Anyone familiar with the Ohio State football would know that the players have been proudly referring to their school as “The Ohio State University,” the emphasis on the word… “the,” pronounced like “thee.”
The following written content from Sky
Ohio State University began its pursuit of the word ‘the’ in August 2019 after fashion brand Marc Jacobs filed a rival application a few months before.
The US Patent and Trademark Office approved Ohio State University’s application for exclusive rights to the word – specifically on branded products on T-shirts and hats that feature the word on its own.
The university, known particularly for its sporting prowess, claims that the word contributes to around $12.5m (£10.2m) in sales every year.
“THE has been a rallying cry in the Ohio State community for many years, and Buckeye fans who purchase official Ohio State gear support student scholarships, libraries and other university initiatives,” Ben Johnson, its senior director of media and public relations, said in a statement.
“Like other institutions, Ohio State works to protect the university’s brand and trademarks because these assets benefit students and faculty, and support our core academic mission of teaching and research,” he added.
Ohio State began its pursuit of the word ‘the’ in August 2019 after fashion brand Marc Jacobs filed a rival application a few months before.
The two institutions agreed a deal in August 2021 that allowed both parties to use ‘the’ on their branding.
Patent officials rejected the application, at first. It seems unlikely anyone would challenge Ohio State University for use of the word, since it doesn’t technically own the word, but they now know it’s one of the most unique trademarks in the history of sports.
Subscribe
