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WWE Pressure Forces Cody To Abandons Trademarks
Cody Runnels has abandoned two trademarks filed last year following opposition from WWE.
On 11/19/19, Cody filed trademarks for “Slamboree” and “The Match Beyond”, both were associated with World Championship Wrestling prior to WWE purchasing the company in 2001.
On 9/24, WWE issued a notice of opposition on both filings, stating they acquired rights to intellectual property owned by WCW.
Throughout 1987, World Championship Wresting’s (“WCW”) predecessor, NWA, presented live and televised wrestling events under the name “WarGames: The Match Beyond.” “The Match Beyond” name signified a unique wrestling match exclusively presented by NWA and WCW that consisted of two wrestling rings both enclosed by a steel cage. See https://www.wwe.com/classics/complete-history-wargames. From 1987 through 2000, WCW – 4 – 307858575 v1 put on wrestling events that included The Match Beyond format. In conjunction with these uses, WCW owned common law trademark rights in the name “The Match Beyond.” (“WWE’s The Match Beyond Mark”)
In 2001, WWE entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with WCW and Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (“TBS”) for the purchase of certain WCW assets. Under the Asset Purchase Agreement, WWE acquired rights to, among other things, “[a]ny and all intellectual property owned by [WCW] including without limitation . . . program and pay-per-view names, the entire WCW library of footage, . . . trademarks, [and] service marks . . . together with the goodwill of [WCW] associated with such intellectual property.” 13. Through the Asset Purchase Agreement, WWE acquired the rights to the WWE SLAMBOREE Marks
Below is the opposition documents WWE filed in Sepetember.
Cody had until 10/31 to answer WWE’s opposition, and state his case to why he should be granted the trademarks.
On 10/28, Cody’s attorney, Michael E. Dockins filed an “express abandonment” request to withdraw the trademark filing, allowing WWE to retain ownership. WWE has now dismissed their opposition request.
You can view the abandonment request documents below.
Cody is still dealing with ongoing issues trademarking several other names, including the name Cody Rhodes, which he is currently involved in an ongoing battle with WWE.
He has yet to secure trademark to his father’s nickname “The American Dream”. The United States Patent and Trademark Office has denied his filing three times, the most recent this past September.
In August, his request for reconsideration for the Bash At The Beach trademark was denied, citing confusion with WWE’s “The Bash” trademark.