Killer Instinct: Microsoft's trademark application denied

Microsoft has been unable to secure the Killer Instinct trademark, despite announcing it had renewed its filing in mid-September.

The US Patent Office denied the platform holder's application for "entertainment services, namely, providing online video games” trademark as likely to cause "confusion" because a Killer Instinct trademark is currently registered elsewhere as “entertainment services in the nature of a television series featuring drama".

Polygon suspects FOX's 2005 TV show Killer Instinct is the culprit; the crime show lasted just 13 episodes and only nine aired in the US.

Killer Instinct was a mid-90's fighter series of two games developed by the Microsoft-owned Rare; fan clamour for a third entry has been increasing, but Rare seems to be busy elsewhere.