MGM Opposing Trademark Application For Hulk Hogan’s Rocky Character

– MGM has filed an opposition to Big Blondes LLC’s application for a trademark based on Hulk Hogan’s character in Rocky. PWInsider reports that the studio, who owns the rights to the film franchise, has opposed a trademark application by Big Blondes LLC for “Thunderlips.” The opposition notice says that MGM has “information and belief” that Hulk Hogan is “a principal or otherwise controls and directs the activities of” Big Blondes.

MGM is opposing it due to their ownership of the franchise, saying that there would likely be confusion if someone else was given the tradermark. Hogan played the character in Rocky III, which helped drive Hogan’s rise to popularity and fame in the wrestling industry.

MGM is also claiming fraud on Big Blondes’ part, saying, “At the time Applicant filed the Application, Applicant knew that the verified statement it made to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) – that it was entitled to use Applicant’s THUNDERLIPS Mark and that no other party had the right to use the mark THUNDERLIPS – was false, since Bollea and Applicant knew of MGM’s prior rights in the THUNDERLIPS Mark for identical and related goods.”

The trademark was filed in March but was refused initially by the USPTO because the company didn’t show the trademark being used in connection with its identified services, listed as “Entertainment, namely, services rendered by a professional wrestler in the nature of personal appearances, wrestling matches and acting.”