Commodore International Sues to Invalidate Rival's Trademarks

The resurrected Commodore International has initiated legal proceedings against the Italian firm Commodore Industries, declaring its rival's trademarks “invalid”. According to a report by Time Extension, the new Commodore International, formed in July 2025 when a team led by YouTuber Christian Simpson purchased the historic Commodore Corporation B.V., claims ownership of the original trademarks dating back to 1983. The legal action follows months of failed negotiations between the two entities.

📜 The Long Road of the Commodore NameSince the original Commodore International declared bankruptcy in 1994, the rights to its iconic name and logos have been fragmented and sold multiple times. Various entities, including Tulip Computers, Commodore Licensing BV, and others, have held the rights at different points, leading to a complex legal history over the past three decades.

John Errico, Legal Counsel for Commodore International, stated the company has a “responsibility to protect its legacy” and prevent the Commodore name from being used in ways that could “confuse the community or the marketplace.” The core of the dispute lies in the validity of trademarks registered by Commodore Industries S.r.l. in 2017, which Commodore International argues were “improperly granted.” This legal tussle is the latest chapter in the complex saga of the Commodore brand, which has been fragmented since the original company's bankruptcy in 1994.

For the retro gaming community, the Commodore name is synonymous with legendary 8-bit and 16-bit platforms that defined a generation. The 1982 Commodore 64, with its iconic SID chip and titles like Elite, Impossible Mission, and The Last Ninja, remains one of the best-selling home computers of all time. Its successor, the Amiga, pushed boundaries in the late 80s and early 90s with groundbreaking games such as Shadow of the Beast, Speedball 2, and Lemmings, setting a standard for multimedia computing.

The outcome of this case could directly impact future officially licensed products. Commodore International has announced it will launch an official “Licensing Pipeline” tool in the coming weeks for parties interested in creating new Commodore-branded experiences. This move coincides with the company shipping its first new hardware, the FPGA-based C64 Ultimate, to pre-order customers. The legal fight underscores the enduring commercial value and passionate fandom surrounding a brand that, for many, represents the vibrant home computer era of the 1980s.

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