This page summarises the status of the Blinx trademark and IP, responses from Microsoft and Arzest and links to relevant resources.

What is the Blinx trademark?

The Blinx trademark refers to the word and design 'Blinx'. This includes the series' logo and the word itself. The trademark does not include the copyright to Blinx, the IP or the titular character himself.

Is the Blinx IP in public domain?

No, just because the Blinx trademark has been dropped and the series has been dead for over a decade, the Blinx IP is very much under copyright with Microsoft as the owner.

For the Blinx IP to go into public domain, either Microsoft explicitly states that Blinx is public domain or 50-70 years after Microsoft goes out of business, if and when it happens.

All Blinx Trademark Listings

Infomation on the trademarks can be retrieved on the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS).

Serial
Number		 Goods and Services Live/Dead
Indicator		 Cancellation/
Abandonment Date
78975159
 (CANCELLED) computer programs, namely game software DEAD December 26, 2014
78975608 (CANCELLED) printed publications, namely guides and manuals DEAD July 22, 2011
78157018 (ABANDONED) clothing DEAD January 9, 2005
78117529 (ABANDONED) toys and games DEAD February 26, 2005
78117527 (ABANDONED) printed publications, namely books, magazines and newsletters DEAD February 26, 2005
78117525
 (ABANDONED) physical copies, CDs and DVDs DEAD February 19, 2005

Microsoft Senior Director on the Blinx IP

Below is an email response from Noash Musler (senior director of Microsoft) in February 2019, to an inquire about the Blinx IP. To summarise, while Microsoft does have the rights to the Blinx IP, it didn't get fully resolved before Artoon was absorbed so things are messy.

Hi ■■■■■■■,

Phil sent this my way. Apologies for the delayed response.

Thank you for your interest in Blinx. To be honest the IP is dormant, and while we do control the rights, it isn't entirely clean with the original creator ARTOON (Who is unfortunately out of business). To be honest, while we love the enthusiasm for the IP we have concerns that because of the murkiness associated with the rights we don't feel comfortable licensing it out even for a non-profit use.

I did do some research into this because your intentions seem genuine and positive. According to our legal team if we did license it out we'd need full indemnification from the licensee to protect Microsoft from 3rd party lawsuits AND we'd place a requirement in the license for the licensee to use best efforts to track down any lingering rights holders to get clearance for usage before release.

Unfortunately I think Blinx will probably stay in hibernation until we see a viable commercial reason to go the extra lengths to fully clear the IP usage to avoid any unforeseen legal action.

I hope you understand.

Rock on,

Noah Musler

|Senior Director, Business Development, Microsoft Game Studios

ARZEST on the possibility of a Blinx 3

The owner of The Time Factory emailed Arzest (the company that Artoon was absorbed into) and inquired if a Blinx 3 developed by the company was possible.

Thanks for contacting us, ARZEST.

As for your inquire, as you mentioned we are different company from
Artoon, and Blinx is the property of Microsoft. So, unfortunately, we
are not in the position to comment any to that sequel.

Even though, we have the producer of Blinx and he appreciates you were
fan of the Blinx games.

Thanks again for contacting us!

Game Content Usage Rules

Read this before using gameplay footage, screenshots, music, and other elements of the Blinx games in your projects.

References

Last updated on 11 Apr 2023