The regrettably named Norwegian underwear brand Comfyballs was all set to make its big debut in the U.S. this year when it was shut down by the country's patent and trademark office. A trademark on Comfyballs, USPTO argued, was just too vulgar for Americans to accept.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has denied Jersey Shore denizen Nicole Polizzi's application to trademark her nickname, Snooki, for use in books. Why? It appears that a cartoon cat named Snooky beat her to it.