Fansided

Ohio State trademarks Urban Meyer because…why not

By Kyle Franzoni

Jul 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer speaks during 2015 Big Ten Football Media Days at Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer speaks during 2015 Big Ten Football Media Days at Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Ohio State Buckeyes have trademarked the name of head coach Urban Meyer in a bizarre move.

The Ohio State Buckeyes and their fans really love head coach Urban Meyer. Apparently they feel that sports apparel enthusiasts do as well, as the school has decided to trademark numerous phrases in regards to their coach, including his name.

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According to the Columbus Dispatch, Ohio State has secured a trademark designation from the United States Patent and Trademark Office that will give them exclusive rights to not only “Urban Meyer” but also the phrase “Urban Meyer Knows”. Apparently, there was some issue with this after the team’s National Championship run this past season and the school wishes to not lose any further funds from it.

The school issued the following statement on the trademark filing:

"“Based on his celebrity status, there are people who have used it on product without permission and (we) have had to approach them,” he said. “This just affords us another level of legal protection.”"

It is worth noting that this is not the first time that Ohio State has done this. They reached similar arrangements with Meyer’s predecessor Jim Tressel, as well as basketball coach Thad Motta. By getting trademark protection, the school will not be entitled to collect royalties off of the sale of any such merchandise bearing the two phrases. That money will then be split between the school and Meyer’s charitable foundation, The Urban and Shelley Meyer Cancer Research Fund, according to the Dispatch.

It is certainly an interesting maneuver, especially considering how much money the football program brings in to the school already. However, one can certainly understand why Meyer would want to have some say on what his name appears on, not to mention collect a little bit of coin for it, especially if it goes to a charitable cause.

Excuse me while I send in my request for approval to use both phrases within the body of text above.

(h/t For The Win)

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