Conor McGregor was already a household name before his fight against Floyd Mayweather last month, but you could now argue that the Irishman is a global icon. It makes sense, then, that McGregor is trying to secure a number of trademarks so he can continue making money through new avenues.
But trying and succeeding are two different things, and McGregor is meeting plenty of resistance with his trademark applications. The Irish Times reports that McGregor has hired FR Kelly, one of the top trademark law firms in Dublin, to help him secure a number of trademarks.
McGregor’s nickname is “The Notorious,” and that phrase is one of several the 29-year-old has filed a trademark application for with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Spain. Liverpool businessmen and brothers Andy and John Underwood are seeking to block McGregor from profiting off of “The Notorious,” as they have been selling combat sports apparel with their Notorious Fightwear brand since 2009, which is long before McGregor became a star.
McGregor is also hoping to use the phrase “Notorious” to market his own whiskey, beer and other beverages.
Conor McGregor's trademark filing for "Notorious" not only includes intended use for whiskey but for beers, water & juice.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) September 5, 2017
He’s going to have to fight for that, too. A company called the Carlow Brewing Company already owns thew EUIPO trademark for “Notorious” as an alcohol brand.
As the Irish Times notes, typically the person who holds a trademark first is at a significant advantage in legal battles. McGregor probably has a better chance of winning his trademark fights than these fans do with their lawsuit regarding his fight against Mayweather, but that isn’t saying much.
