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Rumors are circulating that Sony and PlayStation may finally unveil Project Spartacus—a subscription platform positioned as Sony’s answer to Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass. If true, this service is expected to merge the features of PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now, offering tiered subscriptions. Higher tiers might provide extended trials, streaming capabilities, and access to popular titles from recent years.
Adding fuel to speculation, PlayStation personality Greg Miller tweeted that this could be a major week for Sony news. While fans are excited about potential announcements, there’s also another important development that may have slipped under the radar: Sony has filed a new trademark for “Knack” in Japan.
The filing, dated March 19, was limited to the name itself—raising questions. Does this hint at a remaster for PS5, a reboot, or perhaps a fresh installment in the Knack franchise? The original Knack was developed by Sony’s Japan Studio, which was closed in 2021 and merged into Team Asobi, the studio known for the Astro Bot series. If a new Knack is indeed in development, Team Asobi may be the studio behind it.
For gamers, this signals potential excitement. But for IP practitioners, this is a reminder of how trademark protection plays a vital role in the gaming industry. Sony’s filing shows how entertainment companies secure their brand assets long before any public release.
In the Philippines, if Sony wanted to protect the “Knack” brand locally, they would need to register it with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL). Like Japan, IPOPHL requires a mark to pass through several stages—formality examination, publication in the IPOPHL Gazette for opposition, substantive examination, and registration.
A relevant case was “Samsung vs. Smart Communications”, where the issue centered on confusing similarity of trademarks in telecommunications. IPOPHL and the courts consistently ruled that distinctiveness and prior use are critical in protecting a brand. In the gaming sector, a similar principle applies: even if a game isn’t launched yet, the name and logo must be filed to prevent competitors from exploiting the brand.
Beyond trademarks, copyright law also protects video games in the Philippines. Under the IP Code of the Philippines (RA 8293), the game’s software code, artwork, music, and story elements are automatically protected upon creation. This is why unauthorized distribution of PlayStation titles on pirated discs or torrent sites can lead to copyright infringement cases.
A real-world example is when Nintendo pursued enforcement against sellers of pirated Switch games, which included seizures by the Bureau of Customs in the Philippines. Similar action could apply if PlayStation titles were unlawfully distributed.
For Filipino developers or businesses inspired by Sony’s moves, here are key takeaways:
If the rumors about Project Spartacus and a new Knack game prove true, Sony is not only gearing up for a strong week in gaming but also demonstrating the importance of robust IP strategy—from trademarks to copyright.
For local creators in the Philippines, this is a good reminder that IPOPHL offers the same tools that global players like Sony rely on to secure their brands.