Half-Life 3 confirmed (not really)

Today I was on reddit when this popped up:

Trademark link here. (search for 012180394)

Of course, at the moment I was more than excited - I yelled, I jumped, I popped a champaign bottle, and even danced a little - before I read the comments and went back to my previous sad and melancholic state.

The thing many don’t realize and most media sites won’t care to explain is that this is only a trademark filling request, aka, they’re just asking for a reservation of the name (not granted so far). Now, assuming that the trademark gets approved (most probable outcome), and according to US Patent and Trademark office, you need a product in the first six months after been granted the trademark to keep it. If you don’t have it in these months, you can extend these period for another six months, but only five times, for a total of 3 years before actually showing something...

But that’s the US law, the request was filled on Europe, specifically in Spain, where the rules are different, and I quote /u/faderprime:

You have 5 years to actually use it and if you don't you essentially get weakened protection where someone could challenge you and cost you the mark. But you won't lose it outright like in the US. Nevertheless, I am correct in saying that this is only an application. The trademark is still to be granted and it is possible we will see applications popping up in other countries.

Source.

So, in conclusion, what does this tell us?

• NO HALF-LIFE 3... so far.

Even though the name is being reserved, Valve doesn’t have to show any actual proof of the product they’re naming, at least in the next 5 years.

• HALF LIFE 3 CONFIRMED.

Even though there is no other proof of Half-Life 3, even less of Half-Life 2: Episode 3, it still means that there is a development/project related to Half-Life at Valve’s. Meaning that, yes, Half-Life 3 will come, maybe in 40 years, but eventually will come.

Just don’t hold your breath.