'Linsanity' Hits Trademark Office: Two Men Hope to Cash in On Jeremy Lin's Fame

Linsanity has taken the sports world by storm, so unsurprisingly at least one business-minded individual is trying to patent the term and profit off of the New York Knicks player's success.

Bloomberg News reported Tuesday that two California men are competing for the trademark claims to the term inspired by the Asian American basketball star, who's stunning slam dunks and unbelievable skill had people tweeting #Linsanity and Happy Val-LIN-Tines day during the Knicks vs. Raptor game Tuesday night.

Yenchin Chang, a 35-year-old self-described Lin fan who said he has no personal relationship with the point guard, was the first to file on Feb. 7. He told Bloomberg News he hopes to use the trademark for merchandise like hats and shirts.

Chang, who is Taiwanese like Lin, said he would think about selling the trademark to Lin if he got it and the basketball star wanted it.

I'll think about it when that time comes, Chang told Bloomberg News. Right now, I just want to have some fun with it.

Andrew W. Slayton of Los Altos, Calif., also hopes to cash in on Linsanity and filed for a trademark on Feb. 9. He told the New York Post that he used to coach Lin and recognized his potential early on -- he registered in 2010 the domain names Linsanity.com and thejeremylinshow.com, where he sells Lin merchandise.

Lin doesn't know about the domain names, Slayton told The New York Post. I don't know what he thinks, but it's an homage to him.

But the two Lin fans may have little success in their trademark endeavor. Milord A. Keshishian, an attorney with Milord & Associates, a patent, trademark and copyright firm in Los Angeles, told Bloomberg News that the law doesn't bode well for anyone trying to cash in on the Linsanity trademark.

This looks like a bad-faith attempt to profit from Jeremy Lin's recent acclaim, he said of the trademark applications.

Gary Krugman, a partner at the Washington-based firm Sughrue Mion, agreed. He said Lin should file his own application and, if needed, contest either man.

I have a feeling both of these guys are small operators, Krugman told Bloomberg News. If Jeremy comes in with a big law firm they won't be able to hang with him.