Can a state copyright its name?
It took some cross-examination, but I got this out of co-pilot ai:
“Generally, geographical names like state names cannot be trademarked by individuals or businesses in a way that allows them exclusive rights over the name. This means that no private entity can completely own a state name.
However, the situation with Kentucky was unique. The Commonwealth of Kentucky didn’t “trademark” its name in the conventional sense used for brands and logos. Instead, it enacted legislation that required businesses using “Kentucky” in their names for commercial purposes to obtain a license and pay fees. This was more of a regulatory measure than a traditional trademark.
KFC’s agreement with the state was a way to comply with this regulation without having to continually pay the fees, allowing them to continue using “Kentucky” in their brand name. So, while it might sound like a trademark, it was actually a form of state regulation.”