Calling Dibs on the Philly Special

by Theresa Castellucci*

On fourth and goal in the most important game of the season, against the defending Super Bowl Champions, Doug Pederson went for it.[1]  In what has been called the “gutsiest coaching job in Super Bowl history–an all-out, nothing-to-lose strategic masterpiece” at the urging of quarterback Nick Foles, Pederson approved the “Philly Special.”[2]  This trick play has already become emblematic of Super Bowl LII in Philadelphia, representing the trust Pederson has in his players and the confidence in their ability as a team.[3]

Trademark Dispute

However, the Philly Special does not belong to Philly’s team just yet.[4]  The Eagles have filed a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”), but so have eight others, including various individuals, as well as the Philadelphia brewery D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc.[5]  The USPTO evaluates several factors when determining whether to grant registration; the order of application determines the order in which they are evaluated, but priority alone does not determine who receives the registration.[6]  “While the USPTO will review applications in the order that they are received, an entity or individual with stronger rights is afforded the opportunity to assert superior rights,” should the earlier applicants move further along in the application process.[7]  As such, the delay in filing will not prevent the Eagles from ultimately obtaining the registration, but it will delay the process.[8]

The USPTO must also assess whether the phrase “Philly Special” is even eligible to be trademarked, or whether the phrase belongs in the public domain.[9]  Certain marks are descriptive and belong in the public domain; limiting their usage would restrict their public function.[10]  However, a descriptive mark may be trademarked if it acquires secondary meaning.  “A mark that was descriptive in its primary meaning can be shown to have acquired a secondary meaning as a trademark associated only with a particular product.”[11]  Accordingly, the Eagles must show that the phrase “Philly Special” is either a distinctive mark or that it has acquired secondary meaning.[12]

Eagles’ Case for the Philly Special

The Eagles have filed for the exclusive right to use the phrase–mostly for use on apparel.[13]  The Eagles have an advantage among the numerous applicants, as they claim to have already begun to use the phrase.[14] Registering a trademark “prevent[s] others from using the same mark or a similar mark which is likely to cause confusion, deception, or mistake in the mind of the public as to the source or sponsorship of the goods or services associated with the trademark.”[15]  Having ownership of the trademark will allow the Eagles to compel other potential users to forgo using the phrase or to obtain a license prior to use.[16]

One competing applicant, D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc., has already withdrawn its application.[17]  Although they intended to use the trademark to identify a type of beer, they withdrew from consideration to “allow the Eagles to have full, unfettered access to all rights and uses of the term ‘Philly Special.’”[18]  Regardless of the outcome of the battle for trademark registration, there is one phrase the Philadelphia Eagles will always have the right to claim: Super Bowl LII Champions.[19]

* Staff Writer, Jeffery S. Moorad Sports Law Journal, J.D. Candidate, May 2019, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law

[1] See Robert Klemko, ‘Philly Special’ Was Drawn Up By a Mad-Scientist Coach on a South Carolina Baseball Field in 2011, Sports Illustrated (Feb. 21, 2018), https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/02/21/philly-special-eagles-trick-play-clemson-westlake-high-gray-military-academy-2011 (expressing gravity of decision with thirty-four seconds left on clock in first half).

[2] See id. (explaining play as Foles lining up in shotgun before moving towards right side of line, then snapping to Corey Clement, an undrafted rookie running back, who then pitched it to Trey Burton, hitting wide-open Foles in endzone).

[3] See Dan Graziano, Guts and Glory: Eagles Coach Doug Pederson Had Game for the Ages, ESPN (Feb. 4, 2018), http://www.espn.com/espnw/sports/article/22326781/inside-philly-special-gutsiest-play-calling-super-bowl-history-doug-pederson-philadelphia-eagles  (“‘I trust my players, I trust my coaches and I trust my instincts,’ Pederson said . . . It was a play the Eagles had practiced a total of six times, and never before the week of the NFC Championship Game.”).

[4] See Darren Heitner, How The Eagles’ ‘Philly Special’ Trademark Process Should Play Out, Forbes (Feb. 21, 2018, 8:11 AM) https://www.forbes.com/sites/darrenheitner/2018/02/21/how-the-eagles-philly-special-trademark-process-should-play-out/#3bcdf3ba2a56 (estimating that process will take one year to finalize ownership of trademark).

[5] See Nathanial Shoshan, ‘Philly Special’: Inside the Post-Super Bowl Rush to Trademark Eagles’ Famed Trick Play, Philly (Feb. 12, 2018, 6:37 PM) http://www.philly.com/philly/super-bowl-lii/eagles-trick-play-philly-special-super-bowl-trademark-20180212.html (noting other applicants intended uses include multiple apparel lines and “Philly Special Cheesesteak”).

See also Darren Rovell, Champion Eagles Want to Trademark Phrase ‘Philly Special’, ESPN (Feb. 20, 2018) http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22512913/philadelphia-eagles-file-trademark-phrase-philly-special (stating Eagles filed for use of phrase on February 15, 2018).

[6] See Heitner, supra note 4; Rovell, supra note 5 (estimating “Eagles will have to wait about four months for the USPTO to sort out the filings and then roughly eight months after that to see whether the trademark will be awarded to the team”).

[7] See Heitner, supra note 4 (challenging other applicants occurs at opposition stage).

[8] See U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, Protecting Your Trademark: Enhancing Your Rights Through Federal Registration, (last visited Feb. 23, 2018), https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/BasicFacts.pdf (stating that applications are reviewed in order in which they are received).

[9] See Daniel R. Kimbell, Intellectual Property: An Attorney's Guide, 27 Beverly Hills B. Ass'n J. 109, 113 (1993) (“Trademark Office is more willing to grant trademark registrations for coined or arbitrary terms, which are less likely to limit the commercial use of coined or arbitrary words, than descriptive or generic terms, which might limit speech.”).

[10] See Jeffrey R. Hanes, Commandeering Generic Slang: A “Hogwash” Decision Upholding Trademark Protection for Harley Davidson in H-D Michigan, Inc. v. Top Quality Service, Inc. Case Note, 20 DCBA Brief 42, 44 (2007) (indicating that registration will not be granted when mark performs descriptive use).

[11] 22 Am. Jur. 3d Proof of Distinctiveness and Secondary Meaning of Trademark or Service Mark § 5 (“Such proof ranges from showing extensive use of a mark over time to promulgating market surveys demonstrating that a term, product shape, or label design that has a primary, descriptive meaning has also acquired a ‘secondary meaning’ to the public as a trademark.”).

[12] See id. (explaining that distinctive mark is sufficient and does not require secondary meaning).  But see Shoshan, supra note 5 (mentioning “a strong argument that [Philly Special] can’t function as a trademark because it is so well-known as a reference to that play”).

[13] See Rovell, supra note 5.  See also Josh Alper, Eagles Want Trademark on “Philly Special”, NBC Sports (Feb. 20, 2018, 2:37 PM) http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/02/20/eagles-want-trademark-on-philly-special/ (commenting that Eagles are not asserting claim to play’s design, which originated elsewhere).

[14] See Rovell, supra note 5 (other applicants applied for “intent to use”).

[15] Kimbell, supra note 9 (noting that federal registration of trademark provides national protection whereas state registration provides protection only within state).  The Eagles have filed for federal registration.  Id.

[16] See Franchise or Trademark License Agreements, World Intellectual Property Organization (last visited Apr. 4, 2018), http://www.wipo.int/sme/en/ip_business/licensing/franchise_license.htm (explaining more on trademark license agreements).

[17] See Jon Harris, Yuengling Withdraws ‘Philly Special’ Trademark Application, Morning Call (Feb. 22, 2018, 1:25 PM) http://www.mcall.com/business/mc-biz-yuengling-withdraws-philly-special-trademark-20180222-story.html (reporting Yuengling applied February 9, 2018 and withdrew February 20, 2018).

[18] See id. (recognizing that although Yuengling withdrew application, Eagles have other contenders for trademark).

[19] See Ben Shpigel, At Long Last, the Eagles Capture Their First Super Bowl, N. Y. Times (Feb. 4, 2018) https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/04/sports/eagles-super-bowl-champions.html (declaring Eagles’ performance “unforgettable” in crushing victory over favored New England Patriots).