sports
MLB strikes out in 'Play Ball' trademark quest
Key takeaways
- Major League Baseball's attempt to trademark "Play Ball" has struck out.
- The United States Patent and Trademark Office denied MLB's application to trademark "Play Ball" for clothing, the USPTO wrote in a final action filing on Friday.
- The USPTO also wrote phrases "that merely convey an informational message are not registerable."
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Major League Baseball's attempt to trademark "Play Ball" has struck out.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office denied MLB's application to trademark "Play Ball" for clothing, the USPTO wrote in a final action filing on Friday.
"In this case, the applied-for mark is a commonplace term, message, or expression widely used by a variety of sources that merely conveys an ordinary, familiar, well-recognized concept or sentiment," the USPTO wrote in its denial.
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