Recent interesting trademark oppositions: KINGOFPOP, POLAR VORTEX, SELFIE+, PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE, and more

Last week, several notable and interesting trademark opposition cases were filed at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the USPTO:

• A company opposed the POLAR VORTEX trademark application for use with clothing
• ROLLING STONE magazine opposed registration of PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE for shirts and caps
• University of Oregon opposed registration of RUN OREGON for apparel (so does the University claim to control use of the geographic state term “Oregon” on all clothing?)
• The estate of Michael Jackson opposed registration of the KINGOFPOP and KINGOFPOP.COM Logos below for use with popcorn

• Selfie Inc. opposed registration of SELFIE + for Downloadable camera app for photo distribution
• The Edison Institute DBA The Henry Ford (which includes the Henry Ford museum and attracts nearly 2 million visitors) opposed THE WRIGHT BROTHERS bumper stickers and other items from The Wright Family Foundation

As with Oppositions in general, many of these cases will be likely settled. Some of the application will likely be abandoned. Neither action is necessarily an indication of whether the claims had legal merit.