Ohio State University Wins Trademark For The Word “THE” After A Nearly Three-Year Battle

Ohio State University finally reached an agreement to trademark the word “The.”

After a three-year battle, the university finally secured the word that’s deeply meaningful to a lot of the school’s identity. OSU spokesperson Ben Johnson says the school will use the term for branded products associated with the school.

“THE has been a rallying cry in the Ohio State community for many years. And Buckeye fans who purchase official Ohio State gear support student scholarships, libraries, and other university initiatives,” Johnson says.

In 2019, OSU filed an application with the US Patent and Trademark Office. The filing came after fashion designer Marc Jacobs also filed to trademark the same word.

However, in 2021, OSU and Jacobs reached an agreement allowing both to register the word for continuous use and license.

“Like other institutions, Ohio State works to protect the university’s brand and trademarks,” Johnson continued. “Because these assets benefit students and faculty and support our core academic mission of teaching and research.”

Ohio State started using “THE” in its name in 1986. The change came after the institution introduced a new logo hoping to move away from the “OSU” symbol. The move was intended to distinguish Ohio State from other schools with the same initials.

Emphasizing the word became a trend in the 1990s when the school wanted football players to use it while introducing themselves. The trend became publicly known after NFL broadcasts featured clips of players saying their names and alma maters.