Buffalo Bills file for “Respect the Process” trademark

Last week, the Buffalo Bills filed to trademark the phrase “Respect the Process”, but an athlete from another sport may be able to block the trademark application due to a similarity with his own trademark.

“Respect the Process” is a slight variation from when head coach Sean McDermott told Bills fans to trust the process when he took over as head coach. However, the word “process” by itself has been a mainstay in Bills press conferences throughout the last year.

Although the team wants to trademark the phrase, Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers may be able to block the trademark, according to a tweet from trademark attorney Josh Gerben. Embiid has been telling Philly fans to trust the process long before McDermott and Co. arrived in Orchard Park. He filed to trademark “The Process” in 2016.

Even if the Bills do receive the trademark, you won’t see it on any Bills tee shirts or clothing. Another company, Made Me Tees, has been printing “Respect the Process” on tee shirts and other clothing since they trademarked it in early 2017.

The Bills official application says they want to use the phrase on items like cellphone cases, magnets, flags, towels, water bottles, door mats and to be in different video games, such as Madden.