OpenAI, operators of the ChatGPT platform, have received bad news: Their application to register GPT as a trademark with the USPTO has been declined.
This final refusal to register GPT was made on the following basis:
Trademark Act Section 2(e)(1)—Merely Descriptive and Specimen Not Acceptable for Showing Use of the Mark in Commerce as to Class 09.
Although the term “final” sounds ominous, OpenAI can file a request for reconsideration of the decision within 3 months; for an extra fee, it can request a 3 month extension of the response deadline.
GPT is a term popular with AI systems that utilize a “Generative pre-trained transformer,” a type of artificial intelligence language model.
OpenAI settled with the registrant of ChatGPT.com last year, acquiring the domain name.
Kudos to IP attorney John Berryhill for the pointers.
