Q: Can I publish a game named "Buzzle" without copyright infringement, and if renamed, change the package ID "com.mycompanyname.buzzle"? Is "Bazzle" safe?

A: A trademark covers a specific type of good or service, so registering "Buzzle" for a game and "Buzzle" for a pizza shop would probably not be an infringement. But when you have multiple digital games all called "Buzzle", there is more obvious scope for infringement. Therefore a name change to Bazzle would be advisable. Since the Bazzle game would not be based on the Buzzle games, there is limited scope for confusion.

It's a good question about whether the internal app name also needs to be changed. The answer is likely no, because these are not normally displayed to the user so they are not being used in trade or commerce in the same was as the app name or business name. If it is inconvenient to change, you can leave it how it is. Please reach out if you could use some more personalized advice.

A: Publishing a game named "Buzzle" presents significant trademark risk rather than copyright concerns. While game names generally aren't protected by copyright, the existence of two other games using this name and companies holding "Buzzle" trademarks in various countries creates a substantial likelihood of trademark infringement. When multiple companies hold trademarks for the same name in the gaming/software category, using that name could lead to legal disputes regardless of your different target audience.

Regarding your package ID, changing only the consumer-facing name while retaining "com.mycompanyname.buzzle" might still pose legal risks. The package ID appears in the Play Store URL and device settings, potentially constituting public use of a protected mark. From both legal and technical perspectives, changing your package ID before publication would be prudent to avoid future complications, as modifying it post-publication causes significant technical issues including loss of update history and reinstallation requirements.

Your suggested alternative "Bazzle" likely provides insufficient legal protection due to its similarity to "Buzzle" in pronunciation, appearance, and overall impression. Trademark law considers the "likelihood of confusion" standard, where similar-sounding names can still constitute infringement. We recommend conducting a comprehensive trademark search and selecting a more distinctive name that differs substantially in sound, appearance, and meaning from existing protected marks in the gaming industry to minimize legal exposure for your commercial venture.