Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair filed an affidavit and consent for registration of the trademark THE MAN with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
The affidavit states that he is the living individual who uses, goes by, is known as, and have utilized the name THE MAN as one of his professional and business names in the United States as early as January 1, 1976. He applied for the trademark through his Ric Flair LLC company registered in Georgia on August 23 and it was “live” on the USPTO website on August 26 after his attorney Alan Clarke filed the proper paperwork. The mark was filed under entertainment services.
While the application was accepted by the Office for meeting the minimum filing requirements, it has not not been assigned to an examining attorney yet and that is a process that takes around three months after the filing date. The chances of the USPTO approving are slim though as the term is vague and usually the Office is very strict on giving someone sole trademark rights on something similar.
WWE has been promoting Becky Lynch as “the man” and even selling merchandise bearing that term, which would be a problem if the USPTO decides to agree with Flair and give him the mark.
Reacting to the news, Becky Lynch posted on Twitter simply writing, “I am The Man.”
