OpenAI's Trademark Bid For 'GPT' Struck Down By USPTO, Says It's Too Generic

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has rejected OpenAI‘s attempt to trademark the term “GPT,” a widely used acronym in the AI sector.

What Happened: The USPTO dismissed OpenAI’s application to register the term “GPT” because it is too generic to be trademarked, as reported by The Verge. The ruling, issued on Feb. 6, 2024, stated that the term is widely used in the AI industry, and trademarking it could hinder competitors from accurately describing their products.

OpenAI’s contention that “GPT” is not a descriptive term was refuted by the USPTO, which emphasized that the term is well-understood within the technology community as a general type of software, not exclusive to OpenAI products.

See Also: Elon Musk Donates $2M To AI Project That Cracked Open Secrets Of 2,000-Year-Old Ancient Text Owned By Caesar’s Family

Despite OpenAI’s association with the term, other AI companies have also adopted “GPT” in their product names, such as the AI detector startup GPTZero, and have referred to their foundational AI models as GPTs.

This is not the first time OpenAI has been denied a trademark for “GPT.” The company can appeal this decision to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Why It Matters: In December, OpenAI made a significant move by filing trademarks for future AI models in China, signaling its intent to enter the Chinese market.

Furthermore, the USPTO’s decision on OpenAI’s trademark application for “GPT” follows its recent ruling that AI systems cannot be listed as inventors in patent applications. These decisions collectively indicate the USPTO’s stance on AI-related intellectual property rights and the potential impact on AI companies’ strategies and operations.

Read Next: Why Did Jeff Bezos Sell $6B In Amazon Stock? Internet Has Some Hilarious Takes: ‘What Does He Know That We Don’t’

Image via Shutterstock