Found this interesting since it usually doesn't work this way for trademarks involving real names.
WWE got their trademark for "Dean Ambrose" initially rejected due to them not getting consent from Jon Moxley despite that not being his real name nor a ring name he used in the indies and the character being owned by WWE. Its all due to a snafu WWE made when they filed the trademark that ended up giving Moxley legal priority over the name and WWE being very lazy when it came to correcting the mistake.
The way the USPTO responded, seems even if WWE fixed it, Moxley might still end up with some ownership of the name.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by HeelByNature.com
Last October, WWE filed a new application for the name Dean Ambrose under the entertainment services classification, namely, wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler. The filing is likely to maintain ownership of the IP associated with the character.
On 3/10, the USPTO issued a review of the filing according to trademark documents obtained by HeelByNature.com.
The first issue is identifying whether Dean Ambrose is the name of a “living individual”, including the first name, pseudonym, stage name, or nickname. WWE failed to identify this in their initial filing. The trademark office requires the written consent, which in this case would be Jonathan Good (Jon Moxley).
Despite Dean Ambrose being a character, the USPTO requires the person who used the name to provide consent, unless they are no longer living. If WWE does not provide this information, the trademark filing could be refused.
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https://heelbynature.com/wrestling-n...itten-consent/