Bill Belichick, the legendary football coach, and his girlfriend Jordon Hudson just hit a snag with their latest trademark efforts. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) denied their applications, saying the phrases were too close to trademarks already owned by the New England Patriots—Belichick’s old team.
Still, Belichick and Hudson have managed to secure other trademarks. They’re not giving up and are looking at more options.
Trademark Attempts and Denials
The couple tried to trademark four phrases: 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 of these are pretty much tied to Belichick’s coaching style and were meant for media, merch, you name it.
Reasons for Denial
The USPTO shot down these trademarks because they looked a lot like ones the Patriots already registered. The Patriots had The Belestrator since 2009, Do Your Job since 2013, and both No Days Off and Ignore the Noise since 2017.
Adding Bill’s Version at the end wasn’t enough to set them apart. The office basically said, “Nice try, but not different enough.”
Legal Perspectives
Trademark attorney Josh Gerben wasn’t surprised by the USPTO’s move. He pointed out that just tacking on a personal touch doesn’t magically make a trademark unique.
It’s a bit like trying to trademark Nike shoes (Josh’s version)—the core phrase is still protected. You can’t just add your name and expect it to fly.
Potential Challenges
There’s still a chance for Belichick and Hudson to challenge the Patriots’ trademarks. They might claim the team isn’t using them anymore, or maybe that Belichick had some rights to those phrases in his contract.
But, honestly, that route could get messy and drag on for a while.
Successful Trademarks
On the bright side, they’ve locked down a few other trademarks. These include:
- Chapel Bill (Bill’s Version)
- The Belichick Way
- The All-Belichick Team
With these in hand, they’re free to roll out products and media under their own labels. That could mean anything from shirts to podcasts—who knows?
Future Trademark Plans
They’re not stopping there. Belichick and Hudson have also filed to trademark Gold Digger.
They’re eyeing this one for a jewelry and keychain line, which is a bit of a curveball from football but hey, why not branch out?
Broader Impact on Trademark Law
This whole situation shows just how tricky it is to trademark phrases tied to big brands. You really need something distinct if you want it to stick.
For someone like Belichick, whose name is practically glued to certain sayings, it’s a tough game.
For more details on this trademark saga, you can read the full article on Bleacher Report.
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