Who is trying to register Bitcoin trademark?

[joker_josue]

Over the last few years, many people, companies or organizations have tried to register Bitcoin as a trademark.
The reasons for trying to register is for example for use on clothing, gifts, and the like.

Fortunately, so far, no one has been able to register!


Below is a list of attempts to register a trademark of the "Bitcoin" name in the US:

Serial Number	Word Mark	Check Status	Live/Dead	Author
90544550	BITCOIN	TSDR	LIVE	Smith, Fredrick
88012912	BITCOIN	TSDR	DEAD	Ajasin, Stephen k
88055293	BITCOIN	TSDR	DEAD	Coin Legal Ltd
88641478	BITCOIN	TSDR	DEAD	Sunset Studios and Productions, Inc.
88570602	BITCOIN	TSDR	LIVE	Satoshi Nakamoto - DBA Benjamin Capital Management Group - http://www.bitcoin.org
88105510	BITCOIN	TSDR	DEAD	SpectraBit, LLC
87960044	BITCOIN	TSDR	DEAD	Ichoco Srl
87750980	BITCOIN	TSDR	DEAD	ASHRAF ALQAQA
86135516	BITCOIN	TSDR	DEAD	URBAN TREND, LLC
86097068	BITCOIN	TSDR	DEAD	Charles Lew

Some funny names, linked to Bitcoin, that had an unsuccessful registration attempt:
I'M SO MONEY I'M BITCOIN
DO YOU EVEN BITCOIN BRO?
BITCOIN PIZZA (there were two attempts - indicated the last)
BITCOIN MINING



Information collected from: United States Patent and Trademark Office
Last update: 18/08/2021

Changelog:
v2.0 (20/08/2021) - Added the information of who made the registration request.
v1.1 (18/08/2021) - Correction of links.
v1.0 (18/08/2021) - Topic creation.

[Quickfant]

You answer your own question it is people who are trying to make money by owning the trademark where they can sell goods and gifts to customers legally. I think some of the company names that you have given indicate that there are a couple of companies that were trying to sell merchandise that had "Bitcoin" on it.

[dkbit98]

This is just my speculation, but I suspect that one person with nickname Faketoshi aka Craig Wright, is trying to register Bitcoin trademark as his own creation, in same way like he is claiming that Bitcoin whitepaper is his copyrighted creation.

PS
Clicking on any of those links you posted is showing this error message, and I tried on different browsers with same results:

This search session has expired. Please start a search session again by clicking on the TRADEMARK icon, if you wish to continue.

[NotFuzzyWarm]

You answer your own question it is people who are trying to make money by owning the trademark where they can sell goods and gifts to customers legally. I think some of the company names that you have given indicate that there are a couple of companies that were trying to sell merchandise that had "Bitcoin" on it.

Then they are idiots.
The word "Bitcoin" along with it's symbols BTC and BTC are not something that can be owned (although CW aka Faketoshi has tried) in that manner. Given that there is already a ton of merchandise such as tee shirts, hats, jackets, drink coasters etc. that are emblazoned with the symbols and/or word 'Bitcoin' that have been sold for many many years there is no way in hell anyone could claim the idea of merchandising is 'theirs'.

[bitmover]

This is just my speculation, but I suspect that one person with nickname Faketoshi aka Craig Wright, is trying to register Bitcoin trademark as his own creation, in same way like he is claiming that Bitcoin whitepaper is his copyrighted creation.

This was my first thought. And this is true, I saw Cobra explaining this a few months ago:

Another disadvantage for them is the publicity this case is attracting. If he wins this case, he is legally recognized as Satoshi Nakamoto, the inventor of Bitcoin. He's asserting he has "database rights" to the Bitcoin ledger. He asserts he owns the "Bitcoin" name. He'll inevitably claim the Satoshi coins. This is why he fights so hard to get a court to declare him as Satoshi, so he can begin enforcing these claims against exchanges, wallets, developers, etc. Obviously he will lose, but I suppose he's deluded himself and his followers into believing this is a viable strategy to take BSV to the moon. But there are just too many eyes on this, and too much money in this space to allow someone like him to even have the chance to legally assume the Satoshi moniker and associated intellectual property. The best intellectual property law firm in the UK is actively working on this whitepaper issue. He is outgunned legally.

By claiming rights on Bitcoin name or trademark the new "owner" will be able to sue exchanges, wallets, block explorers, etc all over the world!

I hope nobody ever get rights or bitcoin names or trademarks.

[joker_josue]

PS
Clicking on any of those links you posted is showing this error message, and I tried on different browsers with same results:

This search session has expired. Please start a search session again by clicking on the TRADEMARK icon, if you wish to continue.

Situation resolved. Thanks for the alert. 

When you enter the links, you can see the name of the companies/people who tried to register the name.
So, it's one more way for us to know who wants to explore the Bitcoin community, and to be on our toes.

If you have any suggestions on how I can present the information, feel free.

[DdmrDdmr]

Somebody managed to register Bitcoin as a trademark, alongside registering its logo, in Spain, just over a year ago.

It only applies to Spain, and as absurd as it may seem, the status is currently still active despite there having been appeals which were rejected. It doesn't seem to drive the owner of the rights anywhere in practical terms, other than giving him and his business some publicity, and it’s still pretty clear that whoever is leading this case from an administrative point of view hasn’t got the faintest idea of what he/she is doing.

It should remain a local affair with no real operative derivate, and the same stunt has been tried out in other jurisdictions as mentiones in the OP. 

See:
Bitcoin's name and Logo Registered in Spain
Bitcoin – marca registrada en España
http://consultas2.oepm.es/ceo/jsp/busqueda/consultaExterna.xhtml?numExp=M4046141

[joker_josue]

Somebody managed to register Bitcoin as a trademark, alongside registering its logo, in Spain, just over a year ago.

That acceptance really was stupid. But it is only valid and will have little legal weight in many areas of Bitcoin.
But if someone wants to advertise Bitcoin, they can have problems using that logo.
Of course it only applies in Spain.

[NotFuzzyWarm]

Good to see that at least the USPTO has ruled in all cases but the most recent and ongoing,

The Generic and Specimen Refusals are maintained and continued

Translation: They are commonly used and therefore generic terms that cannot be copyrighted nor patented as a Trademark (in the US).

[joker_josue]

This is fun information, is someone still trying to do this?

Yes! At this moment they are registering under analysis for the name "BITCOIN":
90544550
88570602

[dkbit98]

Somebody managed to register Bitcoin as a trademark, alongside registering its logo, in Spain, just over a year ago.

Interesting, and I didn't know about that info.
His name is Eduardo Pérez Montero and he registered it as national mark B bitcoin.
I also remember fake martial artist and bad actor Steven Seagal running a ICO scam that was registered as Bitcoiin with two letter i  

I wonder if Roger Ver tried to registered something for Bitcoin, because he is one of the owners of bitcoin.com domain and exchange, but that is not the same as registering Bitcoin trademark, as we know that he tried to takeover the Bitcoin brand.
There is however a difference between a trademark and a brand.

[NotFuzzyWarm]

Bumping this as the 1st recent topic dealing with copyright of BTC logo vs that 'other' one which is a poor rehash of what is already here...

[alviemery96]

Over the last few years, many people, companies or organizations have tried to register Bitcoin as a trademark.
The reasons for trying to register is for example for use on clothing, gifts, and the like.

Fortunately, so far, no one has been able to register!


Below is a list of attempts to register a trademark of the "Bitcoin" name in the US:

Serial Number	Word Mark	Check Status	Live/Dead
90544550	BITCOIN	TSDR	LIVE
88012912	BITCOIN	TSDR	DEAD
88055293	BITCOIN	TSDR	DEAD
88641478	BITCOIN	TSDR	DEAD
88570602	BITCOIN	TSDR	LIVE
88105510	BITCOIN	TSDR	DEAD
87960044	BITCOIN	TSDR	DEAD
87750980	BITCOIN	TSDR	DEAD
86135516	BITCOIN	TSDR	DEAD
86097068	BITCOIN	TSDR	DEAD

Some funny names, linked to Bitcoin, that had an unsuccessful registration attempt:
I'M SO MONEY I'M BITCOIN
DO YOU EVEN BITCOIN BRO?
BITCOIN PIZZA (there were two attempts - indicated the last)
BITCOIN MINING



Information collected from: United States Patent and Trademark Office
Last update: 18/08/2021

Changelog:
v1.1 (18/08/2021) - Correction of links.
v1.0 (18/08/2021) - Topic creation.

it seems these are all brands they are trying to turn genuine BTC satoshi into fakesatoshi aka Craig Wright to serve their own purpose or reputation, they are really crazy when so many people know that the truth satoshi is just a pseudonym and he is as anonymous as he really wants BTC to be as anonymous as the name he uses. Some uninformed people may believe these about myself, I don't believe aka Craig Wright

[mk4]

I wonder if Roger Ver tried to registered something for Bitcoin, because he is one of the owners of bitcoin.com domain and exchange, but that is not the same as registering Bitcoin trademark, as we know that he tried to takeover the Bitcoin brand.

Oh damn, speaking of Roger Ver, didn't he just sort of suddenly disappear from the public(Twitter, specifically)? It seems like he finally gave up, thankfully so. Now someone just needs to convince Faketoshi to do the same; knowing that him and BSV's reputation is far far worse than Roger Ver and BCH.

[zanezane]

Thank God no one has because they're going to be making a lot of money out of something that they didn't even know or remotely created or helped developed. This opportunistic pricks really knows no boundaries when it comes to greed.

[joker_josue]

I made a new collection of information and added the information of who made the application for registration of the trademark.

I highlight this one:

88570602

BITCOIN

TSDR

LIVE

Satoshi Nakamoto - DBA Benjamin Capital Management Group - http://www.bitcoin.org

Someone is trying to use the Satoshi name to register the trademark.

It would be good for someone from the US to be on the lookout to challenge if there is progress on this record.

[NotFuzzyWarm]

The USPTO page says that as of June 3 this year their application remains suspended and it looks like their appeals to progress with it are all denied. While not the same as 'denied' it amounts to the same thing, its just that the USPTO has not officially declared it dead yet. Just look under Prosecution History on that page.

[kro55]

Over the last few years, many people, companies or organizations have tried to register Bitcoin as a trademark.
The reasons for trying to register is for example for use on clothing, gifts, and the like.
Fortunately, so far, no one has been able to register!

it seems these are all brands they are trying to turn genuine BTC satoshi into fakesatoshi aka Craig Wright to serve their own purpose or reputation, they are really crazy when so many people know that the truth satoshi is just a pseudonym and he is as anonymous as he really wants BTC to be as anonymous as the name he uses. Some uninformed people may believe these about myself, I don't believe aka Craig Wright

Most of them are just trying to register this trademark for branding their clothing, foods, and drinks nothing else.
Smith & Fredrick recently submitted their documents and still awaiting approval. Before them, a UK company "A.B.C. IPHOLDINGS SOUTH WEST LLC" registered this trademark for branding their clothing. "A.B.C. IPHOLDINGS SOUTH WEST LLC" owned this trademark for branding their clothing since 2018 and it will valid till 2027. They registered this trademark from the Intellectual Property Office of UK.

AFAIK, Other companies who tried to use or register the "Bitcoin" logo for branding their clothing has gotten a cease-and-desist letter from "A.B.C. IPHOLDINGS SOUTH WEST LLC", cause already they have own it.

[NotFuzzyWarm]

Most of them are just trying to register this trademark for branding their clothing, foods, and drinks nothing else.

While the rules do vary from country to country, in the US it is very rare for the USPTO to narrowly restrict the issuance and use of a Trademark or logo to just a single type of item. It either applies to all or nothing.

[joker_josue]

The USPTO page says that as of June 3 this year their application remains suspended and it looks like their appeals to progress with it are all denied. While not the same as 'denied' it amounts to the same thing, its just that the USPTO has not officially declared it dead yet. Just look under Prosecution History on that page.

It is true. I hadn't noticed this detail in the research I did.

Status:   Suspension check completed. Application remains suspended.


That's why I find this information useful here, as it helps everyone in the Bitcoin community, to be able to check who is trying to usurp it! 

[dkbit98]

Oh damn, speaking of Roger Ver, didn't he just sort of suddenly disappear from the public(Twitter, specifically)? It seems like he finally gave up, thankfully so. Now someone just needs to convince Faketoshi to do the same; knowing that him and BSV's reputation is far far worse than Roger Ver and BCH.

Oh he is still alive and active,I see him posting various Bcash related stuff on reddit almost on daily basis, his youtube account is still active but I am not following what he is doing on twitter.
I still respect him for his early work related with Bitcoin and it looks like he relaxed with all his anti-btc talk, unlike malicious Faketoshi who is going full power and suing everyone he can.

I made a new collection of information and added the information of who made the application for registration of the trademark.

Someone makes a small twist in logo, font or naming and you have brand new trademark ready to be registered.
Anyone tried to register Bitcoin Cash or Bitcoin Satoshis Vision trademark yet, maybe for failed projects museum?  

[joker_josue]

Anyone tried to register Bitcoin Cash or Bitcoin Satoshis Vision trademark yet, maybe for failed projects museum?  

At least one attempt occurred in 2018:
https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=87633636&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch

--

And an accepted and active registration, made in 2019:
https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=87926642&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch

Look at this document and what the person claims to be:
https://tsdr.uspto.gov/documentviewer?caseId=sn87926642&docId=FTK20180522073125#docIndex=7&page=1

COPYRIGHT NOTICE:
I RONALD KEALA KUA MARIA ALSO KNOWN AS SATOSHI NAKAMOTO INVENTOR OF BITCOIN
AND BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY HEREBY AFIRM THAT ALL MY COPYRIGHTS INCLUDING AN
EQUITY BASED ELECTRONIC RESERVE CURRENCY PEER TO PEER ELECTRONIC CASH SYSTEM

Signed by:
Ronald Keala Kua Maria
Satoshi Nakamoto
89226A Farrington Hwy.
Waianae Hi 96792 USA
intactico@gmail.com
Thesatoshinakamoto.com
Bitcoincopyrights.com

[mk4]

Oh he is still alive and active,I see him posting various Bcash related stuff on reddit almost on daily basis, his youtube account is still active but I am not following what he is doing on twitter.
I still respect him for his early work related with Bitcoin and it looks like he relaxed with all his anti-btc talk, unlike malicious Faketoshi who is going full power and suing everyone he can.

Yea same. Dude's passion was contagious and is totally on a different level, and he was a really really likeable person back then pre-forks. It's just unfortunate that he went the 'different' route. Tbh if he ever admit his mistakes and jump back to the BTC camp, I'm personally going to be fine with it, even if it's likely that the community wouldn't.

[joker_josue]

A few more details about this request that has already been denied:

88570602

BITCOIN

TSDR

LIVE

Satoshi Nakamoto - DBA Benjamin Capital Management Group - http://www.bitcoin.org

This information will be useful in case someone related to them appears on the forum, and we will already know what kind of person we are dealing with:

Benjamin Capital Management Group /dba/ Satoshi Nakamoto
      747 Third Avenue 2nd Floor
      New York, New York 10017
      347-560-8013(phone)
      6465596089(fax)
      satoshin@mybitcoincenter.com
C. Peter Benjamin
quangthong1011@gmail.com
quangthong2405@gmail.com
quangthong005@gmail.com


EDIT:

When checking this request, I saw that there is information that links these two requests (this one is still under analysis - but it has already been indicated not to be accepted):

90544550

BITCOIN

TSDR

LIVE

Smith, Fredrick

Fredrick Smith
      3402 Stoney Garden Dr.
      Charlotte, North Carolina 28269
      United States
      704-649-1948(phone)
Flsmith232@gmail.com
tmapp@legalzoom.com
quangthong1011@gmail.com

[SFR10]

The USPTO page says that as of June 3 this year their application remains suspended and it looks like their appeals to progress with it are all denied.

It appears that it had the exact same status 6 months prior to that ^{[Dec. 02, 2020]}, but for some reason, the overall status still remains as live/active! Am I missing something?

While not the same as 'denied' it amounts to the same thing, its just that the USPTO has not officially declared it dead yet.

Does anybody know what it takes before they could dismiss everything and declare it as dead?

[joker_josue]

While not the same as 'denied' it amounts to the same thing, its just that the USPTO has not officially declared it dead yet.

Does anybody know what it takes before they could dismiss everything and declare it as dead?

It will depend on the resources that are placed by whoever is trying to register the trademark.
Either way, it is usually 6 months after the request is refused.

[joker_josue]

I found an approved and active registration in Portugal for the word "Bitcoin".
https://servicosonline.inpi.justica.gov.pt/pesquisas/GetSintesePDF?nord=3426931
It is registered in the name of the company COGNITIVE, LDA. and the registration is done for the banking area.

---

However, I also found registration of the word "Bitcoin" in the European Union:

Name: BITCOIN
Filing number: 010103646
Nice Classification: 9, 35, 38, 42
Owners: bitFlyer Inc.


Name: BITCOIN
Filing number: 017587957
Nice Classification: 30
Owners: Katjes Fassin GmbH + Co. KG


Name: BITCOIN
Filing number: 017638925
Nice Classification: 14, 18, 25
Owners: Christian Boszczyk


Name: BITCOIN
Filing number: 017933830
Nice Classification: 3
Owners: Société Parisienne de Parfums et Cosmétiques, SAS

[avikz]

Somebody managed to register Bitcoin as a trademark, alongside registering its logo, in Spain, just over a year ago.

It only applies to Spain, and as absurd as it may seem, the status is currently still active despite there having been appeals which were rejected. It doesn't seem to drive the owner of the rights anywhere in practical terms, other than giving him and his business some publicity, and it’s still pretty clear that whoever is leading this case from an administrative point of view hasn’t got the faintest idea of what he/she is doing.

It should remain a local affair with no real operative derivate, and the same stunt has been tried out in other jurisdictions as mentiones in the OP. 

See:
Bitcoin's name and Logo Registered in Spain
Bitcoin – marca registrada en España
http://consultas2.oepm.es/ceo/jsp/busqueda/consultaExterna.xhtml?numExp=M4046141

That's really absurd. It's a well known fact that bitcoin doesn't belong to any particular person or group. So how come a court can assume their ownership and pass a judgement in favor of any random people claimjng trademark on bitcoin!!! It seems the judge didn't know the structure of bitcoin and he didn't have any idea on how it works.

It's quite funny to see that thieves are literally everywhere who don't feel ashemed to take credit of something that they didn't do!

[joker_josue]

Hello again. I apologize for having been a little absent, and not having come to present new data on these records.

Here are a few more attempts to register the name "BITCOIN" and the details of who is trying to register that name:

US Serial Number: 97095196
Mark: BITCOIN
Date: Oct. 30, 2021
Owner Name: Unstoppable Domains, Inc.
TM5 Common Status Descriptor: LIVE/APPLICATION/Awaiting Examination
US Serial Number: 97185916
Mark: BITCOIN
Date: Dec. 25, 2021
Owner Name: Sunset Studios and Productions, Inc.
TM5 Common Status Descriptor: LIVE/APPLICATION/Awaiting Examination
US Serial Number: 97137619
Mark: BITCOIN
Date: Nov. 22, 2021
Owner Name: Mano's Inc.
TM5 Common Status Descriptor: LIVE/APPLICATION/Awaiting Examination
US Serial Number: 97344420
Mark: BITCOIN
Date: Apr. 03, 2022
Owner Name: Luis Rodriguez Guerra
TM5 Common Status Descriptor: LIVE/APPLICATION/Awaiting Examination