(02-19-2016 12:07 PM)YNot Wrote:  

(02-19-2016 11:58 AM)UConnHusky Wrote:  

(02-19-2016 11:41 AM)CyclonePower Wrote:  

(02-19-2016 11:36 AM)CenterSquarEd Wrote:  

(02-19-2016 11:12 AM)Gray Avenger Wrote:  Doesn't the Big12 already own the rights to "Big14"? I see several important long-term reasons for adding 4 instead of 2 schools: mainly increased stability, market-size and maintaining voting power among the "P5".

I just did a trademark search on the USPTO website. It looks like they first filed for "Big 14" in 1997 and last abandoned it in 2012. Nobody else has filed for it, so it ought to be up for grabs if they want it again.

I wonder if the big ten would ever go for the big 14, unless they plan on expanding even more.

I thought that I read a few years ago that the Big Ten has the rights to the "Big 16" name. Their logo already looks like it has "16" in it.

I just did a search of the USPTO trademark database: the B1G does not claim the Big 16. I did confirm the post above that the Big 12 *HAD* three past applications for "Big 14", but each has been abandoned - the last being abandoned in September 2012.

USPTO (TESS) Search

The Big 12 was seriously close to adding BYU and New Mexico right as they were merging with the SWC schools...that's why they had the Big 14 name ready just in case. I can't remember when and why the BYU and New Mexico idea were abandoned but at the time, I actually remember hearing BYU and New Mexico would have gotten in, but THEY turned down the invite. It seems incredible to think now, but in the pre-BCS days, the WAC originals didn't want to leave behind their buddies Utah, AF, CSU, SDSU and Wyoming. Some one else confirmed this on another thread too. Cheers!