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 As a rookie playing for the Denver Broncos, Tim Tebow was photographed bowing in prayer in the end zone on one knee.
October 20th, 2012
05:09 PM ET
Quarterback moves to trademark 'Tebowing'By Eric Marrapodi, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor (CNN) - Thou shalt not Tebow, for the wages of Tebowing is trademark infringement. A management and consulting firm representing New York Jets back-up quarterback and evangelical sports icon Tim Tebow has moved one step closer to holding the trademark "Tebowing" for use on things as widespread as clothing, pencil sharpeners and holiday ornaments. Tebow has long been very public about his Christian faith. In college, he sported Bible verses on his eye black, which the NCAA went on to ban after his graduation. Tebow invoked God frequently at news conferences and wrote at length about his faith and growing up the son of evangelical missionaries the Philippines in an autobiography. "Tebowing" became part of the American lexicon when Tebow, then a second year player for the Denver Broncos, was photographed bowing in prayer in the end zone on one knee, helmeted head bowed a top a clenched fist. It quickly became an Internet meme. One of the first to start the meme was Jared Kleinstein, a Denver-born Broncos fan, living in New York. He started a website, www.tebowing.com, defining Tebow as a verb: “To get down on a knee and start praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different.” He posted a photo of himself "Tebowing." Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter Tebow approved of the growing phenomenon at the time writing, “Love it,” on his Twitter account. A paper trail of documents with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office shows that soon after the meme caught fire last year, Kleinstein filed to trademark "Tebowing" and began to sell apparel with the phrase on it. XV Enterprises, a marketing and consulting firm, protested Kleinstein's application through California attorney Anthony M. Keats in October. Trademark records show Tebow is the sole shareholder of XV Enterprises, which is thought to represent the Roman numerals for his longtime football jersey number, 15. In a letter of protest, Keats wrote to the Trademark office that consumers would incorrectly think the goods were connected to Tebow or his charity the Tim Tebow Foundation. "Inevitably, in today's commercial arena of sports marketing, consumers will be led to believe that at a minimum, Tim Tebow or the Tim Tebow Foundation has approved of all of the third-party applicant's goods in the context of licensing; or, what is even more damaging, that Tim Tebow is actually connected with or associated with the goods of the cited applicants when he is not," Keats wrote. On February 22, the trademark office issued a refusal of registration to Kleinstein's application, saying the material he hoped to trademark, "includes matter which falsely suggests a connection with Tim Tebow. Accordingly, registration is refused under Trademark Act Section 2(a)." After Kleinstein's Tebowing trademark attempt was rejected, Tebow's team of advisers appear to have stepped in to claim the trademark. CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories An August 21 Trademark Application shows a letter signed by Tebow giving his consent to the "use and registration" by XV Enterprises LLC "of my nickname TEBOWING as a trademark and/or service mark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office." The filing also shows that Tim Tebow is the sole shareholder of XV Enterprises LLC. On October 9, the trademark, now showing XV Enterprises LLC as the owner, was published for opposition. That means anyone who wants to oppose the registration has 30 days to do so. If no one does, or the opposition is deemed by trademark office to be unsubstantiated, then Tim Tebow will officially own Tebowing. Newsday, which was among the first to report on the issue, quoted Tebow as saying, "It got hyped up as Tebowing, so [the trademark] was more to just control how it's used, make sure it's used in the right way." U.S. Patent and Trademark office records show in the past year a number of applications for Tebow-related trademarks have come up and been smacked down. In July, records show, the trademark office refused an application by Michael Dachs of Merrick, New York, who sought a trademark for the name and logo "Lord and Tebow" for T-shirts and apparel that mimicked the logo of the department store Lord and Taylor. The trademark office refused that claim because the logo was "virtually identical" to the Lord & Taylor logo. They also said in their rejection that consumers could "falsely suggest a connection with Tim Tebow ... Tim Tebow is so famous that consumers would presume a connection." |
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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I am dumbfounded that so many non-believers and/or critics of Tebow would take the time to read this article in the BELIEF section of CNN. Tebow is the genuine article, not one to shrink from his faith just because others attack him so. What is it about someone showing their belief in and reverence to God that upsets you all so much?
I find his on-field showboating to be offensive and self-serving. Last night I read an article about the Broncos, how last year all the press was about Tebow, and this year, despite the presence of Peyton Manning, it was all about the team.
I guess I like it when the credit goes to everybody who does the work, not just the guy who singles himself out with attention-grabbing shows of "personal faith".
And by the way, "Belief Blog" is a public forum. It isn't called "christian belief blog" and limited to those with a single point of view. Anyone can post here.
Let me guess TEBOW , is a Republican who believes that Jesus was a Republican , American , Capitalist who wanted every one to own a gun. That the earth is only 6000 years old. That Climate Change and Evolution are all lies?
I think that the U.S. education system is in real trouble. It is no wonder that America's in decline when some very dumb people argue over such B.S. The U.S. has become a world wide laughing stock.
You hit the nail on the head!
It is interesting how all that nonsense is rolled up into one political party, isn't it?
Thanks for the short burst of stupidity.
Trademark a gesture? I want to trademark the middle finger I am giving Tebow right now.
Trademark cannot be granted where "prior art" exists. Take a look at Rodan's "Thinker".
This is about money. Don't kid yourself to think it's anything else. On the lighter side, it reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where someone stole George's dad's "move" (a double-take gesture).
Sadly this is the kind of moronic idiots that will eventually end up in congress attempting to force his beliefs on everyone else. I think this man is severly lacking in the intelligence department, somewhat like Sarah Palin.
I know Tim Tebow is a genuinely good guy and I know my digust of him is somewhat irrational, but I just don't like him. I don't like Christian propaganda and he's the biggest tool of chrstian propaganda that exists today. He just doesn't get that Christianity promotes intolerance of human beings and that leeads to a hadtred of people that don't fit the christian mold, such as gay people. Christianity promotes bigotry. All the good things that christianity teaches us, such as love thy neighbor, are morals that we are all born with and develop as being part of society. I never had to go to church to know to treat others the way I want to be treated. It's a no brainer. If you need to go to church to learn that, then you have big issues and if church helps those issues, then I guess it's good for something...
My disgust in him isn't irrational. Look up Matthew 6:5 and see the hypocrite in Tebow...
"All the good things that christianity teaches us, such as love thy neighbor, are morals that we are all born with and develop as being part of society." – MORALS are TAUGHT! Where do you think most of society get these values? If you think that have good morale values is taught naturally you may want to look where all of society are on their religious morning, night, evening or whenever. Whether you are Christian, Muslim, Jewish or any other religion you teach these values to anyone who wants to listen.
Tebow as a celebrity annoys me too. It's "Look at me! I'm praying! I'm so holy! I'm so humble!" Not! It's too showy for my tastes. But, I won't infringe on his right to do it.
Great, we trademarked genuflection. Can't believe he beat the Pope to this. Good job 'Merica.
He should keep his religion to himself....who cares
So much for him doing it because he's religious.
Beyond "significant stupidity" !!!!!!
Wrong. If this young man's motives are sincere, then he is protecting himself and his religious beliefs from being exploited for financial gain. That is not stupid. If this Kleinstein fellow was allowed to trademark "Tebowing", then Mr. Tebow would have to pay the trademark holder every time he was captured "Tebowing". That would be stupid, to have pay someone every time you pray.
You are the tebowing to money if you you believe you have a right to copyright and sew someone for promoting a gesture of faith To their god. People don't let these man made laws come between you and your method of worship. They can stick this copyright up their a$$es.
Tebow (Jesus Jr.) should pray for some talent.
I think I will trademark the sign-of-the-cross that way no one can pray without my permission. LOL
I find this religious display in conjunction with a sporting event distasteful in the extreme. My God does not care who wins or loses a sporting event; he has bigger things to deal with. Thanking him for talent given is fine but should be done in private.
Jets Fan ?
Surely the point of the Abrahamic god is that he does care about every little thing, including the outcome of sporting events, especially seeing as he decides who wins.
I find your opinion distasteful in the extreme and it should be kept private. See how crushing freedom of speech works?
So religious freedom is ok as long as you don't have to see it? Isn't that one of of foundations of this country, to be able to practice ones religious beliefs freely?
This is the most pathetic kind of person there is...one who claims a holier than thou, Christian belief and then, in his quest for the almighty dollar, decides to copyright his famous ridiculous display of his "personal" faith. It's the same thing as some dummies who ask, "what kind of SUV would Jesus drive"! Beyond sick and the epitome of hypocrisy.
Jesus would drive a Hybrid.
Wow, assume much? It's amazing how you know what's in his heart and what his motivations are. Maybe you're God.
Jesus would drive a Hummer H3, pulled by four horses with fire coming out of their nostrils and packing lots of lightning bolts
Hold on there Trigger! The man says he just doesn't want anyone to exploit him or his beliefs. Let's wait and see what he does with it before we pass judgement. If he turns around and uses it for profit, then I would agree with you.
Liberal d.ouchebags drive Hybrids. Jesus was a liberal d.ouchebag. Ergo, Jesus would drive a Hybrid.
People who tebow need to punch themselves in the face.
So basically, once the trademark has been approved, any internet memes, apparel, or anything featureing a "Tebowing" created after the trademark date will be considered "Trademark infringement" and is punishable by severe fines and or criminal law.
In otherwords the company has effective said, "Stop making all this Tebowing stuff or well take your money and.or your freedom!" Don't they realize that without the free use of the Tebowing image Tebow will just become another second string Quarterback with little to no skill? He'
ll be all but forgotten, except in the few times when someone goes "Tim Tebow? Wasn't he that guy who did the Praying thing?"
Yeah, way to curtail your own celebrityhood.
Just because "celebrityhood" is the god you pray to it doesn't mean that it is his.
Prayer changes things .
Prayer changes nothing. Direct action by the individuals involved changes things.
Here is a test for you:
Get 500 people together and pray for a sick child. Make sure to include all doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals assisting the child. Also make sure it is a dangerous and deadly, but cureable, sickness. The healthcare professionals are not allowed to do anything but pray for the child. Keep praying for the childs swift and full recovery. I can promise you that nothing will change, other than the child will most likely pass away.
On the converse side, same child, same team of medical professionals, no prayer. Don't even think of prayer. Just let the doctors and healthcare professionals do what science and their education has taught. I can promise you that without one iota of prayer the child will be treaded and will recover from the sickness (as it is curable).
Basic logic then dictates that prayer does not, in fact, change anything.
Also, by your own Bible, Jesus was not perfect.
Basic LOGIC tells us this.
1) Eve ate the fruit of Knowledge first, there-for creating the Original Sin.
2) The Bible states that from thence on the Sin is passed from Mother to child.
3) Jesus had no "earthly" father.
4) Mary, Jesus' mother, inherited the Original Sin from her mother.
5) Jeus would have thus inherited the Original Sin from HIS mother.
Therefore Jesus was NOT even born sinless, and would not have been a suitable sacrifice for all the worlds sin.
Congratualtions... Christianity debunked by God's own divine word in less than 15 seconds.
Those who luv the dark do not easily see the light......by the way MGj I'll take a prayer to go & be fulfilled vs a empty cup of yer promise...also it's not in the bible ...however Mary's Mother was also the result of imaculate conception....I was told of this by a friend in Syria; common knowledge there....you have my blessing to goggle it or not.
Money changes everything.
you are kidding me right? the world is flat, and we can continue to live in the 14th century, like the radical muslims want us to. maybe the billions of year old planet we live on, god, santa claus and the easter bunny, waited around until 6,000 years ago to hang out with us and impart wisdom. you can have faith, faith that since you are already born,that you will die and pay taxes; politics aside, wisdom from appointed saviors do not make it true.
How do you trademark a pose? This is like something Derek Zoolander would do.
Well, "Blue Steel" IS trademarked.
He's trademarking the NAME, not the pose. Frankly, if someone else were trying to profit from using my name, I would probably file a trademark as well.