tanya Obedoza-Bairan of Cosplay.PH™. A quick search on the website of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines will yield 3 results on the word "COSPLAY™"

COSPLAY PHILIPPINES™, COSPLAY.PH™, & COSPLAY™ have all been registered by Tanya Bairan in 2011. COSPLAY PHILIPPINES™ and COSPLAY™ have been registered as a "word mark" while COSPLAY.PH™ was registered as a logo.

The scope of the registration on COSPLAY PHILIPPINES™ and COSPLAY™ states:

ADVERTISING, BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, DISSEMINATION OR CIRCULATION OF ANNOUNCEMENTS CONCERNING ALL KINDS OF GOODS OR SERVICES BRINGING TOGETHER FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS OR OF GOODS, AND TO PROVIDE A VENUE TO ENABLE PURCHASERS TO CONVENIENTLY VIEW OR PURCHASE GOODS
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CONDUCTING TRAINING AND EDUCATION OF PERSONS, ORGANIZING
ACTIVITIES FOR ENTERTAINMENT SPORTS, CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL
PURPOSES, AS WELL AS ACTIVITIES INTENDED TO ENTERTAIN, AMUSE OR TO
ENGAGE ATTENTION, CONCEPTUALIZING AND ORGANIZING EXHIBITIONS AND COMPETITIONS, CONDUCTING CONFERENCES AND SYMPOSIUMS, SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS INCLUDING THE DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS TO PROMOTE THEIR SERVICES AND EVENTS, OPERATING LENDING LIBRARIES AND BUSINESS OF RENTAL OF EQUIPMENTS AND OTHER PARAPHERNALIA, AND PUBLICATION OF BOOKS; ORGANIZATION OF EVENTS

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So what does this mean in the local cosplay™ scene? Do organizers or people have to pay Tanya  fees every time they use the word cosplay™?

(via mistervader)

(UPDATE 09/14/2012): Cosplay.PH™ has released an official statement,

It has been brought to our attention that there are concerns regarding our I.P. wordmark of “Cosplay”. Cosplay.ph Organization Inc. would like to make an official statement regarding this issue.

The wordmark “cosplay” is indeed registered under Ms. Tanya Bairan, one of the directors of Cosplay.ph. Cosplay.ph applied for the wordmark, along with its trade name and all other names created under Cosplay.ph to establish its official status as an organization that focuses on cosplay events.

Initially, Cosplay.ph had applied for its own trademark as “Cosplay.ph” along with “Cosplay Philippines” and registering under NICE Classifications of Services number #35 and #41 which falls under the exclusive use of the wordmark for events. After considerable debate, we decided to apply for the word mark “cosplay” as well since the availability of “cosplay” itself, if taken by someone else, could invalidate our two previous trademarks.

The purpose of the wordmark was pre-emptive in order to keep the word “cosplay” safe so that it cannot be used to impede us from organizing cosplay events, because it is very closely associated with our branding. We believe that this measure was imperative for us to grow and flourish and so that we can continue to develop world-class events that we all know Filipino Cosplayers deserve.

Since the wordmark was approved, we have not enforced it in court nor asked for any royalties from any organization that uses “cosplay” in their event names; and, in cases where there was too much of a similarity between our branded events, we simply requested that they adjust their event title to avoid confusion. In fact, in these cases, we even ended up assisting them in their endeavors.

For the community’s peace of mind, you can use the word “cosplay” in your events and organizations as long as it does not cause any confusion between those events and the ones established by Cosplay.ph. You can make use of the terms like Cosplay Café, Cosplay Shoes, Cosplay Props or even Cosplay Candy as they are not events. This also does not inhibit you from classifying yourself as a Cosplayer, Cosplay Enthusiast or even Cosplay Photographer. The NICE Classifications of Services number #35 and #41 will assure you of that freedom to use it freely outside event names.

We understand how much the word cosplay means to you as it’s also equally important to us as Cosplay.ph is composed of Cosplayers and/or Cosplay Enthusiasts. Again, the intention of the word mark was a pre-emptive measure to ensure the protection of the brand in order to allow us to continue to provide you with the best possible events without the shadow of legal entanglements.

Cosplay.ph Organization, Inc.

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Cosplay™, Cosplay Philippines™, and the Cosplay.PH™ logos are registered trademarks of Tanya Obedoza-Bairan. All rights reserved.