Welcome to the IPelton® blog
covering trademarks, branding and social media.
Nothing contained on this blog should be taken as legal advice. If you have a questions about trademarks or other legal matters, contact an attorney.
Below is a brief guide to some of the manytrademarks involved in WWE’s Wrestlemania 29 today. WWE has long realized that it creates brands in its wrestlers and entertainers. It owns the names of the wrestlers. And thus it owns many trademark registrations – more than 600! For example, tonight’s headliners – The Rock and John Cena – are both registered names belonging to the WWE for use in connection with entertainment and performance services by a wrestler.
Trademark Guide to Wrestlemania 29: (click marks for USPTO records)
These names are all quite creative and rare among sports team. I particularly love the the Jackrabbits, Zips, Billikens and Hilltoppers. They create unique commercial impressions that are fun and original. Will any of these teams make it to the “Final Four” in your bracket?
Bonus: The design of Hilltoppers mascot – Big Red – is a registered as well.
Here are some of the overall NCAA trademarks related to he bastbalal (click for USPTO information):
Sunday is the Super Bowl®. In addition to the football game, Super Bowl Sunday is all about brands – teams, television networks, advertisers, celebrities, and more.
For this year’s game, here is a lineup of some of valuable and important trademarks that will be on display Sunday (click trademarks or images for U.S. Patent and Trademark Office records):
Some of the New England Patriot themed trademarks:
- education and entertainment services in the nature of organizing and presenting professional football games and exhibitions; providing sports and entertainment information via a global computer network or a commercial on-line service; organization of sports events; fan club services; educational services, namely, physical education programs and seminars in the field of football; entertainment services, namely, musical and dance performances provided during intervals at sports events; production of radio and television programs, football games, exhibitions, competitions and musical, comedy and dance performances performed before live audiences and broadcast via television, cable television, satellite television and radio broadcast; producing and distributing audio visual and multi-media presentations regarding the sport of football via a global communications network
PATS- T-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, and headwear sold to promote an affiliation or association with a professional football team
THE BELESTRATOR - Entertainment services, namely, providing expert commentary on sports events via television or the Internet
- Clothing, namely, hats and shirts
GRONK NATION - Endorsement services, namely, promoting the goods and services of others
- Jewelry, watches, clocks, ornamental pins, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, charms, collectible and commemorative coins made of precious metal and pendants made of precious metal
- Entertainment Services in the Form of Professional Football Games and Exhibitions
One of the most talked about ads this week is a HONDA CR-V ad featuring Matthew Brodderick and the Ferris Bueller’s Day Off theme (see below or click YouTube link if video is not loading)
Which is the best logo and brand among the teams vying for the NFL championship? The playoffs will culminate in the Super Bowl, one of the most well-known, valuable and well-protected trademarks in the US. Did you know that the shape of the ‘Vince Lombardi Trophy’ awarded to the winning team is a registered trademark?
In the NFL, the logos can be sorted into two types: old school classic looking designs, and modern sleeker designs. I generally think the classic timeless designs are the best.
Modern Logos
New York Jets
Baltimore Ravens
New England Patriots
Seattle Seahawks
Philadelphia Eagles
Atlanta Falcons
Classic Logos
Indianapolis Colts
Kansas City Chiefs
Since 1972. Original logo (not the most original name).
Pittsburgh Steelers
Logo used since 1962. Iconic. Simple. Original and unique.
New Orleans Saints
Green Bay Packers
Essentially the same since 1969
Chicago Bears
Essentially the same since 1962
Which playoff team’s logo makes the best brand and the best trademark?
Of the classic logos, the Saints logo is great and represents the city and culture of New Orleans quite well. The Steelers is excellent – the name is unique and also represents the core of the history and culture of Pittsburgh, and the logo is distinctive. The Colts name and logo are also quite unique. The C of Chicago and the G of Green Bay are good and are classics, but they do not have the character or meaning of some of the other good logos.
Of the more modern designs, I find the Patriots and Ravens logos to be hideous, although both team names are unique and provide character. The Eagles is a boring name and I’m not certain what the connection is to Philadelphia; yet the sleek and scary bird in the logo is very well done. The name goes for the Falcons – not unique and no real meaning for the city or team. Of the modern designs, the Seahawks has the nicest design. The Seahawk name, while original, is a bit odd. A Seahawk is another name for an osprey.
Overall, I like the Steelers the best! Here are the trademark registrations owned by the Steelers:
description of the mark: The mark consists of a football jersey with a black body. Each sleeve features one thick yellow stripe bordered on each side by a narrow yellow stripe. The stripes wrap around the sleeve ending at the point where the sleeve meets the body on each side. The numbers, the oval shape, and the triangle shape depicted in dotted lines are not claimed as a part of the mark, but rather are intended to show placement of numbers and patches that appear on the goods. The remaining white lines are merely intended to delineate the seams in the jersey and are not claimed as a feature of the mark
description of the mark: The mark consists of a configuration of a professional football jersey consisting of the color combination of black, yellow and white and a design pattern comprising a series of stripes. The stripe design comprises a central wide yellow stripe, a thinner white stripe outlined by black lines adjoining each side of the wide yellow stripe, all bounded by a yellow stripe also outlined in black lines so as form a single band in appearance. The band appears on each sleeve of the jersey and wraps diagonally around each sleeve to join the body of the jersey, which is white. The broken lines in the drawing depict elements not being claimed as features of the mark but serve to identify the mark as a professional football jersey and to show placement.
description of the mark: THE DRAWING IS A TWO-DIMENSIONAL REPRESENTATION OF THE MARK WHICH CONSISTS OF THE DESIGN ELEMENTS AND COLOR COMBINATIONSAPPEARING ON A THREE-DIMENSIONAL FOOTBALL UNIFORM WORN BY PLAYERS IN APPLICANT’SGAMES AND EXHIBITIONS.
