HEITNER LEGAL filed the trademark application and handled all necessary follow-up tasks with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount. The trademark, ‘Blount Force Trauma’ has received full registration on the principal register. Blount will be able to move forward with federal protection when he uses the phrase in conjunction with the sale, marketing and promotion of t-shirts containing the popular words.
SB Nation’s Pats Pulpit interviewed HEITNER LEGAL’s Darren Heitner about the trademark and other intellectual property issues in the world of sports.
From the interview:
“[The trademark will] protect against others illegally using it for their own financial gain,” Heitner explained. “It also gives him the ability to license it to others and earn royalties from the sale of goods and products, if he so chooses.”
All of this makes plenty of sense, but it’s surprising how few athletes understand, or are advised, how to protect themselves.
“Not enough athletes understand intellectual property issues nor are properly guided by their advisors,” Heitner continued. “Heitner Legal has had the unique opportunity of working with many athletes on the protection of their valuable intellectual property, but not any athletes currently on the Patriots’ roster.”