Katy Perry's Attempt To Trademark "Left Shark" Design Has Been DENIED
Left Shark is apparently a joke Katy Perry is not keen to let die.
Sure, it was funny watching a shark mascot dance haphazardly back in February, and it sure did produce some funny memes the next day, but need there be more?
Perry seems to think so, and thus had her company attempt to register Left Shark's design with the U.S. Trademark Office. Unfortunately, the plea has been rejected and Left Shark, like so many sharks, shall remain in the public domain.
She not only attempted to register the design but also the phrases, "Left Shark," "Right Shark," "Drunk Shark," and "Basking Shark."
David Collier, the examiner, noted that the design "identifies only a particular character; it does not function as a service mark to identify and distinguish applicant’s services from those of others and to indicate the source of applicant’s services."
Collier also noted the disparity between the image of Left Shark submitted and the one that appeared during the Half Time performance.
Specifically, the specimen displays the mark as a stylized depiction of a forward leaning shark in nearly a front profile with a portion of a dorsal fin, two pectoral fins and two legs and feet substituted for the caudal fin on the tail.
The shark has five gills, a full mouth with teeth and round eyes with eyelids; however, the drawing displays the mark as a stylized depiction of an upright shark in full front profile with no dorsal fin, two full pectoral fins and two legs and feet; the shark has three gills and the sharks mouth appears without teeth; the shark also has oval eyes without eyelids.
Better luck next time, Katy.
h/t: Billboard.
