NFL Opposes XFL’s Trademark for Houston Roughnecks Logo

The NFL, which still owns trademark rights around the Houston Oilers trademarks, has filed an opposition against the XFL’s trademark application for the Houston Roughnecks logo.

In the documents filed on December 28, the NFL contends that the Roughnecks logo is too similar to that of the former Houston Oilers team.

The NFL goes on to note that although the Houston Oilers moved to Tennessee and changed its name to the Tennessee Titans, the Oilers mark still retains valuable goodwill and consumer recognition. As a matter of fact, the NFL pointed out that they still sell merchandise with the old Oilers logo.

The NFL concludes the opposition by stating that consumers encountering the XFL’s mark, particularly in connection with the XFL’s services (in this case football games), are likely to associate the mark with the NFL’s former team, the Oilers.

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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.