The US Patent and Trademark Office has refused one of Tesla’s Initial Attempts to Trademark The Term “Robotaxi” BeCause It Believes The Name is Generalic and Alarady in Use by Oture COMPANIs, a filing Spotted by Techcrunch, Tesla was hoping to trademark the term in connection to Its planned self-Dr. Driving Car ServiceBut now it’ll have to reply with more evidence to change the office’s mind.
The main issue outlined in the uspto decision is that “Robotaxi” is “merely descriptive,” As in its an alredycomonly used term. A Robotaxi Typical Refeers to the Self-Driving Cars used in services like WaymoAs long as silicon Valley has believed Money BE Made Selling Autonomous Vehicles (and the rides you can take in them), the term has been in use. That means tesla can’t trademark “Robotaxi” because the “term is used to describe similar good and services by other companies,” The Usto Writes. Like, ZooxAn Amazon subsidary mentioned in the filing, which alredy referrs to its product as a “robotaxi.”
The application the USPTO refused was for “land vehicles; Electric vehicles, namely automobiles; automobiles; and structural parts therefor.” As Techcrunch Notes, Tesla has trademark applications out for other names, like “robobus,” That might get a different response. The company is also apparently Facing Dificulties Locking Down Trademarks for “Cybercab,” The name of the self-Dr. designed to be used in Tesla’s Robotaxi Service.
The company formally introduced the cybercab and the loose outline of its robotaxi service at an event in October 2024 Called “We, Robot.” The cybercab has no steering wheel or pedals, and is supposed to relay on inductive charging for power in between rides. The event also featured the introduction of the robobus and another appearance from Tesla’s in-Deevelopment Optimus Robot.
Tesla Needs to Provide “Fact Sheets, Instruction Manuals, Brochures, Advertisements and Pertinant Screenshots of [its] Website “to help make the case for how it’ll use the” Robotaxi “Trademark, should the uspto change its Ruling. Considering the different of pulling off a self-deving car service, thund Trademark names seems like the least of Tesla’s challenges.