Sony Opposes ‘Naughty Cat’ Trademark – Naughty Dog Link?
Sony is aggressively fighting to protect its “Naughty Dog” brand, opposing a trademark request for “Naughty Cat.” The tech giant filed a formal opposition with the USPTO, fearing consumer confusion, as the “Naughty cat” application is tied to gambling apps, while the established “Naughty Dog” is synonymous with acclaimed video games. The central issue hinges on the shared “Naughty” element and the animal references,which Sony believes could mislead consumers. With this primarykeyword trademark dispute, the secondarykeyword likely heads to trial in 2026, if the Hong Kong-based company responds by July 12.News Directory 3 provides a extensive look at the latest developments. Discover what’s next for both companies’ legal and creative teams.
Sony Challenges ‘Naughty Cat’ Trademark, Citing Naughty Dog Confusion
Updated June 05, 2025
Sony Interactive Entertainment is contesting a trademark application for “Naughty Cat,” arguing teh name is too close to its “Naughty Dog” brand. The company filed a Notice of Opposition with the United states Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) against Naughty Cat Co., Limited, a Hong Kong-based company.
At issue, according to Sony’s filing, is the potential for consumer confusion. Sony contends that the shared “Naughty” element, combined with the similar animal references, could mislead consumers into thinking “Naughty Cat” is affiliated with or endorsed by Sony and Naughty Dog.the Naughty Dog trademark has been in use for years.
Naughty Cat Co., Limited operates two gambling apps on the App Store that offer real cash rewards.Sony’s Naughty Dog, in contrast, is known for developing video games such as The Last of Us and uncharted.
Sony’s lawyers stated that the “Naughty Cat” trademark is “confusingly similar” to “Naughty Dog” in overall commercial impression. They added that the identical “Naughty” and the similar animal names could lead consumers to mistakenly believe that Naughty Cat is affiliated with Sony or Naughty Dog.
The opposition claims that registering the Naughty Cat trademark would likely cause confusion and deceive the public about the source of the goods, harming Sony and the public. Sony also noted that Naughty Cat’s application claims a first use date of Dec. 25, 2023, while the Naughty Dog trademark has been in use for many years prior.
The USPTO has set a schedule to resolve the trademark dispute. Naughty Cat Co., Limited has until July 12 to respond to Sony’s opposition. If the company fails to respond, the USPTO may consider the application abandoned, giving Sony the victory. If Naughty Cat co. responds, the dispute could go to trial in 2026.
What’s next
While the legal teams handle the trademark business, developers at Naughty Dog are focused on upcoming projects, including Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and another unannounced game.