The Denver Broncos might have had the "Orange Crush" defense, but the team shouldn't be allowed to trademark the term.
So argues Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc., which owns the Crush soda brand, whose most popular flavor is indeed orange.
An online record shows that the Broncos filed paperwork to trademark "Orange Crush" in September 2015 through the NFL's chief litigation officer, Anastasia Danias. Last week, lawyers for the beverage makers filed an opposition to the attempt.
If the Broncos nor the NFL abandon its filing as a result of the opposition, the case will be heard before judges on the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, which will make a call as to whether or not the team should be allowed to register the mark.