"Ken Biberaj got a surprising call from his lawyer earlier this year, six months after he filed a trademark application for the name of his policy-focused interview podcast, Coffee With Ken. The US Patent and Trademark Office had given its preliminary approval, but now there was a problem: A challenge had been filed, the lawyer said. The objecting party turned out to be Mattel, the maker of Barbie. "Wait, because of the Ken doll? " Biberaj recalls saying."
"Though Biberaj's first name is, in fact, Ken, the toy company claims in its filing that a "Coffee With Ken" trademark would "dilute the distinctive qualities" of Barbie's boyfriend's brand. Biberaj disagrees. He says his show has nothing to do with the Barbieverse, and that seems hard to dispute: The commercial real-estate agent, who lives in Northern Virginia, features guests like Maryland governor Wes Moore and historian Jon Meacham talking about policy issues."
Ken Biberaj filed a trademark application for the podcast name 'Coffee With Ken' and received preliminary approval from the US Patent and Trademark Office six months later. Mattel filed an opposition claiming the trademark would dilute the Ken doll brand and referenced a Barista Ken doll. The podcast is a policy-focused interview program featuring guests such as Maryland governor Wes Moore and historian Jon Meacham and has no ties to the Barbie franchise. Biberaj, whose first name is Ken, considered withdrawing the application but chose to contest Mattel's opposition with his legal team. Mattel did not respond to requests for comment. The dispute is expected to continue.
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