According to Billboard, Cardi B’s attempt at trademarking “Okurrr” has been turned on by the U.S. patent office.
Filed on March 12 of this year, the application by Washpoppin, Inc. — Cardi’s New York-based cosmetics company — was to cover “clothing, namely, T-shirts, sweatshirts, hooded sweatshirts, pants, shorts, jackets, footwear, headgear, namely hats and caps, blouses, bodysuits, dresses, jumpsuits, leggings, shirts, sweaters, undergarments” using both 3 R and 2 R versions of the phrase, according to the trademark/service mark application.
In a document sent to Cardi’s team on May 7 refusing the application, the USPTO wrote:
Registration is refused because the applied-for mark is a slogan or term that does not function as a trademark or service mark to indicate the source of applicant’s goods and/or services and to identify and distinguish them from others… In this case, the applied-for mark is a commonplace term, message, or expression widely used by a variety of sources that merely conveys an ordinary, familiar, well-recognized concept or sentiment.
Citing dozens of companies already using the phaseon T-shirts and other products, as well as Urban Dictionary.com and Dictionary.comdefinitions, widely available videos and its frequent use by others, the rejection added:
This term or expression is commonly used in the drag community and by celebrities as an alternate way of saying ‘OK’ or ‘something that is said to affirm when someone is being put in their place’… Because consumers are accustomed to seeing this term or expression commonly used in everyday speech by many different sources, they would not perceive it as a mark identifying the source of applicant’s goods and/or services but rather as only conveying an informational message.
No word if Cardi or her team will continue pursuing the trademark, we’ll keep you up to date if more news is announced.