Mr. Steal Your Grandma Guy Files Trademark Application for #MrStealYourGrandma

You may have seen the "Mr. Steal Your Grandma" guy on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or some other form of social media lately. The 54-year-old Irvin Randle, aka "Mr. Steal Your Grandma," went viral after photographs of his trendy style were found online.

Mr. Ran-err, Steal Your Grandma has capitalized on his newfound fame by setting up an official website, setting up an email address for booking inquires, and now filing a federal trademark application to protect the hashtag #MrStealYourGrandma.

A photo posted by too grown. (@irvinrandle) on Jun 24, 2016 at 6:07pm PDT

On July 8th, Irvin Charles Randle filed a federal trademark application for "#MrStealYourGrandma" in Class 041 for "[e]ntertainment services in the nature of hosting social entertainment events." The first use date listed for this trademark is July 1, 2016.

Interestingly, the trademark application lists a Los Angeles, CA address although various news reports indicate he is a Houston, TX resident. However, the website and email address in the application do match up with those listed on Mr. Randle's Instagram page.

Regardless, Mr. Steal Your Grandma will need to submit an alternate specimen if his trademark is to register. A specimen is supposed to show the trademark being used in conjunction with the goods or services listed in the trademark application (i.e. how the public encounters the mark in commerce). TMEP 904. The specimen submitted with this application is only the text "#MrStealYourGrandma" and is not sufficient.

To successfully register this trademark, and claim exclusive rights to the term as it relates to "entertainment services in the nature of hosting social entertainment events," Mr. Randle will need to submit an alternate specimen that was being used at least as early as the application's filing date and shows the mark being used in conjunction with the entertainment services listed. TMEP 1301.04(f).