Sony Applies For “Cloudsurf” Trademark News

The Sony Corporation has applied for a trademark on the term “Cloudsurf” for pretty much every possible electronic product that the company could feasibly manufacture. Normally, we wouldn't think anything of it, although this does follow some interesting movement from Sony on the cloud computing front.

The trademark application, made late in 2009 (spotted by Destructoid), follows a similar application made by Sony for the term “PS Cloud” in early 2009 which has since been granted an “initial refusal” by the US Patents and Trademarks Office.

Despite the vague range of possible products and uses that “Cloudsurf” is linked to in Sony's application there are, similarly to the “PS Cloud” application, considerable references to uses such as, “Game services provided on-line from a computer network,” or, “providing on-line computer games.”

So, whatever grand scheme Sony has in mind for the trademark, playing games through a cloud computing service of sorts certainly factors into the equation. However, you wouldn't think this judging by recent comments from Sony Computer Entertainment's UK Managing Director, Ray Maguire when he was asked whether games will eventually live in 'the cloud' (source: MCV):

“Whilst the remote storage and access of files is becoming increasingly common, when it comes to delivering an entertainment experience on par with the quality consumers have come to expect and that they demand, dedicated games consoles remain the only systems powerful enough to do this.”

The comment clearly distances Sony from services such as OnLive and Gaikai and implies a commitment to high-spec hardware delivered via home consoles such as the PS3. Whether or not Sony will continue along this line remains to be seen.