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Mattel withdraws its challenge against the ‘Coffee with Ken’ podcast trademark.

Mattel withdraws its challenge against the 'Coffee with Ken' podcast trademark.

Keno is Keno!

The host of the well-known political podcast “Coffee with Ken” has come out on top in a quirky legal dispute with toy giant Mattel. The company has decided to drop its trademark infringement claim concerning its Ken dolls from the “Barbie” series, according to recent reports.

In a curious twist, Mattel’s condition for resolving the issue is that Ken Beverage, who interviews notable figures like West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin and billionaire David Rubinstein, will refrain from discussing the toys on his show.

Specifically, to clear the way for Beverage to trademark his podcast, Mattel insisted that “Coffee with Ken” should not include any topics about “toys or dolls,” or “fictional characters based on toys or dolls,” as outlined in an Oct. 14 document filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

The podcast, it seems, must aim for an “adult audience,” according to the filing.

Beverage, a real estate executive based in Washington, D.C., and former president of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, was willing to put his name on the dotted line to avoid “further drama” and bring an end to the six-month-long dispute.

“The show was never about dolls or toys,” Beverage explained. “It’s always been about real conversations with real people.”

Mattel did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Previously, the California-based company claimed that “consumers are very likely to believe that” the podcast is related to the Ken toys, particularly highlighting a Ken Barista doll that sports a man bun and apron while preparing espresso.

Mattel filed its opposition to Beverage’s trademark application in May, arguing that “Coffee with Ken” could “damage” its brand, especially after the recent success of the “Barbie” movie featuring Ryan Gosling as Ken.

In response to a Post report, Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s communications director remarked, “Governor Moore had coffee with Ken. Don’t ever think he thought he was talking to a doll.”

Mattel’s arguments faced considerable ridicule, with the Post’s Cindy Adams labeling the company as “cockamammy,” and Beverage himself chiming in with his own critiques.

Now, the podcast host, who previously ran for New York City Council and whose family owns the renowned Russian Tea Room, believes “Coffee with Ken” is on its way to becoming a federally registered trademark.

Mattel has a history of aggressively protecting its brands. They once attempted to sue the band Aqua over the infamous ’90s hit “Barbie Girl,” but the Supreme Court declined to hear the case in 2003. They have also had a showdown with Burberry regarding a similar trademark issue, which ultimately led Burberry to withdraw its application.

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