UK, Commonwealth of Kentucky battling over "Team Kentucky" trademark
Who owns the word “Kentucky,” the Commonwealth of Kentucky or the University of Kentucky? That’s the subject of a new case in front of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Appeal Board, according to documents shared by trademark lawyer Josh Gerben.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky filed a trademark application for the phrase “Team Kentucky,” which Governor Andy Beshear’s office uses as part of its response to the coronavirus pandemic. If you live in the state, you’ve heard the phrase thousands of times over the past year. The University of Kentucky is opposing that application, arguing that when consumers see clothing with “Team Kentucky” on it, they’ll think it refers to the school, not the state. As part of its notice of opposition, UK included its federal trademark registration for the word “Kentucky,” which was granted in 1997.
As Gerben notes, UK’s case will probably fail since the Commonwealth filed for the phrase “Team Kentucky,” not just “Kentucky,” but the fact that it’s gotten this far is pretty ridiculous. You can read the entire case on the USPTO’s website, or just marvel at the pettiness of it all.
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