Several media outlets have reported that two black men own the White Lives Matter trademark so I took a little stroll over to the USPTO to take a look.

Now, before we get started, I’m just here to report the legal news, so… DON’T COME FOR ME! I know some of y’all like to tussle.

On the same day that Kanye debuted his White Lives Matter shirts at Paris Fashion Week (i.e., October 3, 2022), Jae Gibson filed a trademark application for “White Lives Matter” for t-shirts and apparel

On that same day, an assignment was filed showing that ownership of the pending application was transferred from Jae Gibson to Civic Cipher, LLC -the two black men who host the Arizona-based Civic Cipher radio/podcast show

You can see that an Assignment has been recorded for the “intent to use” (1B) trademark.

An “intent to use” trademark application is just that…an application, NOT proof of registration.

These types of applications are filed as a way to “get in line” and claim ownership over a trademark, BUT…

The application can ALWAYS be challenged.

ALSO…

Serial Numbers are NOT Registration Numbers. Registered trademarks have a 7-digit Registration Number. Serial Numbers are 8-digits

This application ONLY has a Serial No.