Minkah Fitzpatrick's 'Fitzmagic' trademark application turned down
Miami Dolphins defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick has gone by "Fitzmagic" since high school, but in the eyes of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the nickname already belongs to veteran Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
As noted by Josh Gerben of Gerben Law Firm, the application Minkah filed in September for "Fitzmagic" was denied by the USPTO.
On New Year's Day, the USPTO denies Mikah Fitzpatrick's trademark application for FITZMAGIC because it creates a "false connection" with Ryan Fitzpatrick.
— Josh Gerben (@JoshGerben) January 3, 2019
If only someone had been able to predict this...
👇https://t.co/vT8oPpSgEo#FitzMagic#MiamiDolphins #finsup#Buccaneers https://t.co/W6tBr2LfLi
Minkah had been looking to use "Fitzmagic" on footwear, hats, and other apparel.
"Registration is refused because the applied-for mark consists of or includes matter which may falsely suggest a connection with Ryan Fitzpatrick," the USPTO's response reads. "Although Ryan Fitzpatrick is not connected with the goods and/or services provided by the applicant under the applied-for mark, Ryan Fitzpatrick is so well known that consumers would presume a connection."
Minkah has six months to respond to the USPTO, or his trademark application will be abandoned. He told ESPN's Cameron Wolfe in September that he was willing to offer the nickname to Ryan.
"If he wants the name, he can take it if he wants," Minkah said. "He's a great football player. If he wants it, contact me and my people and he can have it if he wants it."