Ohio State University Gets OK To Trademark The Word ‘The’

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State College has gained its struggle to trademark the phrase “The.”

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Workplace authorized the college’s request Tuesday. The college says it permits Ohio State to manage use of “The” on branded merchandise related to and bought by means of athletics and collegiate channels, reminiscent of T-shirts, baseball caps and hats.

“THE has been a rallying cry within the Ohio State neighborhood for a few years, and Buckeye followers who buy official Ohio State gear help pupil scholarships, libraries and different college initiatives,” mentioned Ben Johnson, the college’s senior director of media and public relations. He famous the college’s licensing and trademark program generates over $12.5 million a 12 months in income, which helps fund pupil scholarships and college packages.

Ohio State began pursuing a trademark in August 2019 after vogue retailer Marc Jacobs had filed an utility for the phrase a couple of months earlier. The corporate and the college reached a deal in August 2021 that enables each events to make use of the branding.

The patent workplace rejected Ohio State’s preliminary utility, discovering the trademark appeared for use for “merely ornamental method” and as an “decorative function” that did not seem to perform as a trademark that may differentiate the gadgets from others.