As Kobe Bryant’s life and career continue to be honored through charity initiatives and new brands, Vanessa Bryant is now further ensuring that her late husband’s legacy continues to live on.
According to TMZ Sports, Vanessa is reportedly filing to trademark “KB24” to build a sports and entertainment empire for the late Kobe Bryant.
The news outlet reports that she submitted documents early October of 2021 to secure the trademark. The late NBA legend’s company, Kobe, Inc., is listed as the applicant of the filing. KB24 will include digital collectible items, websites, training camps, broadcasting platforms, podcasts, TV shows, movies, documentaries, music, sports cards, food/drink containers and t-shirts.
As previously reported by AfroTech, Bryant’s estate parted ways with Nike as Vanessa was reportedly displeased with the brand limiting the availability of Kobe’s products during his retirement and after his passing. It also was reported that Bryant himself was going to end it off with the brand prior to his untimely passing, according to entrepreneur Shervin Pishevar.
“Kobe was going to start Mamba, a shoe company owned by players. He passed away weeks later. What he was about to do in business was going to eclipse his sports career,” Pishevar tweeted in December 2020.
Prior to the new trademark, CNBC reported that Bryant’s estate filed more than 13 trademarks since May 2020. The trademark applications included Play Gigi’s Way, Mamba and Mambacita, Baby Mambas and Mamba League. Intellectual property attorney Josh Gerben stated an inkling that Vanessa was building an IP portfolio for a new brand launch under his estate.
“Vanessa — or the estate — is going through and relatively methodically trying to protect the brand around Kobe and his daughter,” said Gerben.
Although sneakers aren’t currently listed under KB24, it appears that Vanessa is sticking to her word of continuing her fight for Bryant’s fans to wear his products in the near future.
