LeBron James' Trademark for 'Taco Tuesday' Was Refused by US Government
By Scott Rogust
Since the Los Angeles Lakers failed to clinch an NBA Playoff berth this past season, LeBron James upped his social media game and continued to dominate media headlines.
One of his biggest hits was his weekly "Taco Tuesday" updates with his family. Since it was so successful, James tried to profit off of it.
Alas, that was not to be, as according to Josh Gerben of Gerben Law Firm, the US Patent & Trademark Office denied James' trademark application for the term "Taco Tuesday." The reasoning is due to the phrase being a "commonplace message."
BREAKING: U.S Patent & Trademark Office has refused @KingJames’ trademark application for “Taco Tuesday.” Examining attorney found that phrase was a “commonplace message” and can’t be protected as a trademark. First discovered by @JoshGerben. pic.twitter.com/cnebxx9hyt
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) September 12, 2019
Well, so much for that idea.
James filed the trademark of "Taco Tuesday" for "advertising and marketing services provided by means of indirect methods of marketing, communications, namely, social media, search engine marketing, inquiry marketing, mobile marketing, blogging and other forms of passive, shareable or viral communications channels."
The USPTO has refused the TACO TUESDAY trademark application filed by Lebron James' company LBJ Trademarks, LLC.
— Josh Gerben (@JoshGerben) September 12, 2019
The refusal, issued at 6:26 PM today, finds that TACO TUESDAY is a "commonplace message" and therefore fails to function as a trademark.#TacoTuesday
My analysis? pic.twitter.com/eKcW2l1CnH
In fact, James was looking to use the phrase as the title of a new online series.
Lebron James' trademark attempt failed, similarly to that Ohio State University's trademark for the word "THE," or Tom Brady's attempt to swoop in on the Tom Seaver's nickname "Tom Terrific".