OpenAI Challenges PetroChina Over ‘Oil GPT’ Trademark in Clash of Global Titans
OpenAI just made a bold move to protect the ‘GPT’ trademark.
The AI giant has taken legal action to block PetroChina’s trademark application for a chatbot product called ‘OIL GPT.’
PetroChina, the state-owned arm of China National Petroleum Corporation, has been seeking trademark registration in the United States for ‘OIL GPT.’ Earlier this year, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) approved the ‘OIL GPT’ trademark for registration.
That said, every trademark application has a 30-day period during which a third party can file a challenge, called ‘Notice of Opposition’, to block the application.
On May 22, OpenAI filed a ‘Notice of Opposition’ with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The filing of the Opposition officially stops PetroChina’s application in its tracks.
According to the Opposition, PetroChina’s trademark application describes ‘OIL GPT’ as a downloadable chatbot software product. OpenAI argues that the use of “GPT” in the name is a direct reference to its own generative AI technology and that PetroChina never sought or received permission to use it.
Excerpt from the OpenAI’s opposition to PetroChina’s ‘OIL GPT’ trademark:
OpenAI’s complaint further asserts that both companies are offering similar goods—specifically, deep learning software and tools for generating human-like speech and text. OpenAI goes on to claim that allowing PetroChina to register the ‘OIL GPT’ trademark would not only create confusion in the marketplace but also dilute the distinctiveness of OpenAI’s ChatGPT brand.
This legal clash comes at a delicate time for OpenAI. The USPTO recently issued a final refusal of OpenAI’s own application to register ‘GPT’ as a standalone trademark, citing that the term has become generic in the software and AI industry. If OpenAI fails to overturn that refusal, PetroChina could leverage that decision as a powerful defense in its own case—arguing that ‘GPT’ is fair game for anyone to use.
What’s at stake? Potentially the future of how the GPT acronym can be used across industries.
This case pits two global powerhouses—one in AI, the other in oil—against each other in a trademark showdown that could set a major precedent. If PetroChina prevails, it could open the door for a flood of new GPT-themed trademarks across sectors. If OpenAI wins, it will reinforce its claim to exclusive rights over one of the most recognizable acronyms in artificial intelligence.
For now, we all get to watch as a battle of titans unfolds at the USPTO.
Josh Gerben, Esq.
Josh Gerben, Esq. is a nationally recognized trademark attorney and the founder of Gerben IP. Since launching the firm in 2008, he has overseen the registration of over 10,000 trademarks and handled over 1,500 trademark disputes. Josh's practice focuses on building and defending global trademark portfolios for clients. These clients include entrepreneurs, private equity-backed businesses, athletes, celebrities, and public companies. Frequently quoted by major media outlets like CNBC, CNN, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, Josh is widely regarded as a leading authority in trademark law.
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