WWE’s trademark application for Gunther Stark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office was abandoned yesterday, January 19, according to public records.
The original filing was on January 13 and now the USPTO website lists that “The owner of the trademark application withdrew the application and the application is no longer active.” The request for express abandonment was signed by WWE attorney Lauren A. Dienes-Middlen.
WWE gave the name to Walter, although now he goes only by the first name of Gunther. The change was met with a barrage of online complaints because the name Gunther Stark is that of a commander of a Nazi German U-Boat during World War II.
One of Germany’s largest newspaper, Bild, even covered the news in one of its editions this week.
Unfortunately for Walter, he’s still listed under Gunther on the WWE website and even his social media has been changed to reflect the new name.