What Is “Trademark Squatting” and What Does It Have To Do With ‘The Office’?
Source: United States Patent & Trademark Office Case Viewer, Case ID: 87076381. Accessed 8/12/2022.
As NBC’s “The Office” continues to be a popular streaming choice even 17 years after its debut, it should be no surprise that NBCUniversal is still looking for ways to profit off of the public’s love of the show through merchandise and other opportunities. However, NBCUniversal ran into a roadblock recently upon discovering that another business had already registered a trademark for “Dunder Mifflin” – the name of the fictional paper company featured in the show.
Now, NBCUniversal has filed suit against this other company, known as Jay Kennette Media Group, for trademark infringement. They are also appealing their previous rejection for the “Dunder Mifflin” trademark. NBCUniversal alleges that the opposing business is operating in bad faith as a “trademark squatter.”
Source: United States Patent & Trademark Office Case Viewer, Case ID: 87076381. Accessed 8/12/2022.
Trademark squatting occurs when an individual or a business registers a trademark that should belong to another party. These squatters usually intend to make a profit by either making their own merchandise using the trademark in question, or by selling it back to its “rightful” owners.
NBCUniversal claims that these practices are the bread and butter of Jay Kennette Media Company. Writers from the AV Club say that the business also owns trademarks related to a variety of other big-name properties and even blockbuster films, ranging from the “Alien” franchise to the popular football series “Friday Night Lights.”
Not all cases of trademark squatting are entirely malicious, and some can even be worked out amicably. For example, when the Washington Redskins (now the Washington Commanders) were looking to change their name, they found that an individual already owned the rights to several alternative names that the team was considering. However, in that instance, the alleged squatter quickly apologized for any inconveniences that his registrations may have caused, and offered to work things out at no cost to the football team.
Source: United States Patent & Trademark Office Case Viewer, Case ID: 87076381. Accessed 8/12/2022.
If you are interested in learning more about the lawsuit, checkout this video on Youtube:
(Please note that the views and opinions in this video are that of the publisher, we are not in anyway affiliated with this YouTube channel or publisher. This information is provided for educational purposes and not any legal advice.)
The lawsuit between NBCUniversal and Jay Kennette Media Company has only just begun, so it is still unclear whether this is a situation that can be resolved easily, or one that could drag out for months, if not years to come.
This story goes to show how important it is to make sure that your desired trademark is actually available before attempting to register it with the USPTO. By hiring FL Patel Law PLLC’s Tampa Bay Trademark Attorneys to handle your trademark clearance search, trademark registration, or other related matters with the USPTO, you can be made aware of potential roadblocks before investing in your application. Contact us for more today.