Things continue to get even uglier between the New England Patriots and their longtime former head coach, Bill Belichick. Earlier this week, Belichick made headlines with his gossipy remark on “not being welcomed” in Foxboro. Then current head coach Mike Vrabel fired back, pointing to the fact that the former HC has been back on numerous occasions.
The latest entry to the saga follows his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, and her attempt to clear some Bill Belichick puns for merchandising.
“The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has refused four trademark applications filed by North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick and his companion, Jordon Hudson, saying the phrases they attempted to trademark would cause a ‘likelihood of confusion’ with previously filed ones,” reports Michael Rothstein for ESPN.
The trademarks denied read as followed: “Do Your Job (Bill’s Version),” “Ignore the Noise (Bill’s Version),” “The Belestrator (Bill’s Version)” and “No Days Off (Bill’s Version).”
All four of these phrases are owned by Robert Kraft and the Patriots‘ organization.
“It was very obvious that the USPTO would refuse these applications from the start,” said trademark attorney Josh Gerben of the firm Gerben IP, as reported by Rothstein. “They’re too similar. Like, I can’t say I’m going to make ‘Nike shoes (Josh’s version).’ Once somebody has a trademark registered on a name or a phrase, you’re not able to just simply add something to it and get it registered.”
Belichick Vs Patriots Continues, Girlfriend’s Trademarks Denied