No. But I'm astonished they're doing this so shortly after making everyone hate them.

Everyone doesn't hate them. The HN and reddit crowds are relatively small. The "general population" still loves to play Candy Crush every chance they get.

This is true. And the uninformed public actually thinks that their victims are companies that have copied from them. Oh, the sad irony.

Sell it now before it becomes obvious that nobody will play their games any more? (if indeed that happens)

EXACTLY!

Sounds like perfect timing to me

One could say it's an opportune time for them. New investors are more than just bag holders. They become promoters who are sympathetic to King's crusade.

Well ... since that's likely to be their only enduring IP (most of their game concepts seem copied), perhaps they need to play up the fact that they've trademarked the word "Candy" to pump the valuation of their IPO.

I'm glad they didn't try to trademark the word "Saga" as well.

They kinda did. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_%28website%29#Controversy