Sega loses right to Shenmue trademark – report

The Shenmue trademark looks like it may no longer be the property of Sega.

DualShockers has spotted an update to the Shenmue trademark page on the United States Patent and Trademark Office website that says the rights have been lost due to lack of use.

Registration cancelled because registrant did not file an acceptable declaration under Section 8,” it reads.

That section is associated with the continued use” or excusable non-use” of a trademark. All of which suggests Sega either didn’t provide the required declarations or couldn’t explain the trademark’s dormant state.

The last proper Shenmue release was 2001’s Shenmue II. A planned sequel was scrapped due to the game’s disappointing sales, but that hasn’t stopped Shenmue III becoming one of the most requested games in the history of the internet.