Gym Owners: Things to Consider as You Change Your Name and Build Your Own Brand

By Eric Perrott, Esq.

By Eric Perrott, Esq. & Sophie Edbrooke (Law Clerk)

Licensing a brand from another company can be a great way to show affiliation and benefit from the recognition that the existing brand already has. When a business enters into a licensing agreement with a major company, they are allying themselves with not just the brand, but its reputation and goodwill as well.

What happens when the brand you license no longer reflects your company’s values?

On June 6, 2020, over 15,000 gyms across the world found themselves with the decision of whether to continue to ally themselves with CrossFit, a brand known for high-intensity interval training workout programs. As affiliates of CrossFit, these gyms have advertised this specific brand of workout and pay a yearly fee to use the mark; however, when the CrossFit CEO wrote a series of insensitive tweets about COVID-19, racism, and the recent death of George Floyd, many licensees feel that they can no longer align themselves with a company that does not share their values.

Many affiliates have decided to use this as an opportunity to create their own brand separate from the CrossFit identity by choosing new names and staking out on their own. These gyms have amazing potential to build their own brand and legacy, while still maintaining total control over their identity.

However, with this opportunity comes a number of challenges, and when it comes to developing new brands, there are a few things you should consider.

A License is a Contract

Firstly, look at your license. A licensing agreement is a contract, so make sure you know what you can or cannot do under those terms. Many gyms are facing renewal periods and choosing not to renew or choosing to wait out the remainder of their renewal period abiding by the licensing rule. For example, CrossFit requires that “The CrossFit Journal” logo and link remain on the homepage of the affiliate’s website for the entirety of their agreement. Not all licensing agreements are the same, and some may have more stringent requirements – so make sure you check out your individual requirements.

As a current or former licensee, you may be limited in ways other gyms may not be. Understanding and analyzing your agreement is crucial to avoiding legal liability.

Building a Brand – Trademark Search and Analysis

Many licensing agreements have terms (i.e. one-year, two-years, etc.) and specific requirements for terminating the agreement. Once the agreement concludes or expires, former affiliate gyms can rebrand themselves as individual gyms and can start working on their own identities and messages.

The first thing that gyms will need to do is create a new name since many CrossFit gyms are named after their location and their affiliation.

When developing a new name and brand, gym owners should start by doing a basic web search for their proposed name – this will uncover any immediate red-flags. Then, gym owners should work with a trademark professional to do a comprehensive search of the US Patent and Trademark Office database and marketplace for a deeper analysis of potential issues with pre-existing names. This will help ensure that the name under consideration is not confusingly similar to a name currently being used by another gym.

Also, gyms should try to be as creative as possible with their new names. Names such as [Location] Fitness or [Location] Gym are considered “descriptive” under trademark law, which means they are very difficult to protect. DC GYM or DC FITNESS for a Washington, DC fitness center would not immediately protectable under trademark law. To create a strong brand, gym owners should be creative in order to independently protect his or her brand. A creative name makes it possible for a gym to be the sole seller of merchandise, advertising materials, and any other branded items. For gyms looking to expand into a franchise, a creative name is essential.

Once that analysis is complete, gym owners should register their new trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. A registered trademark is the gold standard for brand development and even gyms without immediate plans to expand can benefit from owning a registered trademark.e

Moving On

Along with a new name, gyms transitioning to a new name will have to be careful they do not infringe on other materials that they may have used freely before. For example, any advertising materials that were given to the affiliates – including brochures, videos, or stock images – are owned by CrossFit and cannot be used by the disaffiliated gyms. Further, while any actual workout sequences are generally unable to be protected by the law, some terms specific to the CrossFit community, including the titles of workouts and sequences, may be protected in certain circumstances.

Brand licensing is an important part of a business and can be a boon for like-minded businesses that all benefit from the goodwill of the licensed brand. However, when that brand no longer represents your business ideals, it could be time for a change. By building your own intellectual property portfolio that you control, you can create a strong, long-lasting brand for your gym or other fitness business that represents you in the way you want to be viewed to customers and to the public.

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Eric Perrott, Esq.

Eric Perrott, Esq. is a trademark and copyright attorney committed to providing high-quality legal services for any sized budget. Eric’s ability to counsel clients through any stage of trademark and copyright development and protection allows him to provide his clients with personalized advice and unique analysis. Eric can be reached directly at: eric@gerbenlawfirm.com. The contents of this blog are for informational purposes only and may not be relied on as legal advice.