'The' Ohio State University wants to trademark THE

The school has insisted for years that you call it "THE Ohio State University." Now it has filed for a trademark on the word.



The campus of Ohio State University ... er, The Ohio State University ... in Columbus in November 2016.
John Minchillo / AP file

Aug. 13, 2019, 11:26 PM EDT
By Alex Johnson

Ohio State University athletes and coaches who insist that you call it "THE Ohio State University" could soon have the federal government on their side after the university filed a request to trademark the word "the" last week.

Application No. 88571984, filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday, was discovered and publicized Tuesday by Josh Gerben, a prominent trademark lawyer in Washington. The application seeks a trademark on the single word "THE" for use on T-shirts and baseball caps and hats.



The official trademark application by The Ohio State University on Aug. 8, 2019.U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
For years, the university's demand that it be called "THE Ohio State University" has rankled sports fans and journalists, who've called it "pompous and stupid," "ridiculous" and "arrogant."

Partisans, including the university, point out that "the" is part of its name under state law. And Chris Deavey, a spokesman for the university, told The Columbus Dispatch on Tuesday that it's important to "vigorously protect the university's brand and trademarks."

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