Nicole Polizzi, star of “Jersey Shore”, lost a legal hold on her famous “Snooki” nickname after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected her trademark application because a similar character already registered it, according to The Smoking Gun website.
The publishers of a book featuring a cartoon cat going by the name of “Snooky” have retained the rights to the name which was first trademarked in 2004 for the children’s book “Adventures of Snooky”.
Despite the difference in spelling, the government office refused Polizzi’s request to trademark her name for print media because of a “likelihood of confusion with the animated feline”.
Polizzi has the option to appeal the U.S.P.T.O.’s decision.
Born, in Santiago, Chile, Polizzi was was adopted and raised by Italian American parents and her nickname, “Snooki” was given to her by her friends in middle school.
Her nickname is based on the character “Snooki the cootchie crook” from the film “Save the Last Dance” because she was the first of her friends to make out with a boy.
MTV first introduced Polizzi in the first season of “Is She Really Going Out With Him”, a show that tells the story of “sweet girls” and the “douchebags” they date. Season 1, Episode 14 tells the story of Nicole and Justin the “Jerz Pud”.
Polizzi presented an award at 2010 CMT Music Awards and her rise to prominence in the public eye has led to an appearance on Jay Leno.
On July 27, 2010, the cast of “Jersey Shore” appeared at the New York Stock Exchange and Polizzi rang the opening bell.
