US Patent and Trademark Office

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In This Case, Biden Administration Looks to Protect Trump

'Trump Too Small' slogan becomes a Supreme Court fight over free speech

(Newser) - President Biden's Justice Department has taken former President Donald Trump to task for his handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election . But in another court case, the Biden administration looks "to protect Trump," Reuters reports. The case before the Supreme...

Final Holdout in 'Taco Tuesday' Battle Gives In

Taco Bell gets last restaurant to relinquish its trademark of the phrase

(Newser) - Taco Bell has been trying to ensure the phrase "Taco Tuesday" is available for anyone (including, of course, Taco Bell) to use, and the fast food chain notched a big win in its battle over the trademarking of the phrase back in July, when the chain Taco John's,...

Taco Bell on Trademark War: 'Taco Tuesday' Belongs to All

Fast-food giant asks Patent and Trademark Office to force smaller chain to give up rights to the term

(Newser) - Declaring a mission to liberate "Taco Tuesday" for all, Taco Bell is asking US regulators to force Wyoming-based Taco John's to abandon its long-standing claim to the trademark. Too many businesses and others refer to "Taco Tuesday" for Taco John's to be able to have exclusive...

Sorry, Mariah, You're Not the Only 'Queen of Christmas'

Trademark office denies singer's claim for rights to the phrase

(Newser) - Mariah Carey isn't getting the holiday gift she wanted from the US Patent and Trademark Office. The office on Tuesday denied the singer's request to trademark "Queen of Christmas," after rejecting her applications for "QOC" and "Princess Christmas" earlier this month, per the Washington ...

Fastest Man in the World Wants Ownership of His Victory Pose

Retired sprinter Usain Bolt has filed to trademark signature celebration move to use logo on merch

(Newser) - If you're a famous athlete with the name "Bolt," and you've got a signature victory move that resembles a jagged line of electricity, chances are you're going to make sure you control that likeness. There's only one man this situation currently applies to in...

Meghan Markle Tries to Trademark 500-Year-Old Word

'Archetypes' is the title of her new Spotify podcast, examining female stereotypes

(Newser) - Meghan Markle is seeking to trademark "archetypes," which in addition to being a 500-year-old word is also the title of her upcoming Spotify-exclusive podcast. The Duchess of Sussex, acting through her Archewell Audio company, filed the application with the US Patent and Trademark Office in March, the same...

Brady's First Attempt Involves Wordplay

With his new team, quarterback wants to own 'Tompa Bay'

(Newser) - Tom Brady has lost before at the US Patent and Trademark Office —when he sought sole rights to "Tom Terrific" while with the New England Patriots—but you don't become a star athlete by giving up. Now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the quarterback wants to reserve...

P&G Scheme to Lure Millennials Has Folks Saying 'WTF'

Procter & Gamble files trademark applications for 4 popular acronyms: WTF, LOL, NBD, and FML

(Newser) - Acronym-heavy news reports are proliferating after a recent development regarding Procter & Gamble. Ad Age reports that the consumer-goods behemoth has put in the paperwork for the rights to use four well-known letter combinations—WTF, LOL, NBD (which stands for "no big deal"), and FML ("f--- my...

Gene Simmons Claims This Widely Used Hand Sign Is His

He's filed a trademark request

(Newser) - The "rock on" hand gesture is sported by everyone from teen girls to Spider-Man—but Gene Simmons claims it's all his. The KISS frontman filed an application with the US Patent and Trademark Office on Friday in an effort to trademark the sign, per the Hollywood Reporter . While...

Lin Seeks to Trademark 'Linsanity'

Meanwhile, the Knicks' streak finally ends

(Newser) - "Linsanity," the exciting play of unlikely basketball hero Jeremy Lin, may belong to the world, but "Linsanity" the word, that belongs to Jeremy Lin—or so says Lin. The newest New York Knick star has applied for a trademark on the term with the US Patent and...

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