By the Associated Press
BOSTON — Tom Brady has been sacked by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The Boston Globe reported that on Thursday the office informed lawyers for Brady's company, TEB Capital Management Inc., that its request to trademark the phrase "Tom Terrific" was being refused in part because it is already closely linked to another Tom -- Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver.
“Registration is refused because the applied-for mark consists of or includes matter which may falsely suggest a connection with Tom Seaver,” said a letter to Brady’s reps from the patent and trademark office posted to the agency’s website.
Brady's company had filed applications to trademark the phrase for trading cards, posters, printed photographs, and shirts.
The trademark office wrote that "Although Tom Seaver is not connected with the goods provided by applicant under the applied-for mark, Tom Seaver is so well-known that consumers would presume a connection."
Neither Brady's lawyers nor his agent immediately responded to the Globe's requests for comment.
Brady’s company has six months to respond.