Manwin Appeals Trademark Examiner's Decision Over XTube

WASHINGTON — Manwin has taken an unwavering stand protecting its brands and identities by registering U.S. trademarks.

Not surprisingly, the adult entertainment conglomerate in the past two years has been the most active among adult companies to file marks and litigate over them, as well as litigate against adverse decisions made by trademark examiners.

After all, Manwin already holds about two dozen trademarks of its marquee brands, ranging from KeezMovies to Spankwire to Tube8.

A recent appeal with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office over its XTube.com brand illustrates just how determined the company is to make sure it protects its marks.

The company is appealing a federal examiner's opinion made earlier this year that ruled Manwin's "XTube" mark is confusingly similar to the mark embodied in "XXXTube," which already is registered for XXXTube.com. The examiner in the case refused to register XTube as a trademark.

In its appeal, Manwin attorneys make comparisons between the marks, focusing on a rainbow of reasons why the company should be granted the mark.

Sound and pronunciation was one of the reasons, they said.

"Appellant [Manwin]’s mark, XTube, is pronounced 'ex-tube,'" Manwin attorneys wrote. "In contrast, 'xxx' is pronounced 'triple-x.' Therefore, the cited mark, XXXTube is pronounced “triple-x-tube.” They are, therefore, radically different in sound.

"The only truly feasible pronunciations of XXXTube are 'triple-x-tube' ... or if the three consecutive Xs were seen as an accentuation of the letter X, as postulated ... 'ex-ex-ex-tube.' The latter, of course, would render the cited mark as a four-syllable, staccato word, and thus very different from appellant’s sibilant, two-syllable mark."

Manwin attorneys noted in their appeal that there are 26,000 domain names containing “xxx” and that there are more than 41,000 domain names containing "tube."

They also said that “x” and “xxx” have radically different connotations in connection with porn, which would set the respective marks apart, and that "tube" also has any number of meanings, "ranging from a reference to a cylinder to TV to a conduit."

While a decision on the XTube appeal is pending, Manwin has been active in other litigation involving trademarks.

Last year, a trademark examiner declined to allow the name HappyTugs registered, claiming it is "obscene." Manwin appealed the decision on the name, used in its domain name HappyTugs.com, but was denied again.

Manwin also is appealing a decision over its JuicyBoys mark. An examiner said the name was too close to the designer Juicy's name.

And just last month, Manwin appealed another decision made by an examiner over MomsBangTeens, which was ruled "vulgar or scandalous." That appeal is pending.

Manwin also has gone on the offensive over trademarks it owsn by filing claims with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office against operator of WebCams.xxx and TeaseCams, which sought trademarks. Those cases, filed because Manwin has a registered mark in relation to its WebCams.com website, have been settled and dismissed.

Manwin's determination and willingness to incur legal fees in each of the cases illustrates the benefits, including financial ones, of owning a federal trademark registration.

Manwin officials declined comment for this story, but adult entertainment attorney Marc Randazza, who is not involved with Manwin litigation, says that the benefits of registering trademarks, particularly if it involves an online entity, is tremendous.   

"It's very important for any business, particularly when your business is in media and plans to sell products and services," Randazza told XBIZ. "You distinguish your brand, and it is a tool one can use as an enforcement method when other companies infringe on your property.

"It's an asset, and it is simply bad business not to register your marks."

View XTube appeal

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

NATS Launches Integrated Content Management System

Too Much Media (TMM) has rolled out an integrated, no-charge Content Management System (CMS) to its NATS platform.

AEBN Reveals Avery Lust as Top Trans Star for Q3 of 2025

AEBN has published its top trans stars list for the third quarter of 2025, with Avery Lust landing atop the leaderboard.

FSC: California's Device-Based AV Law Does Not Apply to Adult

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) put out an advisory today explaining that California's new device-based age verification law does not apply to adult websites.

Reena Sky Launches New Paysite

Reena Sky has launched her new official paysite, ILoveReenaSky.com.

NextGen Payment Joins ASACP as Corporate Sponsor

NextGen Payment has signed on as the latest corporate sponsor for the Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP).

Lauren Phillips, Derek Kage Cap AEBN's Top Stars for 3rd Quarter of 2025

AEBN has revealed its most popular performers in straight and gay theaters for the third quarter of 2025.

XBIZ 2026 Conference to Debut All-New Company Lounges, Community Track

The event website for XBIZ 2026 is now live, unveiling details for North America’s largest adult industry conference, including two all-new show features: Company Lounges and a Community Track.

Mymember.site Integrates VR Functionality

Mymember.site has added virtual reality playback capability to its website management platform.

Texas Patti to Launch Fetish Platform 'EmpireDom'

Performer and content creator Texas Patti is launching a new platform for doms and fetish creators, EmpireDom.com.

Ohio AG Threatens Action Against 'Major' Adult Sites Over AV Law

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced today that his office is sending "notice of violation" letters to 19 adult websites for failure to comply with the state's recently enacted age verification law.

Show More