Name or Trademark Expiration?

Trademarks are valid for 10 years, but can be renewed indefinitely. Trademarks, unlike copyright and patents, need to be actively defended, which means that if someone else starts using your trademark without your permission, you must try to get them to stop, to keep the trademark clear in the minds of the public. If it is not renewed or it is not defended, it can become invalid.

In this particular case, though, one of the big reasons to not name it the same is to avoid confusion, regardless of what the orginal trademark holders will or will not do. Do you want distributors or stores to not carry your game because they think it's that old Ascension game. There are so many great names, it seems unnecessarily foolish to choose a name already used.

-- Matthew