Danjaq LLC, the intellectual property holder for the "007" franchise, has officially opposed a trademark application for the 90s parody game character "James Pond." This move has thrust the long-dormant retro game back into the spotlight and further fueled the already contentious plans for its revival.
"James Pond: Underwater Agent" first launched in 1990, with its sequel, "James Pond II: Codename RoboCod," achieving even greater popularity. While "James Pond 3: Operation Starfish" and "The Aquatic Games" followed, the series gradually faded into obscurity by the mid-1990s. A 2011 attempt to revive the franchise with an iOS version garnered a poor reception.
In recent years, rights holders Gameware Europe and System 3 have announced plans for new titles and retro collections. Last year, System 3 filed a trademark application for "James Pond," encompassing categories like games, toys, and apparel. However, Danjaq LLC opposed the application, leading to speculation that the move is tied to the significant brand recognition and legal protections surrounding the "James Bond" franchise. 
Mark Cale, founder of System 3, stated that "James Pond" boasts a history spanning over 35 years and has been published by more than 12 partners, including Electronic Arts. He argued that the character should not be considered a new brand, emphasizing that the trademark registration is crucial for brand protection and commercial purposes.
However, the franchise's revival has also drawn criticism from original creator James Sorrell. He previously accused the promotional materials for "James Pond: Rogue AI" of being "lazy AI-generated content" and raised concerns about the cover design for another compilation, "James Pond Legacy: The Pond is Not Enough." Sorrell went as far as to state that the character's brand has been severely devalued, and he no longer wishes to be associated with it.
via： VGC