Kobe Bryant's Company Is Trademarking "Black Mamba"

Kobe Inc., the business arm of recently retired Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, has filed to trademark his familiar nickname “Black Mamba. The company filed for the trademark May 2, a record with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office shows, with intent to use the nickname on everything from athletic apparel to sneakers. Black Mamba is the 11th trademark filing for Kobe Inc. Other phrases that the company has filed for include “HeroVillain,” “Create Forever,” “Dream Epic” and “Friends Hang Sometimes, Banners Hang Forever.”

After his epic 60-point curtain call against the Utah Jazz last month, he gave his final speech to Lakers fans in a sold-out Staples Center, with millions more watching from around the world on TV. He ended his tributes with the phrase "Mamba Out" and an epic mic drop. To little surprise, "Mamba Out" Nike merchandise showed up on Bryant's personal website almost immediately after the game.

Bryant actually gave himself the "Black Mamba" nickname after seeing the venomous snake in the 2004 movie Kill Bill. He explained to The New Yorker in 2014, "I read up on the animal and said, 'Wow, this is pretty awesome.'" Bryant said. "This is the perfect description of how I would want my game to be."

Send all complaints, compliments, and tips to sportstips@complex.com.