MS Dhoni is now legally ‘Captain Cool’. He got the name for his ‘cool demeanour’ during his stint as India and Chennai Super Kings captain. The wicketkeeper batter had filed for a trademark to make the term ‘captain cool’ as his Intellectual property (IP).
Dhoni gets ‘Captain Cool’ trademark
Dhoni had filed for the trademark in 2023, but a third party objected. For the last two years, the former India captain has been fighting a legal battle. Finally, the court has provided a result in his favour.
This could mean that Dhoni will be opening his cricket academy. Although ‘Thala’ had signed a deal to open academies but revoked it in 2021. The trademark mentions in the details that ‘Captain Cool’ will be used for ‘sports training, providing sports training facilities, and sports coaching services’.
“Adv. Mansi Aggarwal appeared. It is observed that the applicant Mr. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, a renowned public figure and former captain of the Indian national cricket team, is widely recognized in India and internationally by the sobriquet “CAPTAIN COOL”. The phrase “CAPTAIN COOL” is closely and uniquely associated with the applicant’s persona and has acquired a distinct secondary meaning in reference to him in the context of sporting and entertainment services. The applicant’s identity and the reputation of the moniker predate the cited mark and are supported by widespread public use, media coverage, and consumer recognition. In view of the above, it is considered that the use of the mark “CAPTAIN COOL” by the applicant is not likely to cause confusion in the minds of the public, as the mark is distinctly associated with the applicant’s persona in the field of Class 41 services. The objection raised under Section 11(1) is therefore waived. Hence, accepted,” Senior examiner of trademarks Devika Shukla observed.
