U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejects Snooki's trademark application...and a nation weeps.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – "Jersey Shore's" Nicole Polizzi lost a legal hold on her famous "Snooki" nickname after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected her trademark application on grounds that a similar character already beat her to the punch, according to The Smoking Gun website.

Since 2004, the publishers of book featuring a cartoon cat by the name of "Snooky" have retained the rights to the name, which was trademarked for the kids' book "Adventures of Snooky."

Despite the spelling difference of the names, the government office refused the reality star's request to trademark her name for print media because of a "likelihood of confusion" with the animated feline."

"Jersey Shore's" self-described "guidette" has the option to appeal the U.S.P.T.O.'s decision.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100813/tv_nm/us_snooki

[mackerel]

1. I've never heard of the book featuring Snooky.