TikTok Pursues Software Ambitions as U.S. Sale Saga Continues
Jun/30/2025
On June 24, TikTok filed for a U.S. trademark on 'CSI' and its figurative counterpart, covering a sweeping array of downloadable software ranging from networking and database management tools to search engine optimization, instant messaging, and data streaming services. This intellectual property maneuver coincides with renewed uncertainty over TikTok’s future in America, as President Donald Trump claims to have secured a "very wealthy" buyer for the video-sharing platform, whose forced divestiture was mandated by Congress amid national security concerns. Trump, who has repeatedly delayed enforcement of the sale requirement, suggested China’s President Xi would likely approve the transaction, though previous talks collapsed over trade tensions. As TikTok’s September deadline looms, its efforts to expand technological capabilities through the CSI trademark underscore a parallel strategy to secure its digital ecosystem—whether under Chinese or American ownership.
