Most people know Lamar Jackson as the impressive starting quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. After a trademark opposition filed by the football player, however, FL101 Inc. may forever know him as the man who derailed their trademark dreams. FL101 Inc. is seeking rights over the word “EIGHT,” and Jackson has taken issue with this.

Companies and individuals can own exclusive rights to use a word like EIGHT in relation to certain types of goods and services.  The real question is whether Lamar Jackson owns “EIGHT” in a manner that FL101 Inc. wants to use it.  We’ll have the answer to this shortly.

Does “EIGHT” Violate Lamar Jackson’s Trademark?

In May 2023, FL101 Inc. filed several trademark applications for the word “EIGHT.” These applications sought exclusive ownership of the word in relation to restaurants, retail services, handbags, and a variety of other goods and services. Over a year later, Lamar Jackson filed a notice of opposition to block some of these registrations.

Of the two trademark oppositions submitted by Jackson on July 9, 2024, only the applications for trademark classes 18 and 25 were targeted. These classes focus on leather goods and clothing, respectively. In his filings, Jackson claims that registration would create a likelihood of confusion and false suggestion of a connection with his brand.

The big question is whether Jackson can truly claim exclusive rights over the word “EIGHT” in these categories. While Jackson does own trademarks that contain the number “8,” none appear to be only the number. They’re all some iteration of the number (e.g., You 8 Ye?t), and this could cause some issues for the quarterback.

Can Anyone Own a Number?

It’s not really a question of whether someone can own a number. Registering a trademark doesn’t necessarily prevent others from using the registered word. After all, FL101 Inc. already owns exclusive rights over the trademark “EIGHT” in relation to the beer they manufacture — and other companies have their own “EIGHT” trademarks.

In the case of FL101, Inc., this simply means other brands can’t use “EIGHT” to sell beer. Other uses can be and are currently being used by other brands. While no one can truly own a number, they can own the right to exclusively use that number in a certain trademark category.

Lamar Jackson’s filing with the USPTO tries to ensure that the brewing company’s rights don’t extend to certain types of bags and clothing. If he’s successful, FL101, Inc. may encounter issues expanding the reach of its brand.

What Happens Next?

While Lamar Jackson certainly has some trademark rights over the number “8,” none of these registrations or applications contain only the number or its spelled-out form (EIGHT). However, this doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t be successful in his opposition. For now, we have to wait to see how FL101, Inc. will respond.

Barring any delays, the company has until August 18, 2024 to file an answer to Jackson’s opposition filings. This will no doubt be an interesting case to watch unfold.