Out of the Park: How Intellectual Property Shapes the College World Series
Following the NCAA’s Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, fans from around the country are gathering in Omaha, Nebraska for the NCAA’s Men’s College World Series.
The excitement of college softball has just reached its height with Oklahoma beating Florida State. The first WCWS took place in Omaha, Nebraska, back in 1982. Since then, this tournament featuring the nation’s top eight teams has grown exponentially, becoming a greatly anticipated event in the college softball world.
This same anticipation is in the air in June when Omaha hosts the Men’s College World Series (CWS). Since 1950, this iconic baseball event draws fans from all around the country, eager to watch the games and soak up the unique atmosphere of Omaha during the series.
As we approach the start of the CWS, our love for the game merges with our expertise in intellectual property. While you are cheering on your favorite teams this season, we encourage you to dive into the rich history of baseball patents and CWS trademarks.
Patents
“Ball Players Glove” U.S. Patent #550,949
The journey of the baseball glove took a major leap on December 10, 1985, when Anna Burns Decker secured a patent for her innovative “Ball Player’s Glove.” Designed to provide a larger catching surface area and protect the hand from the ball’s force, Decker’s invention was a game changer in the sport’s history.
With time, the evolution of the baseball glove continued, with manufacturers incorporating additional padding for hand and finger protection.
“Baseball Bat” U.S. Patent #1,499,128
From the original hand-crafted wooden designs of William A. Shroyer’s time, bats have seen a transformation to metallic and composite materials. Yet, the popularity of wooden bats endures, with many players today preferring bats made from ash, maple, or birch.
In the early days of baseball, players made their own bats, which resulted in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. This changed in the 1850s when rules were put in place to standardize the bat’s size.
“Baseball” U.S. Patent #1,668,969
Early versions of baseballs were often made from a range of materials, including pieces of old shoes or other leather, and were sometimes filled with rubber or cork. They were far less uniform than today’s baseballs, which are subject to strict regulations about their size, weight, and composition.
Trademarks
You’ve likely heard these slogans during the month of June, but here is a little background on the origin of a few popular trademarks.
College World Series®
“College World Series” was registered in 1988 and “Women’s College World Series” was registered in 1991 by the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is the exclusive licensee of the Marks.
The Greatest Show on Dirt ®
“The Greatest Show on Dirt” was registered in 2008 by the NCAA. The slogan captures the excitement for the month of June for college baseball fans as they cheer on their favorite teams.
The Road to Omaha®
“The Road to Omaha” was registered in 2008 by the NCAA. The phrase describes the journey teams take to reach the CWS in Omaha.
