The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied Tesla's (TSLA, Financials) bid to trademark “Robotaxi,” ruling the term too generic.
Tesla was denied a trademark on the term “Robotaxi” by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which deemed the phrase too generic. The decision came in the form of a nonfinal office action on Tuesday, giving Tesla until early August to contest or revise its filing.
According to TechCrunch, a second application from Tesla covering use of “Robotaxi” for a future ride-hailing business remains under examination. In a separate effort, the company's bid to trademark “Cybercab” has stalled due to similar trademarks filed by other companies.
Tesla has not commented publicly on the refusals. The company previously stated it remains on track to launch its autonomous ride-hailing service by June 2025 in Austin, Texas. However, in April, Tesla warned it may have to revise growth forecasts amid uncertainty from shifting trade policies and political sentiment.
The trademark roadblocks underline the complications of securing intellectual property in a fast-evolving space like autonomous vehicles, where branding may impact market positioning and future monetization.
Investors should watch for how Tesla responds to the USPTO ruling, as well as the June rollout of its autonomous ride-hailing service in Texas.
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