Owners of the James Bond intellectual property, Danjaq LLC, have filed an opposition against a recent UK trademark application for James Pond, a series of 1990s platformer games parodying the iconic spy franchise.
James Pond Series Background
The James Pond games emerged as humorous takes on James Bond adventures. The second installment gained notoriety when its demo accidentally allowed players to access the full game using a level-select cheat code.
Gameware and System 3 currently co-own the rights. System 3 submitted the trademark filing last year, seeking protection across categories such as computer and electronic game programs, toys, games, playthings, clothing, footwear, headgear, sweatshirts, t-shirts, caps, and jackets.
Danjaq’s Opposition and Precedent
Danjaq LLC swiftly opposed the application. This mirrors their successful challenge in 2012 before the European Intellectual Property Office, where a similar bid was rejected.
UK trademark law offers less protection for parodies compared to US regulations, making approval unlikely after the prior European setback.
Upcoming Relaunch and Creator Criticism
Gameware and System 3 plan to revive the series with a sequel titled James Pond and the Rogue AI.
Chris Sorrell, the original creator not involved in the project, has voiced strong disapproval. He criticizes the promotion as “lazy, AI-generated bull-shit” and states, “I hate almost everything they do with a passion.”
