|
|
Post by "Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik on Dec 23, 2020 15:37:10 GMT -5
Writeup from Heel by Nature:
"Keith Lee is attempting to secure his ring name as WWE is having issues trademarking it. Keith Lee filed trademark for the name “KEITH LEE” on 12/18 with The United States Patent and Trademark Office. The trademark filing included several screenshots showing he has used the name as a professional wrestler, dating back to 2008. The filing was done outside WWE. Keith Lee also provided a signed consent form for his own filing...
WWE currently has an active trademark filing for Keith Lee, which the United States Patent and Trademark Office is set to cancel due to not having a consent form on file. The trademark office sent WWE a letter last December, seeking a consent form signed by Keith Lee.
On 6/5, WWE responded to the request, “Applicant is in the process of obtaining the required consent.
On 6/30 the trademark office sent WWE a letter indicating the trademark will be abandoned on 12/30 if they do not provide the consent form signed.
WWE is dealing with a similar issue with Keith Lee’s partner Mia Yim. She has also filed a trademark to secure her ring name outside. Recently, WWE had a number of trademarks refused due to not having active consent forms on file."
|
|
|
|
Post by Captain Patren Fenderbaum-X on Dec 23, 2020 15:45:52 GMT -5
It kills me how so many wrestlers are so behind on things like this...they should trademark their names , likeness etc long before they get to WWE.
Better late than never I guess.
|
|
|
|
Post by Oh Cry Me a Screwball on Dec 23, 2020 16:05:06 GMT -5
It kills me how so many wrestlers are so behind on things like this...they should trademark their names , likeness etc long before they get to WWE. Better late than never I guess. It's not the cheapest thing in the world to do. Hence why we have things like this, as well as WWE sniping The Collective from GCW. |
|
bob
Salacious Crumb
The "other" Bob. FOC COURSE!
started the Madness Wars, Proudly the #1 Nana Hater on FAN
Posts: 78,179
|
Post by bob on Dec 23, 2020 16:29:46 GMT -5
good on Keith Lee
|
|
|
|
Post by The Dark Order Inferno on Dec 23, 2020 18:08:14 GMT -5
Don't want to end up in a Cody situation where they trademarked his name as not referring to any specific individual then sat on it after his release.
|
|
Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]
FANatic
Writer, Lover of all things Wrestling. Analytical, Critical, Lovable (hopefully). Lets all have fun!
Posts: 234,265
|
Post by Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] on Dec 23, 2020 18:10:51 GMT -5
It kills me how so many wrestlers are so behind on things like this...they should trademark their names , likeness etc long before they get to WWE. Better late than never I guess. It's not the cheapest thing in the world to do. Hence why we have things like this, as well as WWE sniping The Collective from GCW. Well they've filed for The Collective, they haven't gotten it yet. Many believe that "The Collective" as a term is gonna be too ambiguos to trademark |
|
cjh
Hank Scorpio
Posts: 6,558
|
Post by cjh on Dec 23, 2020 18:12:20 GMT -5
WWE really couldn't stop him from using the name if he leaves because he was using it on the indies for years.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bang Bang Bart on Dec 23, 2020 21:42:55 GMT -5
...isn’t Keith Lee his actual name?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2020 3:42:13 GMT -5
WWE really couldn't stop him from using the name if he leaves because he was using it on the indies for years. Yes, they could if they trademarked it. They did it to the Dudley Boyz even though they started in ECW and thought (because Paul Heyman is full of shit) that they owned the trademark to the name. That's why we got Team 3D on the indies, because WWE is f***ing petty. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2020 3:46:14 GMT -5
...isn’t Keith Lee his actual name? Yes, but I believe (and may be wrong) that if WWE owned the rights to "Keith Lee" in relation to pro wrestling they could prevent him from using it as his ring name. |
|
Dub H
Crow T. Robot
Captain Pixel: the Game Master
I ❤ Aniki
Posts: 47,735
|
Post by Dub H on Dec 24, 2020 4:16:24 GMT -5
...isn’t Keith Lee his actual name? Yes, but I believe (and may be wrong) that if WWE owned the rights to "Keith Lee" in relation to pro wrestling they could prevent him from using it as his ring name. Not as a ring name but for merchandising purposes,there is an argument there. I know Ryback changed his legal name to well Ryback and he can present himself as such but he said he had issues selling Ryback Merchandise. |
|
cjh
Hank Scorpio
Posts: 6,558
|
Post by cjh on Dec 24, 2020 7:32:00 GMT -5
WWE really couldn't stop him from using the name if he leaves because he was using it on the indies for years. Yes, they could if they trademarked it. They did it to the Dudley Boyz even though they started in ECW and thought (because Paul Heyman is full of shit) that they owned the trademark to the name. That's why we got Team 3D on the indies, because WWE is f***ing petty. ECW/Heyman trademarked the Dudley name and gave or sold it to WWE. If you use your indy name in WWE, it can be trademarked by the company for merchandise purposes, but you don't lose it after you leave. They have even trademarked real names like John Cena, but they can't stop him from using it. |
|
|
|
Post by EvenBaldobombHasAJob on Dec 24, 2020 9:27:33 GMT -5
Yes, they could if they trademarked it. They did it to the Dudley Boyz even though they started in ECW and thought (because Paul Heyman is full of shit) that they owned the trademark to the name. That's why we got Team 3D on the indies, because WWE is f***ing petty. ECW/Heyman trademarked the Dudley name and gave or sold it to WWE. If you use your indy name in WWE, it can be trademarked by the company for merchandise purposes, but you don't lose it after you leave. They have even trademarked real names like John Cena, but they can't stop him from using it. In the Dudleys' case it's also worth noting that Raven was the one who created the gimmick and it was used by several wrestlers before Mark Lamonica and Devon Hughes even showed up in ECW so as much as it sucks they really should have known better. |
|
y4j1981
Dennis Stamp
Rowsdower
Posts: 4,634 
|
Post by y4j1981 on Dec 26, 2020 12:18:15 GMT -5
|
|
chazraps
Wade Wilson
Better have my money when I come-a collect!
Posts: 27,932
|
Post by chazraps on Dec 26, 2020 15:07:26 GMT -5
Yes, they could if they trademarked it. They did it to the Dudley Boyz even though they started in ECW and thought (because Paul Heyman is full of shit) that they owned the trademark to the name. That's why we got Team 3D on the indies, because WWE is f***ing petty. ECW/Heyman trademarked the Dudley name and gave or sold it to WWE. If you use your indy name in WWE, it can be trademarked by the company for merchandise purposes, but you don't lose it after you leave. They have even trademarked real names like John Cena, but they can't stop him from using it. The exception to this is if the contract specifically states the person forfeiting their trademark as part of signing. That's infamously how Brian Kendrick had to give up "Spanky" for his second go with the company. |
|
ronin705
Dennis Stamp
All Might
Posts: 4,277
|
Post by ronin705 on Dec 26, 2020 15:17:57 GMT -5
Good!! More indie guys, especially those pushing merch, need to get up on this so WWE doesnt bend them over a barrel. More Aj Styles and Samoa Joes less whatever the hell war machines turned into.
|
|
|
|
Post by toodarkmark on Dec 26, 2020 16:30:18 GMT -5
Cody Rhodes first appeared as Cody Rhodes in a wrestling capacity in WWE, that's how they trademarked his name and didn't "let" him use it.
Keith Lee and Mia Yim will be able keep their name because they already used them in a wrestling capacity before they came to WWE. Trademark works when someone does something first, in a particular field, in a certain geography. Registering it is usually an added level of protection. In some cases, a trademark can be abandonded (not used or re registered), and someone can use it in commerce and then register it. Usually, the original owner can get it back if they make a good enough case.
Keith Lee and Mia Yim registering it themselves does show that they have bad faith in WWE using their names. Theoretically, WWE would have to get Keith's permission for merchandise. That will certainly sit poorly with management that sees worker's autonomy as a problem needing to be eliminated.
|
|
schma
Hank Scorpio
Posts: 6,674
|
Post by schma on Dec 28, 2020 0:15:23 GMT -5
If I remember correctly, one of the reasons you don't see people just trademark everything is that in order to maintain the trademark you have to protect it. That means pursuing action against those using your trademark without your permission. For some they don't have the resources for something like that. Then again I'm no copyright lawyer so I could be way off.
|
|
Wieners=$$$
Hank Scorpio
Gif Master Extraordinaire
Smokin' Bones
Posts: 6,013
|
Post by Wieners=$$$ on Dec 28, 2020 0:57:07 GMT -5
Rename him Kief Please, and team him with Riddle. Problem solved, or created?
|
|
![Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] Avatar](http://storage.proboards.com/3411247/avatar/SAmefOpXbCxSOR0DUtvP.jpg)
