Usain Bolt Moves to File Trademark Application for His Signature Victory Pose

More often than not, sportspersons have their signature victory poses, which they break out after a memorable point of their career, like Gareth Bale’s heart sign that he makes with his fingers and Lionel Messi pointing both fingers towards the heavens. Perhaps in the world, one of the most recognizable poses for the victory celebration belongs to Usain Bolt. The athletics icon has recently filed a Trademark Application for a logo showing his signature victory celebration pose. The retired Jamaican sprinter submitted the trademark application in question with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) last week.

Mr. Bolt is known worldwide for his signature victory move in which he leans back and gestures to the sky. He routinely struck the pose after setting world records and winning gold medals. He still holds world records for 100m and 200m, which makes him the fastest man in history.

The logo filed by Usain Bolt for obtaining Trademark Protection depicts the silhouette of a man in a unique pose with one arm bent and pointing to the head and the other arm raised and pointing upwards. According to the Trademark Filing, Mr. Bolt intends to use the logo on sports bars and restaurants and items including shoes, jewelry, and clothes.

As per a Washington DC-based Trademark Attorney, Mr. Josh Gerben, it makes utmost sense for Mr. Bolt to expand his business empire since he has now retired from the racing world. He further mentioned that the silhouette of Mr. Bolt’s victory pose is widely recognized across the globe. He feels that the Trademark Registration in question would enable the athletics icon to offer the items listed in the trademark application himself or license the exclusive right to use the trademark to third parties.

It was at the 2017 World Championships in London when the eight-time Olympic gold medalist retired from athletics. He could only manage to win a bronze medal in his penultimate race, the men’s 100m, before pulling up injured just as he began to hit the top speed at his final event, the 4*100m relay.

When Mr. Bolt was asked if he would consider returning to racing, he said that too many people retire and come back to the game only to make it worse or to shame themselves, and he wouldn’t ever be one of those people. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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eBay Steps Into the Metaverse and NFTs with Trademark Application Filings

The American multinational e-commerce company, eBay, is the latest mainstream brand to step into the metaverse by filing various Trademark Applications for different products.

The e-commerce giant has applied trademarks for:

  • Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), NFT Exchanges, and NFT Trading
  • Virtual Goods Marketplaces
  • Online Retail Stores with Physical & Virtual Goods

The trademark applications for the same were submitted to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on 23rd June 2022. The news of these trademark applications was revealed by licensed Trademark Attorney Michael Kondoudis on 28th June 2022 in a tweet.

An overview of the trademark applications filed shows that eBay is looking forward to offering products like an interactive website in the metaverse, enabling users to engage with digital assets on the blockchain. Besides, the e-commerce company has plans to provide exchange services concerning NFTs.

As the concept of the metaverse is growing at a high pace, e-commerce platforms are lining up to be among the significant beneficiaries providing features like personalized experience for customers and secure customer engagement while enhancing customer experience.

Noticeably, the e-commerce giant’s venture into the metaverse might ramp up its overall business and attract new potential customers as it battles the ongoing economic meltdown.

As per multiple reports, eBay’s stock had been downgraded on June 28th after losing over 30 percent of its value year to date despite being a pioneer marketplace.

eBay’s competitor Amazon has also suggested its interest in the metaverse by disclosing plans to improve customer experience through an augmented virtual room called Amazon View. The product shows customers the basic layout of their homes in 3D.

Nowadays, most brands and businesses belonging to different industries are entering the metaverse, primarily driven by the need to increase customer interaction. Much recently, the world’s leading chocolate manufacturer, Mars Inc., filed for an NFT trademark application for its widely recognized brand M&M.

Other companies investing in the metaverse include fast-food chains such as KFC and McDonald’s. The DeLorean Motor Company, notably the DMC DeLorean, filed two NFT trademark applications this year in May.

All in all, such trademark applications have accelerated, with reports suggesting that NFT-related trademarks in the US surpassed 4,000 between 1st January 2022 and 31st May 2022. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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English Premier League Files 02 Trademark Applications for Crypto

One of the world’s most-watched sporting events, the English Premier League (EPL) or just the Premier League, has recently filed 02 new Trademark Applications for crypto. The applications have been filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), marking the widely recognized football league’s foray into the Metaverse.

Through a tweet on 6th June 2022, Michael Kondoudis, a licensed Trademark Attorney, officially announced the said trademark applications and gave a few details about them. Further info and details were later given in an official press release.

In the press release, Kondoudis said that the Premier League is watched by more than a billion people on a regular basis, which is why the value attached to the brand is substantial. He further mentioned that the Trademark Filings in question portray a logical step to safeguard the brand in the present economy, including crypto and virtual elements, and the future virtual economy in the Metaverse.

The first trademark application is for the unique logo and name featuring a lion donning a crown. The second one is for EPL’s ‘loving cup trophy’ sporting a crown and golden lions on every handle.

The trademark applications submitted with the USPTO also include licenses for digital collectibles and tokens, digital asset trading, digital art, virtual apparel, exchange services, and a marketplace for hosting such digital assets online.

The trademark applications are pretty detailed and explicitly specify the scope of every license. They consist of everything ranging from the creation of all the listed assets to their marketing and sale. Additionally, EPL has sought permission in place to use the said trademarks on virtual, augmented, and mixed reality software.

Lately, multiple brands have ventured into the Metaverse to offer various benefits to consumers, such as unique experiences, travel opportunities, activities, exclusive access to clubs, etc. Without any doubt, sports enthusiasts have always loved owning collectibles, and with their digitization, the reach is expected to go beyond and broaden further.

In the past 02 years, NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) have also picked up steam. According to a news release in March, sports NFTs have poised to rake in over $2 billion from only transactions this year. NFTs are gradually recovering, even though the market has not been doing very well recently due to the endless crypto winter. As per the data recorded by experts, NFT sales in Q1 2022 touched $12.13 billion, which puts it back on track to surpass the $20 billion mark recorded in 2021.

NFTs are becoming exceedingly popular among sports enthusiasts as well-known football clubs have been embracing cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. In the press release, Kondoudis said that the number of trademark applications filed from the professional sports category for virtual services and products is expected to increase in the coming 12 months as brands and businesses are coming forward to appreciate the need for Trademark Protection in the Metaverse. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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Apple Wins Patent for In-Display Touch ID Built Using Optical Fibers

The American multinational technology company specializing in online services, consumer electronics, and software, Apple Inc., has recently won a patent for an in-display touch ID system for its next-generation iPhones. To be specific, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted the Cupertino headquartered tech giant a patent linked with the use of optical fibers behind the display that could capture biometric data quickly and more efficiently. The same implies that Apple could finally get in-display fingerprint sensors on its devices.

As per various reports published around the same trending topic, the technology has the ability to capture two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) images of a user or object near the device. The 2D or 3D images could include biometric data in some applications.

According to the Patent Application filed by the tech giant, the technology in question utilizes optical fibers for emitting or receiving electromagnetic radiations through the device’s display.

The next-generation iPhones may also include multiple input devices, such as a virtual button or many other sensors integrated with a display stack positioned under the display.

Kindly note that the technologies specified in the patent applications filed by Apple don’t, at all times, make it to the final build. Therefore, it will be wise enough to admit that there are bleak chances for the Touch ID system to make a comeback.

If we look at the hints given by renowned analysts like Ming-Chi Kuo, we can say that the probability of Apple coming up with an under-display Touch ID feature is almost next to impossible, at least in the coming two years. In September 2021, Kuo had predicted that around late 2023, an iPhone with Touch ID functionality could be expected; however, his recent tweets mention otherwise.

After analyzing the latest surveys, Kuo said in his recent tweet that the new iPhones in 2023 and 2024 may not include the under-display Touch ID functionality. He also mentioned that the Face ID technology with a mask on in an iPhone is already a brilliant biometric solution. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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Mastercard Files 15 Trademark Applications Related to Metaverse and NFTs

The American multinational financial services corporation based out of New York, Mastercard Inc., is now discovering new ways of processing payments in the Metaverse. The leading global payments and technology company has recently filed 15 Trademark Applications related to the Metaverse and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

The company, as per various reports, has plans to open a marketplace for NFT trading, using which the users would be able to sell or purchase digital assets.

The trademark applications filed by Mastercard with the USPTO describe the proposed trademarks as providing educational and entertainment info in the spheres of concerts, cultural events, award shows, festivals, and sporting events in the Metaverse and other digital worlds. Additionally, the trademark applications filed highlight the use of NFTs and cryptocurrency in the Metaverse.

According to the trademark applications filed, Mastercard’s logo for the Metaverse shows two circles, one in red color and the other in yellow, overlapping one another to create an orange shade at the center. The payments’ giant slogan on the logo says, “There are some things money can’t buy; for everything else, there’s Mastercard.”

Mastercard has not yet officially disclosed its plans of stepping into the Metaverse world. This year in February, the corporation hired 500 new employees for consulting with banks and merchants about taking on NFTs and crypto-enabled technologies.

Last year in December, Mastercard officially came up with the cryptocurrency-linked payment cards in the Asia-Pacific region, enabling users to convert their digital assets into fiat currency. The cards look forward to removing any obstacle between merchants who are not willing to accept cryptocurrency as payment and customers who are not willing to pay in digital assets.

The Executive Vice President for Digital and Emerging Partnerships and New Payment Flows at Mastercard for the Asia Pacific region, Rama Sridhar, said in a public statement delivered that cryptocurrencies are many things to people, including a unique financial tool, a disruptive technology, or an investment. She further mentioned that as attention and interest levels surge from all quarters, their applications in the real world are now emerging beyond the speculative.

It is interesting to note in this scenario that other widely recognized companies like American Express (Amex) and Visa have also filed multiple trademark applications related to payment cards and services in the Metaverse and NFT marketplaces. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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Fast Food Giant McDonald’s Files Trademark Applications in Metaverse

According to a recent report, the world’s largest fast-food restaurant chain, McDonald’s, has filed Trademark Applications for virtual restaurants in the metaverse. The American multinational fast food corporation has filed ten trademark applications with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the McDonald’s brand and McCafe earlier this month. The report mentions that McDonald’s, which owns more than 39,000 outlets in about 100 countries globally, has claimed that it will be able to deliver food in person and online using these trademarks.

The report states that the trademarks filed are for virtual food and beverage products. It also describes them as operating a virtual restaurant online with a home delivery feature.

As per the report, other brand offshoots like entertainment and events, which use the McDonald’s and McCafe names, have been trademarked and include online actual and virtual concerts.

Trademark lawyer Josh Gerben tweeted with the descriptions of the trademarks in question that if a person is hanging out in the metaverse and feels hungry, he doesn’t have to put down his headset; all he has to do is walk into a McDonald’s outlet and place his order, which shall arrive at his door a little while later.

According to the experts, it will now take somewhere around eight months before the USPTO approves the said trademark applications.

Gerben believes that every other widely recognized brand or business would be seen making similar trademark filings within the next twelve months. He further stated that any brand or business that wants to be the next blockbuster could never afford to ignore any new technology in the market.

The American multinational technology conglomerate Facebook, now recognized and doing business as Meta, has already opened up its metaverse world called Horizon Worlds. Even Microsoft has some plans to open up a metaverse version of its Teams app pretty soon.

The report has mentioned that smaller companies can also put their foot forward in this direction by buying their own space in ready-made metaverse platforms like Mirandus, Decentraland, and Sandbox. Many companies and firms are doing so to stake their claim that too without figuring out how to use this new technology for extracting the maximum benefits. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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Snoop Dogg Files Trademark Application for a Hot Dog Brand ‘Snoop Doggs’

The American songwriter, rapper, actor, entrepreneur, and social media personality Snoop Dogg has recently filed a Trademark Application for a hot dog brand known as ‘Snoop Doggs.’  Snoop Dogg’s lawyers have filed an intent-to-use trademark application with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the term ‘Snoop Doggs.’ The application states that the rapper is looking forward to using the term in question for selling hot dogs and some other types of sausages.

In 2011, Snoop Dogg had filed a similar trademark application for an ice cream venture known as ‘Snoop Scoops,’ but no products were ever released or sold under that company.

However, in 2020, the rapper launched his brand of gin known as ‘INDOGGO.’ He collaborated with the founder of Trusted Spirits (a company specializing in developing and marketing beverage alcohol brands), Keenan Towns. They came up with a ‘laid-back California style’ drink inspired by the rapper’s 1994 song known as ‘Gin and Juice.’

In 2018, Snoop Dogg broke the Guinness World Record for coming up with the largest gin and juice beverage across the globe. The drink measured more than 132 gallons and was prepared using 180 gin bottles, 154 apricot brandy bottles, and 38 orange juice jugs.

Last year in November, the rapper released ‘The Algorithm’ that marked his 19th studio album. The album also served as Snoop Dogg’s first project for Def Jam Recordings (an American multinational record label) after becoming the label’s executive creative consultant back in the same year in June.

NME’s (New Musical Express – a British film, music, and culture brand and website) Kyann-Sian Williams said in a three-star review of Snoop Dogg’s ‘The Algorithm’ album that it brings together hip-hop lovers of all ages. He further added that the album would probably appeal more to the older hip hop cynics. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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Buick Files Trademark Application for ‘Electra’ in Canada & The US

Buick, a division of the American automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM), has recently filed a Trademark Application for ‘Electra’ with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), dated 20th December 2021. Electra is a name familiar under the Buick brand label. The application for the same is filed under the “Motor Land Vehicles, Namely, Automobiles.”

It was at Auto Shanghai (officially called the Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition) last year when the automaker disclosed the concept of the Electra electric crossover. It was intended to display Buick’s brand new, minimalistic language and design, along with its electrified underpinnings. With the filing of this trademark application, there are a lot of many speculations and expectations for the American carmaker bringing over the concept into the United States, perhaps possibly in production form.

It is imperative to note in this case that Buick already filed a trademark application for ‘Electra’ back in 2012. The company held the trademark application till 2014 till the USPTO invalidated the same as neither the ‘Statement of Use’ nor the request for the ‘Extension’ was filed timely after the Notice of Allowance was issued. So, with this new trademark application, it seems as if Buick is moving ahead with the name of its upcoming electric vehicle.

The Buick Electra concept revealed in China blends the looks of a sleek GT car with a four-seat crossover. The concept’s prime highlights and features include 23-inch wheels, illuminated Buick badge, thin-slit headlights, and butterfly doors; however, as per the rumors, not all these elements would reach the production stage, if at all.

The Buick Electra AWD (All-Wheel Drive) came with 02 electric motors putting out 583 horsepower (428.796 kilowatts). It is powered and supported by Ultium batteries that enable up to 372 miles, i.e., 598.676 kilometers of range.

Electra will be sharing its platform with the Cadillac Lyriq (battery-electric crossover). It uses only a single electric motor on the rear axle to produce a power of 254 kW (340 hp) and a torque of 325 lb-ft (440 Nm). With a single charge of its 100 kWh battery, it can reach over 300 miles (482.803 km). The Lyriq Performance AWD is anticipated to offer better numbers, which could be pretty close to what the Electra has promised in its concept form. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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USPTO Proposes Electronic Patent Issuance to Speed Up the Process

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has recently in its Federal Register published a public rulemaking notice proposing that it wants to stop the mailing of issued patents to the inventors.

As part of this proposed change, the USPTO would issue all patents electronically using its patent document viewing systems, i.e., Patent Center and Patent Application Image Retrieval (PAIR). According to the notice, patents would go paperless, i.e., no longer issued on paper. Consequently, patents would no longer be mailed to any address of record submitted during the patent issuance process.

The USPTO said in a recent statement delivered that this proposed change, done via a digital seal, will shave two weeks off the time to patent issuance.

The notice reads that once the patent number and issuance date are assigned, electronic patent publication would lead to electronic patent issuance under the USPTO seal and along with the Director’s signature within only one week, in place of three weeks. It further mentions that by putting an end to the assembling, printing, and mailing of a paper patent upon its issuance, the USPTO would conveniently reduce the pendency of every issued patent application by roughly two weeks. In this way, the patent applicants and the public at large would undoubtedly benefit from the time saved. Additionally, the notice states that the patentees would easily be able to view and print their electronically issued patents, along with their cover sheets, via the USPTO’s patent document viewing systems, instead of waiting for their paper patent to arrive in their mail.

As per the public stats put forward by the USPTO, the office issued 388,900 patents last year, out of which 352,049 were 20-year utility patents.

The public is most welcome to comment on the proposed change by 14th February 2022.

No rule change as of now would be required to implement similar changes to Trademark Registration certificates; however, the USPTO still looks forward to soliciting public feedback concerning its proposal to replace paper trademark registration certificates with digital versions. Presently, the USPTO issues 6,000 to 9,000 printed trademark registration certificates every week; therefore, the change would significantly reduce the paper processing and associated costs.

The notice also states that stakeholders who still may want the paper ‘presentation copies’ of their issued patents and trademark registration certificates can get the same with an embossed gold seal and the Director’s signature in exchange for a nominal fee of $25 per copy. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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GM & Ford Look Forward to Settling Trademark Dispute over Hands-Free Driving

In the present era, semi-autonomous features like crash-avoidance technology and hands-free driving are becoming hotly contested battlegrounds as car manufacturers seek to boost the prices. In the same context, there’s a trademark dispute between two automakers that we are going to discuss here.

Ford Motor Company (a US-based multinational automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford) and General Motors (a US-based automotive multinational corporation founded by William C. Durant) are looking forward to settling a Trademark Dispute (out of court) over the branding of their hands-free driving technology.

The lawyers for both the companies involved have informed a San Francisco federal judge that they are attempting to work well on the settlement terms and would undoubtedly report back to court within two months if in case an accord isn’t reached.

The counterattack legal battle began this year in July when General Motors sued Ford for infringing upon its trademarked driver-assistance technology. According to the company, it took legal action against Ford to safeguard its ‘Super-Cruise’ brand and ‘Cruise,’ (which is the name of its self-driving affiliate called Cruise LLC) after Ford gave a new name to its Co-Pilot360 automated driving system – ‘BlueCruise.’

Ford hit back at GM by asking the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to deprive the company of the two trademarks in question. It argued by saying that the whole automobile industry should be allowed to use the word ‘cruise’ freely for describing the driver-assistance technologies. To make its point stronger, the company also stated that the USPTO doesn’t usually register words or phrases as trademarks that are commonly used.

The first time GM introduced Super Cruise, which enables the drivers to take their hands off the wheel for brief periods, was on the Cadillac CT6 ( a full-size luxury car manufactured by Cadillac) in 2017. Ever since then, General Motors has expanded the technology significantly to enable cars to change lanes on their own. The company also has plans to offer this feature in more models. In 2020, Ford disclosed its plans of offering its BlueCruise hands-free driving technology in its F-150 pickup truck, which is also the top-selling vehicle in the United States. Furthermore, it is also offering the technology in its electric Mustang Mach-E as an over-the-air software update. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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