When Bill Belichick left the New England Patriots, he didn’t just leave behind a dynasty of championships; he also left behind a few famous catchphrases. This spring, a management company tied to Belichick’s partner, Jordon Hudson, filed to trademark lines like “Do Your Job” and “No Days Off” with a twist: each phrase would end with “(Bill’s Version).” But there was one problem. The Patriots already held the rights. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office refused the applications, making clear that adding a name wasn’t enough to make the marks legally distinct.
Who Owns a Coach’s Sayings?
Belichick isn’t the first big name to try to lock down a signature phrase. Sports and entertainment are full of examples:
- Pat Riley trademarked “Three-peat.”
- Michael Buffer owns “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble.”
- Even LeBron James tried (and failed) to trademark “Taco Tuesday.”
Ownership often comes down to who filed first and how the phrase is used. In Belichick’s case, the Patriots got there first — and they used the slogans in ways that made them strongly associated with the team, not just the coach.
Bill’s Version ≠ Taylor’s Version
It’s no secret where the inspiration came from. Taylor Swift turned “Taylor’s Version” into a cultural phenomenon, reclaiming her music by re-recording albums she didn’t own the masters to. Fans instantly knew that “Taylor’s Version” meant her version.
Belichick tried a similar play, but trademark law isn’t as forgiving. While Swift created entirely new recordings, Hudson and Belichick tried to piggyback on phrases the Patriots already trademarked. To the USPTO, slapping “(Bill’s Version)” onto the end of “Do Your Job” still looked confusingly close to the Patriots’ rights.
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The Orlando Law Group
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Jennifer Englert Founder and Managing Partner
- September 12, 2025
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