Posted November 9, 200519 yr comment_3878314 I created a new topic because the last one discussed more of a role Christian would play in TNA whereas this one focuses completely on his name and how it will affect him and how the WWE is going to react. Stolen from tOA.... Word Mark CHRISTIAN CAGE Goods and Services IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services in the nature of a wrestling club; Entertainment services namely live, televised and movie appearances by a professional entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler. FIRST USE: 19950630. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19950630 Standard Characters Claimed Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK Serial Number 78745579 Filing Date November 2, 2005 Current Filing Basis 1A Original Filing Basis 1A Owner (APPLICANT) William Jason Reso INDIVIDUAL CANADA c/o BWCS Sports/Media 9242 Beverly Blvd., Suite 200 Beverly Hills UNITED STATES 90210 Attorney of Record Eric J. Goodman Type of Mark SERVICE MARK Register PRINCIPAL Live/Dead Indicator LIVE And he also owns... Word Mark CAPTAIN CHARISMA Goods and Services IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services in the nature of a wrestling club; Entertainment services namely live, televised and movie appearances by a professional entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a professional wrestler. FIRST USE: 20040930. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20040930 Standard Characters Claimed Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK Serial Number 78745757 Filing Date November 2, 2005 Current Filing Basis 1A Original Filing Basis 1A Owner (APPLICANT) William Jason Reso INDIVIDUAL CANADA c/o BWCS Sports/Media 9242 Beverly Blvd., Suite 200 Beverly Hills UNITED STATES 90210 Attorney of Record Eric J. Goodman Type of Mark SERVICE MARK Register PRINCIPAL Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
November 9, 200519 yr comment_3878422 He wrestled as Christian Cage before WWE so he has all rights to that, but how the hell did WWE not copyright "Captain Charisma"? Another victory for that crack WWE legal team....
November 9, 200519 yr Author comment_3878554 jdw claims that he ahs the right to nothing until it is registered so this may be much ado about nothing. Still, Chrisian was smart just attempting to get the rights to the name. I have a gut feeling if the Dudleys would have done this that they would still be the Dudleys in TNA.
November 10, 200519 yr comment_3879087 I'm sure WWe has the Dudley name locked up, since they bought the ECW scraps.
November 10, 200519 yr comment_3879112 I'm assuming that the Dudleyx, like Spike signed over the rights to the name when they signed with WWF. As far as "Captain Charisma," I can't imagine that WWE doesn't have that trademarked. They made a shirt with the phrase on it, which I'd say is a pretty good indication that they own the name.
November 10, 200519 yr comment_3879122 Not necessarily. They made Hulkamania shirts and that went with Hogan to WCW.
November 10, 200519 yr comment_3879158 Marvel owns the Hulk Hogan name, due to WWF billing him as "Incredible" Hulk Hogan when he first started with them. It's also why he changed to Hollywood Hogan, WCW got tired of paying Marvel. Christian should be able to call himself Christian Cage at least in TNA, since it's easily proven that the name predated his WWF run.
November 10, 200519 yr comment_3879175 Marvel Comics owned the name at the time (Hogan owns it now). Bret Hart owned his name, Savage his, Jake Roberts his, etc... It's a different situation. Christian began using the gimmick in WWE, not before, like the guys I mentioned and didn't have a trademark (or attempt to trademark it) before he left the company. I'm pretty sure that WWE owns it, but I hope for Reso's sake that they don't. I like the gimmick, if fits Christian's gimmick perfectly, and it was probably his idea.
November 10, 200519 yr comment_3879207 Isn't it established that if a guy can prove he used a ring name before entering WWE, that they can't claim ownership? Isn't that the reason they always tried to give everyone a new WWE-owned gimmick even if they were better known as someone else before? Christian was wrestling as Christian long before entering WWF/E, I don't think they can claim that as WWE property.
November 10, 200519 yr comment_3879628 If he owns the trademark to Captain Charisma, then I think he's officially the smartest wrestler that's left the WWE.
November 10, 200519 yr comment_3880438 It would explain why they stopped selling the Captain Charisma shirts before he left. Even when they were selling them, they were hard to find at house shows. They didn't have any at the house show I went to in Vancouver.
November 10, 200519 yr comment_3880808 It would explain why they stopped selling the Captain Charisma shirts before he left. Even when they were selling them, they were hard to find at house shows. They didn't have any at the house show I went to in Vancouver. That's probably because they either didn't think they would sell or were afraid that they would sell too well and that they might just have to consider pushing aguy who they didn't deem worthy.
November 10, 200519 yr comment_3881851 He trademarked Captain Charisma as a performing name. Captain Charisma is already trademarked as a merchandising entity to a non-WWE company or individual, which would explain why they stopped marketing the moniker a few months back.
November 10, 200519 yr comment_3883735 That actually would explain a lot, if he caught WWE sleeping and trademarked Captain Charisma before they did. It would explain why they stopped selling his merchandise and would be a reason for why they would offer him a lowball contract.
