Walker Buehler Files New Trademark Applications For Buetane
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Walker Buehler has filed new trademark applications for his nickname ‘Buetane.’
According to records with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the filings were submitted on September 16. Buehler submitted three separate applications covering:
- Motivational speaking services
- Baseball clinics, and sports camps
- Baseball equipment including bats and gloves
- Clothing under the ‘Buetane’ brand
The filings come just weeks after the Phillies signed Buehler, reviving his season following his release from the Boston Red Sox. Philadelphia is hoping the two-time All-Star can provide a boost during a postseason push.
This is not Buehler’s first attempt to protect his nickname. In 2021, he filed trademark applications for ‘Buetane,’ but those filings expired this month after he exhausted the maximum number of extensions without ever offering goods or services under the mark. By refiling, Buehler restarts the process with the USPTO, which will once again review the applications for approval.
Buehler’s New and Original ‘Buetane’ Filings
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | Filing Date | Serial # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 13, 2021 | 97024594 | ||||
| 2 | September 13, 2021 | 97024659 | ||||
| 3 | September 13, 2021 | 97024635 | ||||
| 4 | September 16, 2025 | 99395643 | ||||
| 5 | September 16, 2025 | 99395624 | ||||
| 6 | September 16, 2025 | 99395605 |
Buehler’s new filings are a textbook example of a common challenge athletes face in attempting to register trademarks. Many players want to lock down their nicknames, but a trademark application won’t register until the name is actually used to sell products or offer services to consumers.
In Buehler’s case, he filed for ‘Buetane’ back in 2021 and managed to keep those applications alive for four years through extensions. But because he never launched any products or services using the ‘Buetane’ trademark, the clock ran out. Once those applications lapsed, his only option was to refile, losing the priority date he secured in 2021.
Extensions Filed by Buehler for His Original ‘Buetane’ Filings
That loss of priority creates risk. If anyone else applied for a similar mark between 2021 and 2025, Buehler’s new filings could be refused. Essentially, he has to start from scratch and hope the path is still clear.
For athletes, this underscores an important trademark lesson: filing trademarks early is only part of the equation when it comes to protecting intellectual property. To actually own a trademark registration, you need to follow through with real “commercial use” of the trademark. Otherwise, applications expire, rights are lost, and you’re left reapplying years later (which puts the trademark rights at risk).
Time will tell if ‘Buetane’ makes it back through the USPTO.
But in the meantime, I hope to see Buehler on the pitching mound in this year’s World Series.
Go Phils!
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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