Althletes don't always own their nicknames or monikers. When signing a contract with a sponsor--big or small-- althetes, performing artists and other celebrities must be careful not sign away rights to things that don't yet exist like nicknames, that come with a certain level of fame. Having competent, enthusiastic counsel review your contracts can make the difference between owning your brand and watching someone else profit from it.
WWE owns 3 LIVE US federal trademark and service mark registrations for THE ROCK for printed goods, and action figures and toys (each with 1st Use 02/1998, application 05/2000, registration 05/2002); and entertainment services (1st Use 02/1998, application 05/2000, registration 12/2001), which news reports claim it will transfer to The Rock himself, Dwayne Johnson, as he joins the board of the company which owns WWE, TKO Group Holdings. Note, it is not TKO that owns the TMs but WWE.
Even more interestingly (at least to me), WWE Opposed an application for THE ROCK owned by The Prudential (insurance company) for entertainment services, which then appears to have caused The Prudential to Petition to Cancel WWE's registrations for printed goods and entertainment services. It appears the parties settled their differences in April, 2023 and The Prudential got to register its THE ROCK mark for "education and entertainment services . . . unrelated to professional wrestling entertainment or professional wrestling." Amendments to IDs of services like this are often easy, quick and amicable ways for parties to coexist in similar mediums but different genres.
