We Thought It Was Noah’s Ark?
Noah? Ark? Two-by-Two? Wand? Huh?Published 19/01/2010 at 20:30 by Michael
Earlier today we rather splendidly waved our magic wand and came up with this interesting nugget of news. I wasn’t that impressed though, because I think “Wand” is a great name and is good for “waving magic wand” jokes, plus Arc sounds about as exciting as watching Avatar in 2D. So, I had a chat with Nofi and said go and find something interesting about Arc, I mean Wand, I mean…oh, just go and find something interesting, will you?
And he did. He found out that, contrary to what a rather popular book would have you believe, it’s not Noah that has exclusive rights to all things Ark, it is in fact Microsoft that has this Arc thing all sewn up. Well, it does say Arc with a little “TM” atop it. Could be Trademark, or could be Too Many, as in “I only said two of everything, Noah – three mice is just Too Many.”
What next for the PS3’s motion controller?
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.
Raen | 19/01/2010 20:33
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Be interested to see if the trademark is considered close enough to be infringed upon. They’re both input devices, but it’d be difficult to easily confuse the two.
cam the man | 19/01/2010 22:21
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If the Microsoft lawyers say so, you can bet that they will have Sony in the courtroom.
rht992 | 19/01/2010 20:37
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how many sheep were on the arc? this won’t work if you watch Qi
Pitcher-T | 19/01/2010 21:42
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3? Im guessing it’s not 2 considering you mentioned QI
rht992 | 20/01/2010 00:11
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Wrong! 7! no idea why but for some reason 7
parker | 19/01/2010 20:44
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Well then this says to me that the “Arc” story was a fake. You really think Sony would settle on a name that the parent company of their competitor has trademarked? That would be insane.
So the whole “What next for the PS3’s motion controller?” comment is probably redundant, as the story of the “Arc” likely wasn’t true at all..
Raen | 19/01/2010 21:24
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It’s a patent for a mouse, that I (and presumably most people with the emergence of this story) have never heard of. While Sony would be aware, you can have the same word trademarked multiple time as long as the products don’t overlap. Checking earlier Arc was trademarked about 60 times in the US (for active trademarks). Does the motion controller really overlap with a mouse that much?
parker | 19/01/2010 21:43
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They’re both input devices.
Watchful | 19/01/2010 21:59
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The fact it’s a TM and not a circled R means that while Microsoft are treating it as a trademark, it’s not yet registered. So if Sony are quick…
Verminox | 19/01/2010 20:46
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Augmented Reality Controller
seedaripper1973 | 19/01/2010 21:01
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@ Verminox
Very good mate…
@ Michael
‘Tags: animals, ark, motion controller, noah, two by four, Wand’
This got my mind racing…ooof!
(i really should lay off this stuff)
MaxJCT | 19/01/2010 21:09
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I had to see Avatar in 2D
Rob92 | 19/01/2010 21:17
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Me too. But it was really exciting
SIR-DARK-HAZE | 19/01/2010 21:19
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i prefer “ARC” to Wand but i think Sony motion controller is a winner for me. I also like wait for it i made it up wait “SYNO” anyone like it?
MUKARKAR | 19/01/2010 21:31
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when i get it i am going to name it what ever comes to my head.
Kovacs | 19/01/2010 21:33
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Like “Fred” or something?
Raen | 19/01/2010 21:40
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Fred seems a good name. Maybe that’s how Sony should market it, put it in a Fred Flinstone costume
MUKARKAR | 19/01/2010 22:00
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Sony should look at the TSA staff ideas.
yogh_wayne | 19/01/2010 21:40
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“Wand” is actually the german word for “wall”. Now explain that name to someone who only speaks german (and I guess they want to give it the same name worldwide). Arc would have been good. It’s funny that of all companies, Microsoft has the TM for this name. Nice find!
Raen | 19/01/2010 22:12
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Companies always run into this issue. I can’t remember which car it was, but the name in French meant the car was shit
Adiemus | 19/01/2010 23:34
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MR2
Radboud | 20/01/2010 07:23
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Yes, or the Fiat Croma… Croma is a butter-label in Holland…
The car didn’t sell too well here
Louise | 19/01/2010 21:49
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I can’t see Sony choosing a name that has already been used and trademarked by it’s biggest rival in the past.
Besides, i don’t like the name Arc anyway. XP
kevatron400 | 21/01/2010 10:34
Don't call him Kevatron400.
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Did you get experience points at the end of that comment?
Agony is my name | 19/01/2010 22:10
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Just call it Dimmu Borgir, I like that name
ttuna | 19/01/2010 22:13
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If we’re being honest Arc is about as generic as a name could be. It means nothing really, tonnes of things use Arc as a name even though it has nothing to do with a curved line.
dirtyhabit | 19/01/2010 23:24
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I just we don’t have to call it … ‘overpriced’ !
cc_star | 19/01/2010 23:50
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Told you should of had a Q in it, like Arq
Radboud | 20/01/2010 07:24
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That is kinda cool, in a way…. I like it
Apnomis | 20/01/2010 10:59
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An excellent piece of internet detective work! With MS not only having the word Arc trademarked but also using the trademark for an input device I think we can take this as conclusive proof the PlayStation Arc story was fake. There is no way Sony would be stupid enough to give their input device the same name as MS would take great delight in taking them to court and having the product removed from shelves!!!