By Michael Silbergleid
On February 21, 2013, the folks at DirecTV filed trademark applications for a variety of 4K related terms. Those included 4KN, 4KNET, 4K Network, 4KNetwork, and 4K. Yes, plain old 4K.
I don't have any problems with 4KN, 4KNET, 4K Network, and 4KNetwork, but I have a major problem with DirecTV trying to trademark 4K ( trademark application serial number 85856740).
4K is an industry term and we like it. But it is also somewhat problematic legally as 4K doesn't necessarily have a horizontal resolution of 4,000 pixels, but 3840 pixels ( 2160 pixels) which is why the CEA uses the terms Ultra High-Definition or Ultra HD electronics manufacturers don't want to be sued for using 4K and not actually selling a TV with 4,000 horizontal pixels.
And there is also an existing 4K registered trademark and other trademark applications for 4K as well. We'll get to those further down.
First, 4K would be a registered service mark. According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a service mark is a word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination thereof, that identifies and distinguishes the source of a service rather than goods. The term trademark' is often used to refer to both trademarks and service marks.
As a service mark, it would look like this before the trademark is granted: 4K . It would look like this after the trademark is granted: 4K .
If the 4K trademark is granted, your 4K can't be called 4K because it could be confused with DirecTV's 4K, and that would be bad (mostly for you).
So let's look at DirecTV's trademark application. The first thing to understand are trademark classes. These are the areas that the trademark would be protected in. DirecTV wants trademark protection in two classes, Class 38 (telecommunications) and Class 41 (education). What DirecTV wants with respect to Class 38 is exclusive use of 4K : Satellite television broadcasting; satellite transmission services; broadcasting programs via global computer network; video-on-demand television transmission services; streaming of audio and video content via the Internet, other computer networks, wireless networks and electronic communication networks.
With respect to Class 41, DirecTV's exclusive use (according to its trademark application) would be for: Distribution of television programs for others; Television programming; Programming on a global computer network; Pay-per-view television programming; Video-on-demand television programming; production and distribution of television programs; providing on-line interactive computer databases featuring television programming lists, and schedules; providing on-line interactive computer databases featuring information about television shows, movies and other digital images, audio, video and other multimedia content, all in the field of entertainment; providing a website featuring information about television programming.
Those are very, very broad, as most trademark applications are. The result, if granted? Almost nothing else in our industry related to visual electronic media could be called 4K.
Does this make you a bit angry? It makes me angry.
As of April 10, 2013, the status of DirecTV's 4K trademark is questionable and the trademark has been refused for a number of reasons, not the least of which is an attorney for the trademark office found that 4K merely describes a feature of DirecTV's services. DirecTV has six months (October 10, 2013) to submit evidence and arguments in support of registration.
But ironically the registration was also refused because of confusion with U.S. registration number 4119847. What mark is that? It's 4K of course, and it's in the same Classes and no one in the industry noticed. The trademark was granted on March 27, 2012 to 4K Computer LLC of Houston, Texas. It's even broader in scope than DirecTV's application, but 4K Computer got its application in before DirecTV. But the broadest protection comes with the use of 4K for Broadcasting of television programmes [sic].
Examining Attorney Kathleen M. Vanston put it this way: In the present case, applicant's mark is 4K and registrant's mark is 4K. Thus, the marks are identical in terms of appearance and sound. In addition, the connotation and commercial impression of the marks do not differ when considered in connection with applicant's and registrant's respective goods and/or services. Therefore, the marks are confusingly similar.
Registrant is using its mark in connection with radio, television, internet and video on demand broadcasting and the provision of telecommunication access to television programs and films. Applicant intends to use its mark on television, internet and video on demand broadcasting along with television program production and distribution and television programming. Both registrant and applicant are providing or intend to provide broadcasting services. Moreover, registrant provides access to television programs which may be produced by applicant. The services of the parties, therefore, are highly related. The similarities between the marks, therefore, and the relatedness of the services create a substantial likelihood that consumers may be confused as to the source of the services.
But wait there's more
There's also another application ( serial number 85756675) for a 4K trademark, from Konami Digital Entertainment of Japan that was filed before DirecTV's application. And Classes 38 and 41 were included (sine filing, Class 38 has been refused in a final action). Should that application be granted, DirecTV's application for Class 41 protection would be refused due to confusion between the two marks. BTW, the Konami application in the remaining Classes should be opposed as well.
If these actions
Most recent headlines
01/01/2026
Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation Announces 2026 Noel Schajris Scholarship The scholarship will cover tuition and housing for one Berklee College of Music stud...
01/01/2026
New year, new games, all with RTX 5080-powered cloud energy. GeForce NOW is kicking off 2026 by looking back at an unforgettable year of wins and wildly high fr...
31/12/2025
Back to All News
NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix Scores Again With the Lions-V...
30/12/2025
As the College Football Playoff Enters the Quarterfinals, ESPN Blows Out Its Meg...
30/12/2025
SVG's Best of 2025: Original ArticlesTake a look back at all our coverage of big-time productions, game-changing technologies, and state-of-the-art new faci...
30/12/2025
MELBOURNE, Fla., Dec. 30, 2025 - L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) will release its fourth quarter 2025 financial results before the market opens on Thursday, J...
30/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
30/12/2025
It marked the first civilian operational authorization for a HAPS flight in Europe, led by Space42's subsidiary, Mira Aerospace
The flight demonstrated HAP...
29/12/2025
San Francisco 49ers Strike Gold With Halftime Laser SpectacularStunning display caps $200 million renovation of Levi's Stadium techBy Dan Daley, Audio Edito...
29/12/2025
The Cup's Around the Corner: An Inside Look at Broadcast Preparations for th...
29/12/2025
SVG's Best of 2025: Longform VideoWatch the standout keynote conversations, deep dives, and panel discussions from the year for free on SVG PLAY!By Brandon ...
29/12/2025
From crisper Lossless audio and immersive music videos in beta to new Audiobooks+ plans, custom transitions between tracks, and in-app Messages, we keep levelin...
29/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
27/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
26/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
26/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
25/12/2025
Holiday lights are twinkling, hot cocoa's on the stove and gamers are settling in for a well-earned break.
Whether staying in or heading on a winter getawa...
24/12/2025
What is AI good for? Posted by MTI Film on December 24, 2025
What is AI good for?
What is AI good for?
It's been three years since ChatGPT first cap...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
24/12/2025
Back to All News
The Boyfriend' Season 2 Unveils Heartwarming Trailer, Key...
24/12/2025
Back to All News
Love, Fights, and Everything in Between: Badly in Love' Returns for Season 2
Entertainment
24 December 2025
GlobalJapan
Link copied t...
24/12/2025
Scripps Research study links sleep variability with sleep apnea and hypertension How consumers' digital activity trackers could enable personalized health s...
23/12/2025
How guilas Cibae as Dominican Winter League Games Are Locally Produced for Glob...
23/12/2025
BitFire's Jim Akimchuk on Supplying Scalability and Customization in the Clo...
23/12/2025
CAMB.AI Enables European Athletics to Offer Multi-Language SupportPlan is to eventually offer translation into all languages spoken in EuropeBy Ken Kerschbaumer...
23/12/2025
Analysis: As sports media values trend negative, scarcity and quality are king By Callum McCarthy, Editor-at-Large
Monday, December 22, 2025 - 14:08
Print ...
23/12/2025
ESPN, Disney, and NBA Return to the Animated Altcast Fray With Second Edition of...
23/12/2025
End the Year on a High Note and Donate to the Sports Broadcasting Fund Today!By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Tuesday, December 23, 2025 - 12:25 pm
P...
23/12/2025
The year is winding down, the weather outside is frightful, and it's the perfect time to escape into a story that warms the heart. For listeners looking for...
23/12/2025
A Zeus motor is hot fire tested at L3Harris' Camden, Arkansas, solid rocket ...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Lightware will exhibit several major product innovations at ISE 2026, including the new USB-C BOOSTER-V1, Google Meet. integration for various Taurus UCX models...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Whatsapp
Pinterest
Flipboard...
23/12/2025
Taking the Stage at Carnegie Hall-On a Global Scale Boston Conservatory Orchestra students reflect on their epic concert marking the 80th session of the UN Gene...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's The Great Flood and Culinary Class Wars 2 Top Gl...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things By the Numbers: How the Global Phenomenon Shap...
23/12/2025
Experience the power of WO Automation for Radio's newest service, the System Effectiveness Review. Designed to help you achieve more, a System Effectiveness...
23/12/2025
23 Dec 2025
VEON's Beeline Kazakhstan and Rakuten Symphony Collaborate to A...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
How Steamy Can It Get? Single's Inferno' Season 5 Pre...
23/12/2025
Back to All News
33 Million Global Viewers on Netflix Watched Jake Paul vs. Ant...
By Michael Silbergleid
