Report: Joey Janela Trademarks Nickname To Stop WWE From Using It
"The Bad Boy" will not be used in WWE anytime soon.
Since Starrcade on December 1st, WWE has introduced Rusev as The Bad Boy, with the new nickname being used on commentary and during promos.
Rusev isn't the first wrestler to be associated with the nickname, however. For example, AEW star Joey Janela has been known as The Bad Boy for a number of years.
Now Janela has taken measures to prevent WWE from using the phrase, filing a trademark for "The Bad Boy." Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP filed the trademark on his behalf. The firm has been commonly used by wrestlers, recently filing trademarks for Andrade, Charlotte Flair and Shawn Spears.
The trademarks were filed for both professional wrestling and merchandise purposes. Therefore, only Janela can produce hats, jumpers, pants, shirts and t-shirts with "The Bad Boy" included on the apparel.
After filing the trademark Janela tweeted: "You gotta do what you gotta do, Sorry @RUSEVBUL."
The trademarks are as follows:
"International Class 025: Hats; Hooded sweat shirts; Pants; Shirts; Short-sleeved or long-sleeved t-shirts
"Use in Commerce: The applicant is using the mark in commerce on or in connection with the identified goods/services. The applicant attaches, or will later submit, one specimen as a JPG/PDF image file showing the mark as used in commerce on or in connection with any item in the class of listed goods/services, regardless of whether the mark itself is in the standard character format or is a stylized or design mark. The specimen image file may be in color, and the image must be in color if color is being claimed as a feature of the mark.
"In International Class 025, the mark was first used by the applicant or the applicant’s related company or licensee predecessor in interest at least as early as 11/00/2014, and first used in commerce at least as early as 11/00/2014, and is now in use in such commerce. The applicant is submitting one(or more) specimen(s) showing the mark as used in commerce on or in connection with any item in the class of listed goods/services, consisting of a(n) photos of the goods with the mark thereon.
"International Class 041: Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a professional wrestling and sports entertainment personality; Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainment personality; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer; Providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network
"Use in Commerce: The applicant is using the mark in commerce on or in connection with the identified goods/services. The applicant attaches, or will later submit, one specimen as a JPG/PDF image file showing the mark as used in commerce on or in connection with any item in the class of listed goods/services, regardless of whether the mark itself is in the standard character format or is a stylized or design mark. The specimen image file may be in color, and the image must be in color if color is being claimed as a feature of the mark.
"In International Class 041, the mark was first used by the applicant or the applicant’s related company or licensee predecessor in interest at least as early as 11/00/2014, and first used in commerce at least as early as 11/00/2014, and is now in use in such commerce. The applicant is submitting one(or more) specimen(s) showing the mark as used in commerce on or in connection with any item in the class of listed goods/services, consisting of a(n) advertisement, screen shots of entrance jumbotron, screen shot of display showing the mark in respect of the services."
Rusev isn't the first wrestler to be associated with the nickname, however. For example, AEW star Joey Janela has been known as The Bad Boy for a number of years.
Now Janela has taken measures to prevent WWE from using the phrase, filing a trademark for "The Bad Boy." Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP filed the trademark on his behalf. The firm has been commonly used by wrestlers, recently filing trademarks for Andrade, Charlotte Flair and Shawn Spears.
The trademarks were filed for both professional wrestling and merchandise purposes. Therefore, only Janela can produce hats, jumpers, pants, shirts and t-shirts with "The Bad Boy" included on the apparel.
After filing the trademark Janela tweeted: "You gotta do what you gotta do, Sorry @RUSEVBUL."
The trademarks are as follows:
"International Class 025: Hats; Hooded sweat shirts; Pants; Shirts; Short-sleeved or long-sleeved t-shirts
"Use in Commerce: The applicant is using the mark in commerce on or in connection with the identified goods/services. The applicant attaches, or will later submit, one specimen as a JPG/PDF image file showing the mark as used in commerce on or in connection with any item in the class of listed goods/services, regardless of whether the mark itself is in the standard character format or is a stylized or design mark. The specimen image file may be in color, and the image must be in color if color is being claimed as a feature of the mark.
"In International Class 025, the mark was first used by the applicant or the applicant’s related company or licensee predecessor in interest at least as early as 11/00/2014, and first used in commerce at least as early as 11/00/2014, and is now in use in such commerce. The applicant is submitting one(or more) specimen(s) showing the mark as used in commerce on or in connection with any item in the class of listed goods/services, consisting of a(n) photos of the goods with the mark thereon.
"International Class 041: Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a professional wrestling and sports entertainment personality; Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainment personality; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer; Providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network
"Use in Commerce: The applicant is using the mark in commerce on or in connection with the identified goods/services. The applicant attaches, or will later submit, one specimen as a JPG/PDF image file showing the mark as used in commerce on or in connection with any item in the class of listed goods/services, regardless of whether the mark itself is in the standard character format or is a stylized or design mark. The specimen image file may be in color, and the image must be in color if color is being claimed as a feature of the mark.
"In International Class 041, the mark was first used by the applicant or the applicant’s related company or licensee predecessor in interest at least as early as 11/00/2014, and first used in commerce at least as early as 11/00/2014, and is now in use in such commerce. The applicant is submitting one(or more) specimen(s) showing the mark as used in commerce on or in connection with any item in the class of listed goods/services, consisting of a(n) advertisement, screen shots of entrance jumbotron, screen shot of display showing the mark in respect of the services."
Written by Aidan Gibbons
Editor-in-Chief of Cultaholic.com Twitter: @theaidangibbons
