MASHABLE's Kellen Beck noted after game developer Blizzard Entertainment submitted its application to trademark the Overwatch League logo, MLB "filed a request" to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office for an "extension of 90 days to oppose the trademark." Beck writes the two league logos look "arguably similar." MLB has until Wednesday to "submit its opposition," and then it is up to the USPTO's Trial & Appeal Board to "decide whether the Overwatch League logo is too similar" (MASHABLE.com, 7/17).
LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE: ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said he is "not offended" by the NBA eliminating the home and away jersey designations because the league has to "sell product." However, he added, "What I'm fearful of in basketball ... is that they'll end up with soccer-type uniforms, where the advertising will be all over the chest and you won't even know what team is playing." The N.Y. Daily News' Frank Isola: "It's headed that way. The WNBA wears the ads, the G League does" ("PTI," ESPN, 7/19).
WEARING OFF? CNBC's Christina Farr cited sources as saying that Intel has "axed the division that worked on health wearables, including fitness trackers." The company has been "slowly de-emphasizing its own line of wearables for the past several years, and has not mentioned wearables on its earnings calls" since '14. A source said that the company's New Technologies Group, which looks at cutting-edge business areas, is "now focusing on augmented reality" (CNBC.com, 7/19).
