Kobe Bryan is determined to defeat the pharmaceutical company he believes is trying to cash in on his star power.
Interested in copyright law? Hit the link below…
Kobe’s nickname is the Black Mamba and is often associated with his brand and likeness which is why he believed a company named Hi-Tech was trying to eat into his pockets when they launched a bid to trademark the name to launch a product named “Black Mamba HYPERRUSH.”
The United States Patent and Trademark Office rejected Kobe’s call to have their trademark voided because they believed the case, and the evidence both parties are ready to present, should go to trial.
Here’s why.
There is evidence in the record that: (1) Opposer (Kobe) admits that there is a species of snake known as BLACK MAMBA; (2) Bryant derived his nickname BLACK MAMBA from the Quentin Tarantino movie Kill Bill and (3) BLACK MAMBA is also the nickname of the boxer Roger Mayweather.
Their board added…
At a minimum, there is a genuine dispute as to whether the term BLACK MAMBA points uniquely and unmistakably to Bryant. We find that, in view of the aforementioned use by others of the term BLACK MAMBA, there is a genuine dispute as to whether the public would reasonably assume a connection between Bryant and Applicant’s goods.
Simply put, they don’t believe Kobe has a right to the name as it has been used by several other people before him.
He disagrees as he suspects the company may be using the name to confuse consumers into purchasing products they believe he is associated with.
The battle is ongoing.