How Much I$ A Name Worth?

[NetShrine]

Somehow, I believe Reggie when he says me spend 30 Grand on it. Was that a good investment?

Yanks' Jeter Plays Like Mr. October

By JANIE McCAULEY
.c The Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) - Mr. October isn't about to relinquish his title to Derek Jeter, no matter what.

Or even share it, for that matter.

``No!'' Reggie Jackson said. ``I trademarked that name. It cost me about 30 grand.''

Jackson, an adviser for the Yankees, earned the nickname for his great postseason exploits.

But Jeter sure seems like a fine candidate to inherit the nickname. Jeter, 27, began the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday with 87 postseason hits, which surpassed the record held by Pete Rose by one.

He struggled in the Yankees' 4-2 Game 1 win, going 0-for-5. But one bad offensive day doesn't take away from what he's done. He was his normal consistent self at shortstop.

Jeter has four World Series rings in six seasons and has only lost one series in his postseason career.

Jackson is impressed. He admits Jeter is a special player this time of year.

``He hasn't struck out four times in a game, he hasn't thrown a ball away, he hasn't done anything normal that you might do in a big game,'' Jackson said. ``I think the only thing he doesn't have is a good understanding of the game.

``He got up here in 1996 and every year he's in the playoffs and the World Series. He doesn't understand that the season isn't 181 games long.''

Jeter's series-changing sidearm flip to home plate to save a run in New York's 1-0 Game 3 win in the division series against Oakland could be matched only by Magic Johnson, Jackson said.

``He was all over the place, too,'' Jackson said of the former Los Angeles Lakers great.

[Jen]

Well, he could be Mr. November this year. Is that close enough?

For whatever it's worth, he's my new hero.

But $30 Grand to register a name? Jeez...I think I just found my next occupation.

[NetShrine]

I'm still waiting for PlayGirl magazine to get sued by Reggie for wrongful use of the title "Mr. October."

[ChrisCary]

How'd you like to be the poor schmuck who attributed a headline to Derek Jeter "Mr. October"?

[NetShrine]

It's gonna happen. Reggie won't care. Now, if Jeter starts selling a line of "Mr. October" clothing, well, the lawyers will

[satchel]

Originally posted by Jen

But $30 Grand to register a name? Jeez...I think I just found my next occupation.

Well, my next occupation is patent attorney, not trademark attorney, but I have done a few trademark applications in my time and will probably do some more in the future. $30k does seem a bit steep for a registration, even if it's contested. But who knows? From the history of the application, it looks like a fairly routine registration.

Just for fun, I searched for the mark at the USPTO website. Here it is:
http://tess.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?...te=kafkdg.11.1

When you apply for a trademark you have to associate it with a product; you can't just register a phrase that's not connected with a specific trade. Reggie, as you can see from the link above, filed his registration with the intent to attach it to merchandise ranging from key chains to video games, just about every piece of consumer merchandise imaginable. Among my favorites on the list: facial tissue, commemorative stamps, money belts, and ceramic ashtrays.


whew! that's what you get for talking about intellectual property around me...

[NetShrine]

Satchel - cool stuff. Thanks! Very interesting.........

The link expired (This search session has expired. Please start a search session again by clicking on the TRADEMARK icon, if you wish to continue) - but, I get the main drag from your post. Wonder how many other players have done something like this?

Mario Mendoza is missing a $ opportunity if he hasn't locked up his "line" yet.

The only sports name I've ever heard copyrighted is "Shaq" since that name is unique and there's no one else named "Shaquille" who's a celebrity, much less a sports star. That and the Shaq Attack on the baskets in his rook and soph years.

NY Post: Reggie believes Jeter is Mr. October, too.

REG'S RAVE REVIEW: DEREK IS MR. OCTOBER, TOO
By GEORGE KING

October 18, 2001 -- SEATTLE - Move over Reggie, there is a new Mr. October in New York.
With each passing postseason game, Derek Jeter is grabbing more of Reggie Jackson's title.

And Jackson - dubbed Mr. October in the late 1970s for his clutch postseason hitting - is comfortable with Jeter moving in on his nickname.

"There is nothing wrong with that," Jackson said prior to yesterday's 4-2 Yankee win in Game 1 of the ALCS.

"The only thing I would like to trade is his future for my past. That and bank accounts, although mine is not embarrassing."

Jackson didn't need to see Jeter go into the seats to make a catch in Game 5 of the ALCS to know that the Yankees' shortstop is well deserving of Mr. October status.

"I was talking with somebody the other day, and for all the games he has played in the postseason, he has never done anything to embarrass himself," Jackson said of the all-time postseason hit leader, who has 87 after passing Pete Rose in Game 5 of the ALDS on Monday night.

"He hasn't struck out four times in a game or thrown the ball away. The only thing he doesn't have is a real good understanding of the game - he thinks there are 173 games in a year."

Jackson, of course, was joking on the last part because Jeter has played in the postseason every year he has been in the big leagues.

But Jackson was dead serious when describing the 27-year-old Jeter's spot in sports folklore.

"That play the other night, I have seen people make that," Jackson said of Jeter making a catch on the way into the third-base seats. "But the play at the plate, the only other guy who makes that [type of play] is Magic Johnson."

Jackson was referring to Jeter's balletic, game-saving play against the A's in Game 3 of the ALDS, after Shane Spencer's throw from right field missed the cutoff man. Jeter raced from short to the first-base line, fielded the fading throw and, in one motion, flipped a perfect relay to Jorge Posada to nail Jeremy Giambi at the plate. The Yanks won that game 1-0, starting their comeback in the series.

Jeter also went 8-for-18 (.444) against the A's. Though he was 0-for-5 yesterday, he still owns a a .326 (87-for-267) postseason average.

"You see him play and he is like Coca-Cola, the real thing," Jackson said. "He can certainly be the new Mr. October."

Then Jackson paid Jeter the ultimate compliment. Asked what former teammate Jeter reminded him of, Jackson said Catfish Hunter.

"Catfish was a Hall of Fame pitcher who was a better person," Jackson said. "Catfish never had a bad game when it counted."

Now Jackson was in high gear.

"He is the epitome of the Yankees' past, to Mickey [Mantle] and Joe [DiMaggio]," Jackson said. "The lineage is right there."

[satchel]

"Shaq" is trademarked, not copyrighted. (Copyright protects works of authorship, not names.) I just looked up "Shaq" on the USPTO website. There are several registered marks for "Shaq" or phrases that incorporate it like "Shaq Attack." Interestingly, Shaquille O'Neill does not own them; a company named Mark O'Mark does - presumably a trademark clearing house that handles the licensing for him. The record contains the following annotation: 'The name "SHAQ" in the mark is the nickname of a living individual whose consent is of record.' This is in contrast to "Mr. October" which is in fact owned by Reggie Jackson, and but contains a similar annotation in the record anyhow.

Sorry about the broken link earlier. If anyone is interested, you can go to www.uspto.gov, and click on "trademarks" in the lower right hand corner. You can search "Mr. October AND Jackson" to find Reggie, and "Shaq" to find "Shaq."

[Duque]

Wonder if "NetShrine" has been copyrighted yet.

The merchandising possibilities are endless - instead of forum members, we could be "Shriners," and Net could come up with some funny little fez-like hat.

[hmrsf]

[satchel]

Good news, Net! There's no trademark registered that includes "Netshrine" or the words "net" and "shrine!" If you can wait out the year, until I finish school and pass the bar, I'll do the application for you.

[jpalexa]

Originally posted by NetShrine
"He hasn't struck out four times in a game, he hasn't thrown a ball away, he hasn't done anything normal that you might do in a big game," Jackson said.

Nor has he hit three dingers in a WS game...!

As far as the $30K, I just don't get it -- I trademarked (well, service marked, to be accurate) my "Baseball Ink" for my magazine, and it only cost a couple hundred bucks for the application fee. I can only think that Reggie had to pay $30K to buy the "Mr. October" trademark out from somebody else who already owned it?

[hmrsf]

but isn't that like wishing the Yankees luck.....you won't need it either!

[NetShrine]

Originally posted by satchel
Good news, Net! There's no trademark registered that includes "Netshrine" or the words "net" and "shrine!" If you can wait out the year, until I finish school and pass the bar, I'll do the application for you.

Do I look like I have thirty grand?
Duque - I think Jen (or someone else) beat you on the Fez idea.