The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has denied WWE a number of trademark filings, according to documentation obtained by HeelByNature.com.
The filings, all submitted in October, were rejected as there's been no content on the individuals who perform under the various names.
The aforementioned outlet reports the documents were issued in mid-February and claims the trademarks will be abandoned in six months' time should WWE fail to produce signed consent from the pertinent talent.
Dominik Mysterio was one of the names applied for but the USPTO denied the trademark request because "The applied-for mark includes the name of the following individual applicant: “Dominik Mysterio”, or “Dominik Gutiérrez”, as shown in the attached evidence. However, this individual did not sign the application and the application does not include a written consent personally signed by this individual."
Filings pertaining to Kay Lee Rae, Chelsea Green, A-Kid, Amale, Amir Jordan, and Aoife Valkyrie were also rejected based on the above.
WWE has been informed that they must include a statement that the name in the mark identifies a particular living individual, as well as written consent to register the name. They are to submit “The name shown in the mark identifies a living individual whose consent to register is made of record.”
In addition:
"If the name is a pseudonym, stage name, or nickname, applicant must provide the following statement: “Dominik Mysterio identifies _____ {specify actual name}, a living individual whose consent is of record.
"A written consent, personally signed by the named individual, as follows: “I, Dominik Mysterio, consent to the use and registration of my name, Dominik Mysterio, as a trademark and/or service mark with the USPTO.”
Nothing New
The above is nothing new to WWE as the company received a similar response after filing for names Drew Gulak, Pete Dunne, Tony Nese, Justus, Malcolm Bivens, Mercedes Martinez, Keith Lee, Raquel González, and Mia Yim last year.
Mia, Keith and Mercedes have registered the trademarks on their own. WWE's applications have been abandoned and the company will need to appeal should they want to keep pursuing.
Source: HeelByNature.com