The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has denied LeBron James' trademark application for the phrase ‘Taco Tuesday.'
According to Josh Gerben of Gerben Law Firm, the USPTO found the phrase a “commonplace message” and thereby “fails to function as a trademark.”
The USPTO has refused the TACO TUESDAY trademark application filed by Lebron James' company LBJ Trademarks, LLC.
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
— Josh Gerben (@JoshGerben) September 12, 2019
LeBron James filed the trademark last August under his company LBJ Trademarks LLC. Based on his trademark application, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar intended to use “Taco Tuesday” for advertising and marketing purposes, particularly on social media. It was also reported that LeBron planned to use it for a ‘podcast.'
The 34-year-old Lakers star made the phrase go viral on social media with his weekly celebration — eating tacos every Tuesday, mostly with his family.
It’s Taco Tuesday at the James residence tonight! 🔥🌮🔥🌮
(Via @KingJames /IG) pic.twitter.com/0NcU3nFxHs
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 29, 2019
LeBron's trademark application for the phrase was met with negative reactions and criticisms, especially from the people of Los Angeles. In a previous report, one critic said it was a “national slogan” while another pointed out that ‘Taco Tuesday' is already known in LA even before James joined the Lakers.
Moreover, a Mexican restaurant in Illinois also protested the trademark application recently. Interestingly, the name of the company protesting is Taco Tuesday, Inc.
It seems LeBron James has to let go of potentially cashing in from the popular slogan. With the season just a little over a month away, maybe its a good time for LeBron to focus working out and dialing down on tacos.