If a robot was named Shaq for example would that be illegal due to Shaq being trademarked?
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If you’re not making money off the name/image/likeness, no one will mind.
Possibly excepting Disney, but you can count on security through obscurity for that one.
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Depends. Trademarks are for specific business segments. Shaq is likely registered for something to do with sports, like basketball. You must look up the mark (word) on the us trademark web site to see what it covers. If it doesn’t mention robots you are good.
That being said, if you do infringe, they will almost certainly start with a cease and desist letter. If you comply, it is extremely unlikely they will pursue it further. Especially if no financial gain is involved.
If I were Mr. O’neal I would be tickled pink to have my name on an FRC Robot
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If you name your robot after a basketball player, you may get to meet him.
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I think it is important to teach student proper copyright and trademark procedures just as if you were starting your own business. Given in our case the students selected the Vector as a team name at the start of our rookie year and that they loved the tie in with Despicable Me, we decided to reach out Illumination and NBC Universal to try to acquire the rights. To our surprise they were very open to it and they gave us perpetual rights to the Vector character images as well as including Minions as well.
The hardest part is getting hold of the right folks.
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If shaq sued, I would frame that letter and place it on our wall
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We did a Disney name my junior year (2018?). Did not ever get an email or stern warning so theoretically I hope everyone else would be in the clear 
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Our team name is OSCAR, and our logo is this.
We’ve been fine for over a decade, and I’m not expecting any letters at this point
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