It's difficult to not doomscroll or continue scanning the internet for bad news, even though it makes one feel like the poop emoticon. The quirky word is what I like, but not the actual action. Dallas-based guitarist in metal thought that "doomscroll", too, was a cool term. He said it was "a killer band name."
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Wired reports that Dustin Mitchell, the guitarist, filed a trademark request for "doomscroll" with the U.S. Patent and Tradem Ark Office in early 2021. He envisioned the name of his new progressive thrash band. However, Mitchell was contacted recently by Id software lawyer, who is the owner of Doom.
Mitchell was asked by the lawyer who contacted him Oct. 13th, the last day that any member of public could object to his trademark application. Mitchell was then asked to extend the deadline for Id Software to register its opposition. The lawyers suggested that both sides could reach an agreement before resorting in legal action.
Wired reports that Mitchell was a Doom player and had played the games when he was a child, but he didn’t like being contacted directly by the lawyers.
The guitarist said to the outlet that "[T]hey are trying to take something from me that is totally unrelated to them."
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According to lawyers who spoke with the outlet, companies such as Id Software object to trademark applications such as Mitchell's because it doesn't want other people to use the term in any way that "would cause confusion" about their product. Id Software is not the first company to fight for its proprietary rights and it won't be their last. Wired reported that Id Software has opposed trademarks for the terms "ODoom", and "Doomlings" within the last month.
We don't know if Id Software is able to keep "doomscroll", Mitchell's trademark, for a while. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board is currently handling the company's opposition. The trial schedule will continue well into 2023.
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Metal music is not my favorite genre, and I wouldn't listen if they were. But, to each his own. Although I don't think "doomscroll” is related to the Doom games, I am not a trademark expert and it is not my choice.
I hope that Mitchell's fight with Id Software does not affect his desire to start a band and to make music. That is what he intended to do when applying for the trademark. The fight is probably not worth it if he feels it is.
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Wired has a great story about Mitchell that you can read in its entirety here.
