DALLAS, TEXAS – APRIL 02: Angel Reese #10 of the LSU Lady Tigers speaks during a press conference … [+] after the LSU Lady Tigers beat the Iowa Hawkeyes 102-85 during the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament championship game at American Airlines Center on April 02, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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Good luck finding a college basketball player more popular and marketable than LSU’s Angel Reese. The Lady Tiger star has more than 2.5 million followers on Instagram and a name, image and likeness valuation north of $1.7 million. Despite all of her popularity and commercial appeal, Reese will not be permitted to capitalize on her nickname, “Bayou Barbie.”
Reese was allegedly given the nickname based on her love for eyelash extensions, long nails and love of the color pink, but her style of play on the court is what endeared her to the Tiger faithful. Despite the authentic origins of a nickname that the player embraces, the United States Trademark and Patent Office (USPTO) decided last November that Reese could not own the commercial rights to the exclusive use of that moniker.
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The USPTO determined that the term “Bayou Barbie” in use by Reese would create a likelihood of confusion for consumers who run the risk of mistakenly connecting Reese and her products to those made by Mattel
MAT
, the owner and toy manufacturer behind the $126 billion Barbie franchise. The USPTO grounded its decision in the fact that Reese merely added the word “Bayou” to its attempt at trademark protecting a phrase that included the term “Barbie”, and used it on clothing merchandise that Mattel also produces; including jackets, dresses, bathing suits, and T-shirts.
So while Reese is not permitted to push forward with her brand that makes use of the term “Bayou Barbie,” nothing is preventing Mattel from reaching out to her for a possible collaboration. Reese already has a multi-year NIL deal with Reebok, so she already has experience with a major brand and on a national stage. This could be Mattel’s best chance to connect its products with a successful athlete who embraces the Barbie nickname and brand.
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Nevertheless, if Mattel doesn’t come calling to do business with LSU’s Barbie of the Bayou, then Reese will remain limited to enjoying being called that in private, while not being able to profit from the name in public.
