The PGA Tour, in a "move to better protect its trademark," reached out to "about a half-dozen equipment manufacturers at the start of the year ... to spell out clearer guidelines for use of its mark in a variety of promotional platforms," according to Dave Shedloski of GOLF WORLD. PGA Tour Exec VP/Communications & Int'l Affairs Ty Votaw said, "In the past year we have seen a dramatic increase in usage of the PGA Tour name and the use of the word 'tour,' which can be construed to be referring to the PGA Tour." Areas of "concern Votaw listed include television commercials, print ads, point-of-sales materials, packaging, email blasts and even social media." Votaw said, "When we see something that steps over the line, we have to do something or the tide keeps rising." He added, "We're having discussions about (companies) effectively communicating to their consumers without [doing] damage to our mark. We find that when we set guidelines, people tend to follow guidelines" (GOLF WORLD, 6/2 issue).
SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS: ESPN.com's Darren Rovell noted Heat President Pat Riley's company, Riles & Co., has "filed to trademark the phrase '3-Peat' on bed covers, linens, blankets, sheets and towels." The filing was submitted to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office last Monday but "didn't appear on the government organization's website until Friday." It is the second filing Riley's company "has made in the past 10 days." On May 15, Riles & Co. "filed a trademark application to use '3-Peat' on jewelry, including rings, and other sports memorabilia" (ESPN.com, 5/23).
