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Message: [QUOTE="Sifaka, post: 4338570, member: 8516"] For those unfamiliar with IP (intellectual property) law, this trademark does not give anyone “ownership” of the word [I][B]the[/B][/I] beyond clearly defined limits: apparel, such as tee shirts, when sold through typical sports channels. Anyone else is free to continue to use the word in speech, writing, and commercial applications other than the one specified. I'm sure that is a huge relief to [B]The Citadel, The Who, [/B]and countless others. :rolleyes: “ [I][…][/I] Ohio State’s trademark is limited to clothing — T-shirts and hats — that are sold through “channels customary to the field of sports and collegiate athletics,” according to its trademark. That specific focus is why Ohio State trademarking the common word won’t stop other companies from having the word “the” in their names or products, said Josh Gerben, a trademark lawyer. The trademark would be used only if someone were trying to represent Ohio State using the word, he said. “Ohio State is not going to have a very broad amount of protection over the word,” he said. “This is a very, very narrow registration with very, very narrow enforcement capabilities associated with it.” “ source: [URL="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23/us/the-ohio-state-university.html"]Ohio State University Trademarks ‘The’[/URL] [/QUOTE]