A local business is “seeking the trademark rights to be an exclusive seller of hats, hoodies, shirts and jerseys” for the Bills’ crowd slogan “Let’s go, Buffalo,” according to Matthew Trunfio of the BUFFALO NEWS. Last Tuesday, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published the trademark, giving opponents “30 days to file legal opposition” if they want to continue printing the slogan. On Friday, the trademark was “yanked back into review after a letter or protest was submitted to the trademark office.” The company seeking trademark rights, Celebrate Buffalo, is a Buffalo-themed apparel shop that has operated since 2005. Celebrate Buffalo owner Joe Garlipp said that he “originally began to seek a trademark” after being told that the Bills “have the rights to the slogan, causing his merch to repeatedly be taken down.” Trunfio noted there is “no record of the team having a trademark over the phrase.” Other Buffalo-themed stores said that they “hadn’t encountered any issues when using the phrase” (BUFFALO NEWS, 8/15).
