OpenAI tries to ban imitators with trademark “GPT”.
GPT, short for “Generative Pre-trained Transformer”, is a term that is inextricably linked to OpenAI and the ChatGPT hype. However, many offshoots are currently sprouting up that have nothing to do with the company, but use the term GPT to ride the wave of success. This is exactly what OpenAI would like to prevent and therefore submitted an application for trademark protection to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in December. Apparently, however, a serious mistake was made.
How TechCrunch reported, OpenAI had recently applied to the authority for the procedure to be accelerated, citing “countless violations of the law and fake apps” as the reason. Then, last week, the surprising response from the USPTO: the company’s lawyers had apparently failed to follow basic procedural steps. According to the authority, a fee that was due was never paid, and the company had also failed to submit “suitable evidence to justify the special measures,” meaning the acceleration of the process.
Still on course
According to the information currently available, it will probably take another 5 months before a decision is made on OpenAI’s application in the normal procedure. As Jefferson Scher, a trademark law expert, explains to TechCrunch, it is still difficult to predict how the decision will turn out at this point in time. A plus point that could be decisive here: OpenAI has been using the term GPT since 2018, albeit away from public attention.
- OpenAI coined the GPT term & would like to protect it under trademark law
- GPT is used by imitators, OpenAI wants to stop them
- However: error in the application for trademark protection
- The process will take another 5 months
- Trademark law expert is unsure how the decision will turn out
- Possible plus point: OpenAI has been using the GPT term since 2018
See also:
ChatGPT, OpenAI
