Bill Belichick has another loss to shake off, this one via the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
ESPN was first to report the 73-year-old North Carolina football coach and 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, had four trademark applications denied recently as they continue to attempt to monetize the Belichick brand in the post-Patriots stage of his career.
That may not sound all that interesting in and of itself, but the substance of the requests is worth a chuckle if you’re up on your pop culture.
What didn’t make the cut?
The phrases that were rejected all had an obvious theme: “Do Your Job (Bill’s Version),” “Ignore the Noise (Bill’s Version),” “The Belestrator (Bill’s Version),” and “No Days Off (Bill’s Version).”
Whether or not the recent applications were a tongue-in-cheek (or maybe serious, or perhaps intentional?) reference to one of Taylor Swift’s many sagas is unclear, but it is hard not to see them as a reference to the pop megastar’s efforts to take control of her song catalogue.
Although Swift eventually was able to purchase her masters in May, that came after a prolonged and public battle with her former label and its subsequent owners over them.
In the meantime, she released new versions of her first six albums that had been recorded under a contract with Big Machine Records, adding “Taylor’s version” to each rerelease.
Why were these requests rejected?
In short, the USPTO concluded the trademarks were too similar to ones already held by the New England Patriots, Belichick’s employer from 2002-23.
During that time, the team secured the right to use “Do Your Job,” “The Belestrator,” “No Days Off,” and “Ignore the Noise,” so they will maintain control of those despite the attempted end-around.
(At this point, it seems safe to say they are never, ever getting back together.)
At any rate, the whole episode is amusing in light of the somewhat strange trip Belichick’s foray into college football already has been.
His first game as head coach of the Tar Hells ended up being a public humiliation as they were trounced on their home field — and in front of a national television audience — by TCU in Week 1.
Last week, UNC got its first win 20-3 over Charlotte, but there was still controversy as it came to light he has banned Patriots scouts from the team facility.
That call came after a series of reports in the spring and summer about Hudson’s level of involvement with the program and her interference in an interview with CBS News.
Some good news for Belichick
However, the patent case wasn’t a total loss for Belichick and Hudson.
They did get approval for “The Belichick Way,” “The All-Belichick Team,” and “Chapel Bill (Bill’s Version).”
Whatever ultimately happens with North Carolina, Belichick is arguably the most successful coach in NFL history.
He led the Patriots to nine Super Bowls and won eight, both NFL records.
He was 266-121 with the Pats and has a career NFL regular season record of 302-165, including five seasons with the Cleveland Browns.
