S/mileage 3rd gen coming 10/4.

[Anderei]

I wouldn't be surprised at all if Morning Musume is the only group name they've ever actually bothered to get the trademark for themselves.

[Farrah]

It's possible, I'm just amazed that this many years into S/mileage's career they've allowed themselves to be put in the position to have to change a group's entire identity based on a probably avoidable trademarking issue.

[NekoKaiSai]

Considering WWE was WWF for 23 years before the other WWF finally did anything about it, it's really not that many years into their career.

[Farrah]

I guess I didn't know this was such a common practice. It seems so silly to invest probably hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars into something, building a reputation behind the name, and so on - and then leave yourself open to have to completely re-brand it.  I guess it happens a lot but it must suck, especially for something like an idol group that already has a rather small window of time for success. 

[star]

To me, its just stupid on the company's part if they don't trademark names, even though I know a lot of them don't.

[Farrah]

For something like the WWE, I think they can get away with it because they had been around for 23 years and you can't really become interested in wrestling without finding out that the WWE exists. But for an idol group... seems like changing the name, if it has to be a significant change, could be like starting over from scratch.

[JPope]

If the trademark scenario is real, it was probably a matter of Up Front not doing their due diligence from the start -- or foolishly believing that adding the backslash would protect them from action -- and having it bite them in the ass years later. Something like this: Up Front didn't bother to check international trademarks when naming the group, and the original holder of the name never knew of the idol group -- why would they? -- until the kid of Someone Who Matters got into them, which alerted Someone Who Matters about the group, who then proceeded to take action against Up Front.

[ShiroiChanUK]

I wasn't expecting this and I'm not that keen on this announcement. I wish that S/mileage stuck with it's original lineup. The group had structure when they debuted. When the lineup changed the group became messy for a while but they found structure again and now it looks like their structure may go back to being all over the place.

[star]

I am one of those people that still want the 4nin S/mileage back. For the longest time, I wasn't to keen on the new girl, and I still can't match Rina and Kana's names to their faces, but I grew to like the new girls (Meimi in particular) so who knows...

[Anderei]

I'm talking about people who make a point of it every time S/mileage does something to bitch about how much they wish they were still 4nin and how 2nd gen were the death of the group. This fandom is terrible about letting the past go.

[NekoKaiSai]

Since I don't know much about trademark laws, does this mean they'll have to change everything with their name in it, even their blog address (ameblo.jp/smileage-submember/), or just things that make them money?

[JPope]

[quote="NekoKai"]
Since I don't know much about trademark laws, does this mean they'll have to change everything with their name in it, even their blog address (ameblo.jp/smileage-submember/), or just things that make them money?
[/quote]
 
Well, for one thing, we don't know for sure that it has anything to do with trademarks -- this is all speculation. But regardless of the reason for the name change, they would want to change everything for the sake of continuity with regards to marketing the new name.

[eri]

Do you really think the powers that be behind one of the biggest idol companies in Japan is too stupid to secure the rights to their group names? Come on.  
 
I think the theory about "renewal" is better. They can't really be S/mileage because its so closely tied to the original 4 girls.  Once Wada and Kanon leave, the new girls are screwed.  They need to reboot the entire group to give them a chance.  
 
And it isn't like S/mileage is a hot ticket by name alone.  I'm pretty sure their fans are aware of the name change and will follow them under the new one. 
 
--
(Yukariiinnnnnn.  I misss yoouuuuu)

[Anderei]

[quote="eri"]
Do you really think the powers that be behind one of the biggest idol companies in Japan is too stupid to secure the rights to their group names? Come on.  
[/quote]
 
Yes, to be completely honest.

 

[al kusanagi]

Well, it shouldn't be too long now. We should have word any time.

[Solarblade]

http://natalie.mu/music/news/127790
 
According to Natalie, the new members are Aikawa Maho, Sasaki Rikako, and Murota Mizuki!!!!

[momoirosaya]

I honestly wanted Rikako in MM or a new group, but I'm just so happy she gets to debut! This will give me a chance to get back into S/uma! And I'm also really happy for Mizuki because she also deserves to debut and I really like her. I don't know much about Maho, but she looks cute, and H!P always likes to add a fairly new obscure girl.
 
Edit: S/mileage is having the fans submit group name ideas, similar to Lovendor. It runs until 10/31. New member profiles are also here.
https://secure3.xross.jp/?key=3104daf72a8508fa139f61dfc6b4e6ccf1c311
 

[smtmissin]

Smileage is going to be so lively from now on with members popular enough to push their popularity. I feel bad for Ju=Ju now. I hope they add new gen members to J=J as well. Some groups can be reasonably successful with only 5 members (C-ute, Momoclo) or 6 members (Faeries) but it's because they have personalities and can handle crazy dance moves. I don't think J=J can do it. Their initial momentum is dying down. I'm so jealous Smileage got that Rikako girl, even though I'm not a fan of her.
 
Of course I feel bad for 2th gen Smileage but they need some rivalries for motivations , I feel that their improvement is a bit slow.

[ice]

I can't accept this S/Mileage. the 2nd gen was already quite a shock.

[Anderei]

Mizuki is cool. Rikako's okay, it's petty of me but I didn't want her in because her H!O fandom is shit. I guess someone was either super impressed by Maho or they planned to debut her from the start.


They're older than I expected but that's not a bad thing.


I can live with this.

[Derby]

I plead myself as a Rikako hater, for no reason at all, I just didn't want her anywhere. Maybe in a new group.
But seriously what are they going to do with Ayano if they don't even add her to a group that fits perfect for herrrrrr!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!???

[Anderei]

Ayano would fit in with a new group with cuter songs. If agree she'd be perfect in 2011 but not really now.


Oh, I'm not sure anyone remembers but Mizuki initially auditioned for 2nd gen so it took three years but she finally made it in.

[al kusanagi]

I'm goddamn done. No wonder Nanami quit HP...

[Noa]

I was really kind of hoping Rikako would go to a new group. I'm not an avid fan of her because I gave up on that when Rie quit, but I figured they'd use her decent sized fanbase to launch a new group. But S/mileage really does need another vocal because Kanon and Meimi are really the only ones with good voices. Rina's okay, and I can't stand goat chan, and the other two are unfortunately pretty useless.

[MejraThea]

I feel a sense of despair. But only because now the avid Rikako fans are going to be insufferable.

[Anderei]

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Molly" data-cid="180378" data-time="1412430016">
I was really kind of hoping Rikako would go to a new group. I'm not an avid fan of her because I gave up on that when Rie quit, but I figured they'd use her decent sized fanbase to launch a new group. But S/mileage really does need another vocal because Kanon and Meimi are really the only ones with good voices. Rina's okay, and I can't stand goat chan, and the other two are unfortunately pretty useless.</blockquote>


Kana and Dawa are passable these days. : (

[Noa]

[quote="Thea"]
I feel a sense of despair. But only because now the avid Rikako fans are going to be insufferable.
[/quote]
 
I have never actually seen a rabid Rikako fan but I ALWAYS see constant complaining from people about people with these fans. Rikako, Karin, Riho, I'm sure there are other examples.

[Kalle]

[quote="Thea"]
I feel a sense of despair. But only because now the avid Rikako fans are going to be insufferable.
[/quote]
 

They're already trash-talking S/m and saying it's a 'step down' from MM or a new group for her. Like really guys? Can't you just be happy that she's debuting at all? Sheesh. Annoying fanbase aside, though, I'm not her biggest fan but it feels like she'd be a decent fit with the direction the group's been taking recently.
 
I don't know a lot about the other two but I hope they've got good voices, they're already pretty cute! I hope the name they go with in the end doesn't suck, either.

[star]

I don't follow the kenshuusei, but I'm happy with these additions to S/m. Didn't they form as an egg group (2nd gen aside)? I'm probably wrong, but if so it would be nice if they kept adding only from the eggs to carry a tradition.
I will admit that I was hoping for Rikako in MM simply for the Haruka look alike factor.

[MejraThea]

[quote="Molly"]
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Thea" data-cid="180379" data-time="1412431613">
<div>
I feel a sense of despair. But only because now the avid Rikako fans are going to be insufferable.
[/quote]
 
I have never actually seen a rabid Rikako fan but I ALWAYS see constant complaining from people about people with these fans. Rikako, Karin, Riho, I'm sure there are other examples.
 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
 
[quote="Kalle"]
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Thea" data-cid="180379" data-time="1412431613">
<div>
I feel a sense of despair. But only because now the avid Rikako fans are going to be insufferable.
[/quote]
 
They're already trash-talking S/m and saying it's a 'step down' from MM or a new group for her. Like really guys? Can't you just be happy that she's debuting at all? Sheesh. Annoying fanbase aside, though, I'm not her biggest fan but it feels like she'd be a decent fit with the direction the group's been taking recently.
 
I don't know a lot about the other two but I hope they've got good voices, they're already pretty cute! I hope the name they go with in the end doesn't suck, either.
 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I AM happy for her, all of them, and I am not unhappy with the choice at all. I'm a bit sad that the S/mileage I know is changing, but it isn't a bad thing. Rikako was one of the first eggs I took a liking to.
It's just that I happen to know a particular fan on another forum that gets on my nerves, and I feel this will fuel the fire.