Catchphrase! 6 Things Celebrities Tried to Trademark — and Some Who Succeeded
‘You’re fired!’ Donald Trump is known for many things, including emblazoning his name on everything he owns. Long before he was president and while host of “The Apprentice,” he filed a trademark on the show’s catchphrase. It was denied because it was too close to a preexisting (and trademarked) board game called You’re Hired. ‘BAM!’ TV chef Emeril Lagasse was a pioneer in the world of cooking shows. He popularized cooking on TV and captivated audiences by exclaiming one simple phrase every time he added an ingredient to whatever he was making: “BAM!” Naturally, he trademarked his signature phrase, but he doesn’t discourage people from using it as long as they keep it in the kitchen.
Celebrities love to trademark all sorts of things for one simple reason: People associate certain words with the celebrity’s brand, and the celebrity wants to protect that. It makes sense from a business perspective, but sometimes, it can get a little silly. Read on to see what the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office gave its blessing to and which trademarks it outright refused to create. Blue Ivy Carter Just days before their first daughter was born in 2012, Beyoncé and Jay-Z filed for a trademark on her name. The problem was that a wedding planning company called Blue Ivy was already using the name. Plus, Jay-Z mentioned to the media that their intention was to prevent others from using it. The trademark was denied.
intention was to use her trademarked name for marketing purposes. The trademark was denied, and Jenner even ended up in a brief legal battle with singer Kylie Minogue. ‘Let’s get ready to rumble!’ One of the most well-known catchphrases of all time was successfully trademarked in 1992 by its creator, boxing announcer Michael Buffer. Even better, it’s made Buffer a very wealthy man. To date, he has made nearly $500 million dollars by licensing the trademark. ‘Rock Star From Mars’ Back in 2011, actor Charlie Sheen had a very public meltdown. During the episode, he rambled off countless phrases such as “Duh, winning,” “tiger blood,” and “rock star from Mars.” In the end, he tried to trademark a total of 22 phrases, but all were rejected by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Kylie This generic trademark was filed by Kylie Jenner (of the Kardashians and Jenners). Her
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CLASSIC PUMPKIN SOUP
Pumpkins aren’t just for pie — they make delicious soup, too! This fall, try your hand at this healthy soup recipe and warm up with a bowl.
Ingredients
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1 tbsp olive oil
1 cup canned light coconut milk
2 shallots, diced
2 tbsp honey
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 1/4 cups pumpkin purée (homemade or canned)
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp cinnamon
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2 cups vegetable broth
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Directions
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In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté olive oil, shallots, and garlic for 2–3 minutes.
Transfer the soup to a blender and purée. Pour the blended soup back into the pan.
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4.
Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer.
Cook over medium-low heat for 5–10 minutes. Taste and add additional seasoning as desired, then serve!
Inspired by FoodandWine.com
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