LionDen
07-11-2007, 06:59 AM
Dealerscope.com has an article online regarding WWE's trademark and copyright issues over the JBL name as they are being opposed by Harman International, an electronics company that uses the JBL initials to brand their items. The Harman “JBL” stands for James Bullough Lansing, who founded the company in 1946.
Article:
Harman International is facing an unlikely opponent in a trademark dispute- World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). According to several wrestling Web sites, the two are battling over four trademarks to the name “JBL,” with the WWE attempting to trademark the name for one of its wrestlers. Harman is objecting, citing its own trademarked electronics brand of that name.
The battle started when the wrestling league attempted to obtain a quartet of trademarks for “JBL,” which is the ring name of a wrestling villain, who initials stand for “John Bradshaw Layfield.” Layfield, also known for his frequent appearances on Fox News and CNBC stock market shows, has been a pro wrestler for more than 10 years and has used the JBL name for much of that time.
The Harman “JBL” stands for James Bullough Lansing, who founded the brand in 1946.
According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Web database, WWE first filed for the four trademarks in 2005. Four separate “extensions of time to file an opposition” were filed for them in mid-June. Harman holds more than 20 trademarks containing parts of the name.
A Harman spokesman said he could not comment on “open legal matters.” The WWE’s press office did not return a call requesting comment.
The WWE is no stranger to trademark battles; in 2002, the company changed its name from the World Wrestling Federation to World Wrestling Entertainment after losing a years-long tussle with the World Wildlife Fund over the “WWF” initials.
According to the Patent and Trademark Office, the WWE filed for 48 trademarks in 2006, the 36th most of any U.S. company.
An old article for the WWE vs World Wildlife Fund can be found here (http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/1038611).
Article:
Harman International is facing an unlikely opponent in a trademark dispute- World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). According to several wrestling Web sites, the two are battling over four trademarks to the name “JBL,” with the WWE attempting to trademark the name for one of its wrestlers. Harman is objecting, citing its own trademarked electronics brand of that name.
The battle started when the wrestling league attempted to obtain a quartet of trademarks for “JBL,” which is the ring name of a wrestling villain, who initials stand for “John Bradshaw Layfield.” Layfield, also known for his frequent appearances on Fox News and CNBC stock market shows, has been a pro wrestler for more than 10 years and has used the JBL name for much of that time.
The Harman “JBL” stands for James Bullough Lansing, who founded the brand in 1946.
According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Web database, WWE first filed for the four trademarks in 2005. Four separate “extensions of time to file an opposition” were filed for them in mid-June. Harman holds more than 20 trademarks containing parts of the name.
A Harman spokesman said he could not comment on “open legal matters.” The WWE’s press office did not return a call requesting comment.
The WWE is no stranger to trademark battles; in 2002, the company changed its name from the World Wrestling Federation to World Wrestling Entertainment after losing a years-long tussle with the World Wildlife Fund over the “WWF” initials.
According to the Patent and Trademark Office, the WWE filed for 48 trademarks in 2006, the 36th most of any U.S. company.
An old article for the WWE vs World Wildlife Fund can be found here (http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/1038611).