“Vice City” Trademark Abandoned By WWE
WWE has abandoned its attempt to trademark the term “Vice City” following a filing with the United States Patent & Trademark Office. The express abandonment was processed and confirmed on September 21, 2026, just one month after the company initially applied for the trademark.
WWE originally sought to trademark “Vice City” for entertainment services, specifically covering “wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered live and through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service.” However, the company provided no official explanation for the withdrawal.
The timing and context suggest a potential conflict with Rockstar Games’ “Grand Theft Auto” franchise, which features a prominent location named Vice City. Vice City is notably the setting of the 2002 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City game and remains a recognizable part of Rockstar’s gaming universe. Trademark disputes over overlapping or confusingly similar terms are common in the entertainment industry, and WWE may have determined that pursuing the mark posed legal risks or conflicts with Take-Two Interactive’s existing intellectual property rights.
WWE’s abandonment of the trademark reflects the complexity of brand protection in entertainment, where established properties often command strong legal standing. Rather than engage in a protracted dispute with a major gaming publisher, WWE chose to relinquish its claim to the term.