Should Jeremy Lin Be Able to Trademark 'Linsanity'?

Jeremy Lin may be the inspiration behind “Linsanity,” but he wasn’t the first person to try to trademark the phrase. Now, the 23-year-old basketball star is fighting for the right to make money off his own name.



On Feburary 7, Yenchin Chang, a 35-year-old man from Alhambra, CA, filed a trademark application to cover goods and services using the phrase. In a recent interview, Chang, who shares Lin’s Taiwanese background, explained, "I just wanted to be part of the excitement."

On Feburary 9, Andrew Slayton, who says he was an unofficial assistant for Lin’s team at Palo Alto High School, also filed for trademark rights. Slayton purchased the web domain www.linsanity.com in 2010 and is already selling “Linsanity” merchandise on the site.



Jeremy Lin submitted his own application for trademark protection—both for “Linsanity” and his name—on February 13. Despite his late filing date, a number of patent, trademark, and copyright attorneys have said that Lin is likely to come out on top.

Really, it’s no surprise that people like Chang and Slayton are trying to cash in on “Linsanity.” When it comes to Jeremy Lin, there’s a lot of money to be made. Since February 4, Lin’s jersey has been the NBA’s top seller and Lin is also selling out arenas where the Knicks play.

What do you think SodaHeads? Jeremy Lin didn’t invent the term “Linsanity,” but he is the man behind the craze. Should he be able to trademark the phrase?