A WWE star Danhausen has filed a new trademark application associated with his popular gimmick.
Making his WWE debut at Elimination Chamber on February 28, Danhausen has spent much of his time with the company going around and cursing other stars.
With a previous report noting that WWE had filed trademark applications for Danhausen-related terms, a new filing from the star himself.
In a new application with the USPTO submitted on March 25 under serial number 99726702, the real-life man behind the WWE star has filed for the term: “YOU ARE CURSED!”
With the “First Use In Commerce” being listed as December 2019, the trademark covers the goods and services categories of:
IC 025: Shirts; Sweatshirts; Hooded sweatshirts; Hats; Bandanas; Socks.
IC 041: Providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network; Entertainment services, namely, wrestling exhibits and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer;
Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services, namely, televised appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer;
Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, live appearances by a professional wrestler and sports entertainer;
Providing online interviews featuring professional wrestler and sports entertainer in the field of professional wrestling and sports entertainment for entertainment purposes.
Danhausen is yet to compete in a WWE ring, having parted ways with AEW earlier this year.
The Two Sides Of Trademark Ownership In WWE
Trademarks protect designs, phrases, symbols, and words, denoting them as intellectual property of the entity with a successful filing.
Beyond a visual aspect, trademark applications can cover a range of other identifiable features, such as a distinctive scent, packaging design, sound or color, among other arguably less tangible elements.
With the broad purpose being to prevent confusion, past instances of trademark claims have seen Jey Uso briefly unable to use his ‘Yeet‘ catchphrase due to an, at the time, suspended trademark filing.
As a general rule, WWE holds trademarks and regularly files applications for the in-ring names used by their own stars, along with associated elements for use in merchandising or other avenues. This isn’t a complete blanket rule, as can be seen with this latest filing, submitted by the real-life Donovan Danhausen himself.
By contrast, over in AEW, it’s broadly the stars themselves who hold the trademarks for their own identities, as well as any of the other avenues that catchphrases and names may find application.
A challenge for many stars following their departure from WWE is that they largely no longer hold the rights to the name that made them famous, leading to a new identity or a potential return to a past incarnation.
A trademark isn’t a life-long feature, although they can be renewed over and over. While not an exhaustive list, if a trademark isn’t renewed or sees no genuine use over time, it can lapse or be surrendered, with others able to seek ownership. The same is true if the element being trademarked becomes common in everyday use.
With “You are cursed” being a catchphrase used by Danhausen throughout his career, it stands to reason that the star would want to retain that aspect of his persona.
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