TTAB Sustains Nike Opposition Over Lack of Intent

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board sustained an opposition by Nike Inc. against an intent-to-use application for the composite mark B BLUE RIBBON TEAM. The applicant sought registration for services including sports stores, but the Board found insufficient evidence of a bona fide intent to use the mark in commerce at the time of filing.

Nike opposed the application on grounds that it conflicted with its historic BLUE RIBBON SPORTS mark, the predecessor name associated with the company’s founding. The Board’s decision focused on the applicant’s failure to demonstrate the required intent rather than solely on likelihood of confusion.

The ruling, issued in early June 2026, underscores the TTAB’s scrutiny of intent-to-use applications where documentary evidence of planned commercial activity is lacking. Such decisions reinforce requirements for applicants to maintain contemporaneous records supporting their stated intent.

The opposition proceeding concluded with the Board sustaining Nike’s claims, preventing registration of the challenged mark. No appeal details have been reported as of the latest filings.

Sources: https://www.vitallaw.com/news/trademark-ttab-ttab-sustains-nike-objection-for-lack-of-bona-fide-intent/ipm010a2c9d6e0600472689a33afcd14dbcb5 http://thettablog.blogspot.com/2026/06/finding-that-applicant-lacked-requisite.html