NBA Revives Chicago Stags Brand With Recent Trademark Application

Staying with the NBA for a second day in a row, although this recent filing isn't for a new DUNKTASTIC term.  Rather, this filing is related to a vintage NBA team.  On December 16th, NBA Properties, Inc. filed a federal trademark application for CHICAGO STAGS.

According to my quick research, the Chicago Stags were an NBA team based in Chicago for a short period between June 1946 and September 1950.  With this recent trademark application, the NBA appears to be reviving this old brand. 

But don't get excited about the Bulls changing their name, or another NBA team popping up in Chicago.  The recent CHICAGO STAGS trademark application covers only a variety of clothing items in Class 25, including basketball shoes, t-shirts, jerseys, bathing suits, and hats (but nothing related to entertainment services in the form of live basketball games).

NBA Properties has filed similar CHICAGO STAGS trademark applications for clothing in the past, namely in the 1990's, including an application for the logo seen above filed in 1993.  None of those previous applications, which were all filed on an intent to use basis (like the one here), ever registered.

Steph Curry Files Multiple Trademark Applications Days Before Game 7 of NBA Finals

Steph Curry and his Golden State Warriors didn't outlast Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, but his attorneys were taking steps during the Finals to make sure his brand will last. On June 16th, Wardell Stephen "Steph" Curry filed four federal trademark applications for the variations of his name seen below.

The applications were each filed on an intent-to-use basis in Classes 009, 016, 025, 028, and 041 for a variety of goods and services. Some of the goods and services covered include: downloadable software applications for smart phones and mobile devices (009), books and magazines (016), sweatpants and sweatshirts (025), basketballs (028), and basketball and golf coaching (041).

Interestingly, these appear to be the only trademark applications filed for Steph Curry's name or listing Steph Curry as the owner of the mark. This may be part of the reason why the goods and services listed in each application are so broad.

One thing noticeably missing from these applications - Steph Curry's written consent authorizing the registration of these trademarks (probably because he was busy trying to win the NBA Finals when these applications were filed).

Under Section 2(c) of the Trademark Act, a trademark containing a living individual's name, signature, or portrait cannot be registered without the consent of that person. See TMEP 1206.01. However, the failure to include this consent with the initial application is not fatal to the registration. As long as Steph's attorneys obtain his consent when requested by the Trademark Office (which will occur in approximately three months after an examining attorney reviews these applications and issues office actions for failing to include this consent), the trademarks can still register.

Big Ten Conference Files Trademark for MARCH IS ON!

The Big Ten Conference appears to be preparing for March Madness with a recent trademark filing in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

On February 29th, The Big Ten Conference, Inc. filed a federal trademark application for MARCH IS ON! The conference filed the trademark in two classes:

• Class 038 for "[t]elevision transmission services for programming and content relating to sports; streaming of audio and video material on the Internet for programming and content relating to sports"; and
• Class 041 for "[e]ntertainment services, namely, sponsoring and coordinating the presentation of athletic events and contests; Entertainment services, namely, production and distribution of television programs relating to sports and sports entertainment; providing on-line information in the field of sports, television, video and audio entertainment via global communications network"

The application was filed on an intent-to-use basis, meaning the conference is not yet using this mark in commerce (probably because March Madness has not started) but has a bona fide intention to do so in the near future.

As far as the owner of the actual March Madness trademark, that would be the NCAA. The organization owns 12 live registrations for the term with the USPTO. Those applications protect the use of the phrase "March Madness" on a variety of goods and services, including cups and mugs, carbonated soft drinks and apparel, and [of course] basketball tournaments between college teams.

Chicago Bulls Name Change or Nicknames? Multiple Trademark Applications Filed By Team

On December 14th, the Chicago Bulls (well, technically Northwest Sports, LLC d/b/a Chicago Bulls) filed six federal trademark applications for HEARTLAND BULLS, WINDY CITY BULLS, and GREAT LAKES BULLS. The address listed for Northwest Sports, LLC matches the address listed for the Chicago Bulls' executive offices, suggesting that this is the legal entity that owns the team (or at least holds its trademarks).

The Bulls filed two applications for each nickname. One set of applications relates to "[e]ntertainment and educational services in the nature of ongoing television and radio programs in the field of basketball and rendering live basketball games and basketball exhibitions.." and various related services while the other set relates to a wide range of clothing items.

The Bulls filed all of these applications on an intent-to-use basis, which means the team is not using the names in commerce (i.e. selling the related goods or offering the related services under the marks) yet but has a plan to do so in the near future. Unless the Chicago Bulls plan on changing their team name, these trademark applications probably relate to potential nicknames the team plans to use in referring to itself and on related team merchandise. By filing the applications, the team is trying to secure the exclusive, nationwide right to use the terms on the goods and services listed in the trademark applications.