Sports Litigation Alert
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Sports Litigation Alert Reprinted from Sports Litigation Alert, Volume 9, Issue 15, August 24, 2012. Copyright © 2012 Hackney Publications. Competing Before the PTO: Four Things a Professional Athlete Should Consider When Seeking a Federal Trademark Registration By Ryan S. Hilbert tion in which he can soon obtain a number trademark Today’s athletes have become increasingly proactive registrations for those words or phrases uniquely asso- and savvy about ways in which they can and should ciated with him, despite the fact that he has yet to play protect their trademarks. As an example, shortly af- an official NBA game. ter former University of North Carolina basketball With each passing year, it seems like more and star Harrison Barnes became the seventh pick in the more professional athletes are doing the same thing 2012 NBA Draft, he stated that he had already given Barnes and Davis are doing – seeking trademark tremendous thought to what his “brand” would be and protection for those words, phrases or designs with even had an artist friend design his logo. As it turns which they have become associated. Indeed, numer- out, Barnes had even gone so far as to file a trademark ous professional athletes from a variety of sports have application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office already obtained or are seeking trademark registra- (“USPTO”) for the word mark THE BLACK FAL- tions from the USPTO, including NBA phenomenon CON – his nickname at UNC – on August 19, 2011, Jeremy Lin, (LINSANITY), former Denver Bronco months before his college career was over and almost and current New York Jet quarterback Tim Tebow a full year before he was selected to play in the NBA. (TEBOWING), current New York Jet cornerback Of course Barnes is not alone. Right around the Darelle Revis (REVIS ISLAND), and former NBA time Barnes was discussing his brand aspirations, an- great Shaquille O’Neal (SHAQTACULAR), among other former college basketball standout and the top others. To the extent a prospective or established pro- pick of the 2012 NBA Draft, Anthony Davis, was mak- fessional athlete wishes to join these ranks, there are ing headlines for a number of trademark applications four things he or she should keep in mind when con- he had filed for words based on his connected eye- sidering whether, when and how to obtain a federal brows, or “unibrow.” At the time, Davis told CNBC trademark registration. sports business reporter Darren Rovell that he filed the 1. Be Proactive. In today’s fast-paced world, applications – which included marks like RAISE THE more and more athletes are filing applications BROW, FEAR THE BROW and BROW DOWN – be- with the USPTO only to find out that some cause he did not want anyone “to try to grow a unibrow opportunistic fan or business associate has because of [Davis] and then try to make money off of already beaten them to the punch. There it.” Now, because of his foresight, Davis is in a posi- are numerous examples in which this has Ryan S. Hilbert is an attorney at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, Sports Litigation Alert (SLA) is a narrowly focused LLP. He is a member of the Firm’s newsletter that monitors case law and legal develop- Intellectual Property and Litigation ments in the sports law industry. Every two weeks, Practice Groups and its Sports SLA provides summaries of court opinions, analysis Industry Team, and frequently writes of legal issues, and relevant articles. The newsletter about matters involving trademarks in is published 24 times a year. To subscribe, please visit sports. He an be reached at rhilbert@ our website at http://www.sportslitigationalert.com sheppardmullin.com. occurred, including Baltimore Ravens regardless of when the mark was ultimately linebacker Terrell Suggs, who filed a number used in commerce. of applications for BALL SO HARD A perfect example of this is Harrison Barnes. UNIVERSITY only to find out that someone As explained above, Barnes filed an ITU had filed before him; Jeremy Lin, who filed application for the word mark THE BLACK an application for LINSANITY only to FALCON on August 19, 2011, almost a full find himself third in line; and Tim Tebow, year before he embarked on his professional who, after finally getting around to filing career. Now that Barnes’ college career is over applications for TEBOWING, was surprised and the NCAA bylaws no longer preclude to discover there were already two pending Barnes from using his name and likeness applications in front of him. for commercial purposes, he can commence Even well-known San Francisco Giants relief use of his mark in commerce and obtain a pitcher Brian Wilson is familiar with this. registration. Once he does so, Barnes will By the time Wilson filed an application for obtain a fully enforceable federal trademark FEAR THE BEARD – which is a reference registration with rights dating back to August to the lengthy, dark-black beard Wilson 19, 2011 – i.e., the date the application was famously grew during the Giants’ improbable filed. The fact that Barnes was an amateur at run to winning the 2010 World Series – he the time he filed, or that he could not and did discovered that Duck Commander Inc., the not commence use of the mark until months company that is the subject of the A&E reality later, is immaterial. series Duck Dynasty, had already filed for that mark seven days earlier. 3. Think Creatively. Even though it is possible for one to obtain trademark rights in his or Even though, as discussed below, there are her name standing alone, the better option is ways in which these athletes may be able to to seek protection for those novel words or get around these prior applications, the better phrases an athlete has coined or with which approach is to try and preempt such filings an athlete is associated. In the examples given before they occur. The best way to do this is to above, for instance, Anthony Davis is seeking be proactive and file as early as possible. trademark protection for a number of phrases 2. Think Broadly. When filing a trademark related to his unibrow; Brian Wilson is seeking application, it is generally a good idea to protection for a phrase related to his beard; seek protection for not only those goods and and Harrison Barnes is seeking protection services with which one is currently using the for THE BLACK FALCON, his nickname mark, but also for those goods and services in college. Other unique marks include THE with which one intends to use the mark in BIG UNIT, which was the nickname of former the future. Section 1(b) of the Lanham Act MLB pitcher Randy Johnson; THAT’S A expressly allows for this possibility so long as CLOWN QUESTION, BRO, a phrase made one has a “bona fide” intent to use a mark in popular just this year by Washington Nationals connection with certain goods and services. rookie Bryce Harper; and I LOVE ME SOME ME, which is owned by former NFL player The benefit to filing an “intent-to-use” Terrell Owens. (ITU) application under Section 1(b) is that it effectively holds one’s place in line. It is also a good idea for a professional athlete Eventually one will have to use the mark to consider a design element with which in commerce in order to obtain a federal he or she may or can be associated. As an trademark registration. However, once an example, in addition to seeking protection ITU application proceeds to registration, one for the word mark THE BLACK FALCON, receives constructive nationwide rights dating Harrison Barnes has stated that he already back to the date the application was filed, has an accompanying logo consisting of Reprinted from Sports Litigation Alert, Volume 9, Issue 15, August 24, 2012. Copyright © 2012 Hackney Publications. Barnes’ initials “standing side-by-side, with suggested a connection to Tebow. wings spreading off the ‘B’ in homage to Filing a challenge under Section 2(a) is Barnes’ nickname.” Generally speaking, such but one of the options a sophisticated design marks, like the novel words or phrases trademark attorney has at his or her disposal. discussed above, are easier to obtain and can Depending on the timing and nature of a offer a greater scope of protection to the rights prior registration, another option is to enter holder. into some form of agreement under which a 4. Be Persistent. No matter how proactive or professional athlete agrees to coexist in the creative a professional athlete may be, there is USPTO and/or the marketplace. Regardless, always the risk that someone will beat them to so long as a professional athlete is willing to the USPTO. Thankfully, all is not lost even in be persistent, there is a good chance he or she such situations. will eventually be rewarded with a valuable It is well known that a mark that falsely and enforceable registration. suggests a connection with a person, living Owning a federal trademark registration or dead, is not entitled to registration under can be extremely valuable to a professional Section 2(a) of the Lanham Act. Over athlete. Not only can an athlete enforce a the years, celebrities and athletes have registration in order to regulate how those been able to use this provision in order to words or slogans with which he or she is successfully challenge others’ attempts associated are used, one can also generate to register words or phrases with which tremendous revenue by licensing the rights those celebrities or athletes have become conferred by the registration to others.