The Registry Rundown for March 2007

[Variance]

-Variance

March 1, 2007

Welcome to C&G’s Registry Rundown, a new monthly Feature Article rife with information and speculation. Here, yours truly will be reporting on the goings on within the records of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, bringing you the newest trademark applications made by auto manufacturers. Newly filed applications, ones published for opposition, finalized/fully registered and killed trademarks will all be covered.

Here’s a quick explanation of each level of trademark registry, from the least to most likely to be seen used on a production product or concept car:

• Dead: This is the official USPTO term for a trademark that will not go through (or any further through) the registration process. Trademarks can die because an automaker gives up and/or just decides not to use it or because the trademark is opposed by another party. It is unlikely these will see use on any final product.

• Filed: These are applications that have just been filed with the USPTO and have otherwise not been published for opposition (the next step in the registry process). Most filed trademarks stay at this level and are sometimes made just so other companies cannot use them. What this means is just because an automaker has filed a trademark does not mean they will necessarily use it.

• Published for Opposition: This is the next step in the registry process in which the applicant makes the trademark available for other companies to object to or, oppose. There is a published of opposition date given (the date I’ll be providing). If no one opposes within 30 days or opposition of the trademark fails, the application goes to the final stage of the registration process. Publishing an application for opposition speaks well to an applicant’s intent of using the name or symbol.

• Registered: Applications/names here have been finalized and approved for a manufacturer to do with as they will. These are the trademarks you will most likely see publicly used.

Now with all that said, let’s see what new trademark developments have been occurring as of late.

This month, we begin with four Ford filings (the only intentional alliteration this issue, I swear). Interceptor (1/26) is of course, Ford’s concept 300C competitor. Note the date it was filed, a good set of days after its Detroit debut. Could this mean that there are production plans for this car? Transit and Transit Connect (1/26) are Ford’s already-announced-for-U.S.-sale Euro cargo vans much like Dodge’s Sprinters. Last and smallest, we have Fiesta (2/7). Not to be confused with the Korean-made catastrophe known as the Festiva. Think of it as a mini-me Euro Focus. You can check it out at Ford’s UK website.

Next stop, General Motors. Here we come across Cascade (1/30), described as being a name for either a light-duty truck, SUV or van. In my opinion, the name sounds too “soft” to be for a pickup and it sounds like a name that a Chevy would have. Maybe a Chevy Lambda is on the way? Well, this is still just at the filing stage, so all we can do is wait n’ see.

In spite of the company’s current turmoil, DaimlerChrysler still is finding the time to make plenty of USPTO applications. Sky Slider (1/26) equals a fancy name for a moonroof (I’m guessing a panoramic affair). Advanced Agility and Agility Control (1/24)... Leave it to DCX to give semi-enthusiastic names to mundane things like “structural parts, chassis, brakes, gearboxes, springs, dampers for vehicles”. Lifebox (1/31) sounds to me like a Jeep accessory, an emergency/first aid kit of some sort. Speaking of Jeep, who could forget the classic Willys (1/26) moniker? If it should return to life, people may once again be able get wet Willys when they ford streams off-road.

Coming soon from Hyundai? The Elantra Touring (2/14). Yay...next.

Toyota marketing will soon ask you: “Want2BSquare”? (1/30) Best guess: Part of the ad campaign for the new Scions (at least the xB). I’m hip.

Finally, from Honda there is the FCX Catalyst (2/6). It’s not clear if this the actual name of a future Honda fuel-cell vehicle or just part of its running gear as the USPTO description encompasses both of those possibilities.

Ford’s ancient fullsize van line looks like it may be getting its largest edition yet with E-550 (3/6) being published. (Nice opening for this section, starting with Methuselah’s van.)

GM’s super Corvette wall of secrecy has been recently breached somewhat but the is still some speculation on what the damn thing will be called officially. Publishing both Stingray and ZR-1 (3/6) doesn’t seem to help matters but only ZR-1 has also been published for use on several other products aside from a motor vehicle. Might be a clue...

Other General products include Terrain and Seneca (both trucks), Copo (supposedly a name for a car), as well as, unsurprisingly, Camaro (3/6).

Miss the Chrysler Group Cloud cars? I know I don’t. But apparently Chrysler think some people do as evidenced by the appearance of Breeze (3/6), the name of the Plymouth version on the publishing list. In case you forgot, this was the Breeze:

Chrysler must know something I don’t.

Care to take a guess on what type of car the F-Cell (3/6) could possibly be? The possible power source could be the Nucellsys (3/13). Remember the turbocharged Ford Twinforce touched on in month’s Rundown? It sounds like Chrysler may have been inspired with the Bi-Flex (3/13) engine. Lastly, from the makers of Stow N’ Go, Swivel N’ Go and Gulp N’ Blow we have Pop N’ Go (3/13). Might it have something to do with some type of removable storage compartment you can take with you?

Volkswagen has recently published Lupo (3/13) for opposition for use in the States. The Lupo was the smallest vehicle in VW’s range when it was produced (smaller than the Polo even) and has since been replaced by the Fox. Why they seem to be planning on reviving the old name is a mystery to me. And that’s not the only thing that confuses me about the name. The word “Lupo” is Italian for wolf and I gotta say, when I think of “wolf” as applied to a car, I think of something like this...

...not this...

Finally, we have a manufacturer that is making their first-ever appearance on the Registry Rundown. Suzuki offers up the XV6 (3/27). From what I gather, “XV6” is what the current Grand Vitara was originally scheduled to be called (which would explain why the application was originally filed in 2005). I guess Suzuki is going to be next in the line of car brands to transition to an all alphanumeric naming scheme. R.I.P. real names on cars.

Sorry, nothing here for this month. (Lazy automakers.)

Come back again for the next RR in April, fools.

[Mule Bakersdozen LS]

Haven't been on here much lately, but thought I'd say thanks for the list-anything happen for April or May?

[Sixty8panther]

Breeze... Lupo, Sky Slider? WTF are we in the twilight zone!?