When we hear the name Diablo, the first thing that comes to mind is Diablo, the Master of Horror. However, in a new animated series coming out this month, one of the characters will be named Diablo, pitting Blizzard Entertainment against Fox Media.
In this animated series called Housebroekn, one of the neighbors of the dog named Honey is Diablo, an obsessive dog. Tony Hale, one of the stars of Arrested Development, voices him. When Fox tried to register the name Diablo for use in commercial products related to the series, such as dog food, food containers, jars, etc., the problem arose.
Blizzard immediately stepped in and asked that Fox’s application be blocked because Fox was ;D iablo; it “will likely lead to confusion, mistakes, even deception,” he said, adding that it does not comply with federal trademark laws.
Lawyers for Fox Media have yet to respond to the patent office, and they have about a month to do so. But if the court allows Fox Media to use the name as a trademark, things will escalate.
