There are many adjectives one can use when describing Tom Brady. However, one descriptive word the Patriots quarterback will never be able to lay claim to, legally, is “Terrific.”
On Thursday, the United Staes Patent and Trademark Office denied the future Hall of Fame QB’s application to trademark the term “Tom Terrific.” Brady applied for the trademark in late May, claiming that he wanted to own the moniker so he could stop people from calling him that.
However, the move drew immediate anger from Mets fans who had for decades applied the “Tom Terrific” nickname to legendary pitcher Tom Seaver. The USPTO agreed with Mets fans, “Tom Terrific” is Tom Seaver.
The USPTO said in a statement, “The applied-for mark consists of or includes matter which may falsely suggest a connection with Tom Seaver.”
If Brady wishes to challenge the USPTO ruling, he can do so. Though, he needs to do it within the next six months or his request will be abandoned, the New York Post reports.
In June, Brady did his best to explain his intentions in filing for the trademark.
“It’s unfortunate,” Brady told reporters. “I was actually to do something because i didn’t like the nickname. I wanted to make sure no one used it because some people wanted to use it. I was trying to keep people from using it. Then it got spun around to something different than what it was. Good lesson learned and I’ll try to do things a little differently in the future.
“I don’t like the nickname. I don’t like when people give me any nice compliments. Certainly that isn’t something I was trying to do out of any disrespect or anything like that.”
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