Getty Images Almost three years after filing an application, Ohio State University has secured the trademark for the word “THE” to use on branded products such as clothing and merchandise. The registration certificate was officially issued on June 21 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Trademark attorney Josh Gerben was the first to break the news. Fashion brand Marc Jacobs also applied for the trademark, and it actually did so a few months before Ohio State applied in August 2019. However, last year both parties reached an agreement in which they can both own the registration and use the branding in their products. After the settlement with Marc Jacobs, Ohio State still had legal hurdles to clear. The university had to wait another year to make the trademark official because it had to prove to USPTO that it was not “merely ornamental.” Ohio State senior director of media and…
Continue Reading: Ohio State secures 'THE' trademark for clothing, merchandise after three-year legal battle
