“The American Nightmare” Cody has filed a trademark to secure the name Cody Rhodes.
Cody filed an application on April 13 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the name ‘Cody Rhodes’.
WWE filed a trademark for the name “Cody Rhodes” October 13, 2009. The filing was valid for 10-years, expiring on October 13, 2019.
The United States Patent and Trademark office provides a six month grace period if a renewal is not filed. The six month grace period ended on April 13, and now the trademark has expired.
WWE was sent correspondence on October 13, 2018, reminding the company of the expiry, and grace period.
Cody commented on the situation in April 2017, speaking on WWE’s ownership of the name when he spoke to Sports Illustrated.
“I’ll tell you this, and I’ve not told anyone this, but I don’t mind that WWE took away my last name,” Cody stated. “Deep down, in my bones, I definitely want it back, and I have plans to get it back, but there is something to being Cody. The longer I don’t have a last name, the more I’m okay with it. That’s not to say WWE is holding it ransom. It’s literally an intellectual property law that easily can be remedied, but there is something about being Cody that I don’t mind.”
It’s no coincidence that Cody filed the trademark on the exact date WWE’s ownership of the name expired.
Cody filed the trademark via attorney Michael Dockins. Dockins has been the go-to lawyer for several wrestlers to secure trademarks including Shawn Spears, Jon Moxley, Charlotte Flair, Joey Janela, and members of the team formerly known as The Revival.
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Razzler1973 on April 23rd, 2020 at 07:00 UTC »
So, reading that, sounds like WWE just kind of left it alone now then.
wildturk3y on April 23rd, 2020 at 04:49 UTC »
If kayfabe was real, now would be the perfect time for MJF to swoop in and take the trademark.
DC4MVP on April 23rd, 2020 at 04:20 UTC »
I always thought that an announcer saying "The American Nightmare: Cody!" sounded like a CAW in a SDVR game where they only had part of your desired named.
So if you wanted your CAW announced as "The Predator" Chuck Stank, it'd only have Chuck so it'd be announced as "The Predator...Chuck."