While I don't see this language at the actual UFC website where the press release is posted, it appears that the version emailed to the press contained additional language at the bottom.
MiddleEasy.com reports as follows:
In today's UFC press-release, I noticed at the end of the email ZUFFA has now claimed the word 'Submission' as a registered trademark.
'Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa®, The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, registered service marks, trademarks, trade dress and/or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC and licensed to its affiliated entities and other licensees in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC, its affiliates or other respective owners.'
(emphasis in original)
I took a quick look and Zuffa's registration is for "shorts, surfer's shorts, swimwear, hats, caps, bandanas, sweatshirts, wrist bands, jogging suits, socks, workout and sports apparel, namely jackets, slacks and shirts."
Thus, it is a general apparel registration and it cannot prevent others from using the terms in the usual descriptive sense as it is understood in the context of a fight.
Stated differently, I couldn't start a clothing brand "submission," but I could use it in any other way, including to describe the notion of a submission in fighting or to call a tournament a "submission" grappling tournament etc.
Fight Lawyer
