M S Dhoni to Ronaldo: List of athletes who trademarked their brand

Former Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has filed a trademark application for the phrase 'CAPTAIN COOL', a sobriquet widely associated with his calm on-field demeanour.

Let us take a look at athletes who trademarked their brand.

M S Dhoni

Dhoni has filed a trademark application for the phrase 'CAPTAIN COOL'.

According to the Trade Marks Registry portal, the application's status is 'accepted and advertised'. It was published in the official trademark journal on June 16. The application was filed on June 5, 2023.

The proposed trademark is registered under the category for sports training, providing sports training facilities, sports coaching and services.

John McEnroe

Former tennis player John McEnroe has trademarked the term "You cannot be serious" with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

It was during a Wimbledon match in 1981, when McEnroe had said this, disputing an umpire's call.

As the phrase is trademarked, it gets protected with its use in "apparel, media and licensing."

Cristiano Ronaldo

CR7, is the most popular and well known moniker for Ronaldo. CR is the combination of his initials, and 7 is his jersey number. The trademark is registered for use in "fragrances, clothing, footwear, and eyewear".

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant was a professional basketball player. His trademark "Flight 24" was filed in June 2009 for jewellery, clocks and watches.

Five-time NBA champion Bryant passed away aged 41 in a January 2020 helicopter crash that also killed his daughter Gianna and seven others.

In April this year, a Kobe Bryant jersey worn during his Los Angeles Lakers pre-season and regular-season debuts was sold for $7 million at Sotheby's in New York City.

The jersey was photo-matched to seven games of his 1996-97 rookie season including his October 16 pre-season debut and November 3 regular season debut in 1996, as well as his NBA media day.

LeBron James

Basketball player LeBron James has trademarked "Just a Kid from Akron” and "King James". LeBron James has many trademarks, including his name, initials and logos associated to his brand.

Usain Bolt

Usain Bolt has trademarked his iconic pose, where his arm is pointing towards the sky.

The "Lightning Bolt" pose was trademarked to protect his brand. It is used in "apparel, endorsements and media" and the trademark ensures his controls over commercial use.

Eric Cantona

Former Football player Eric Cantona has trademarked the phrase "Oooh Aah Cantona" and 7, his jersey number while playing for Manchester United.

The trademark is registered for its use in media, apparel etc.

In India, the process of registering a trademark starts when an application is filed with the Trademark Office. First, the application is checked for proper format and then examined on its merits. This means the examiner reviews whether the mark is clear, distinctive, and not too similar to existing marks.

If the examiner finds any issues, the applicant is invited to explain or fix them and once these concerns are resolved, the trademark is accepted and published in the official Trade Marks Journal, which is like a public notice, he explained.

(With PTI inputs)