Nice Primer on TM's for laymen.

Why file for trademark protection?

Putin "Nationalizes" Pats Owner Bob Kraft's SuperBowl Ring.

Was it a "cultural mixup", or just pants-ing a rich American? Either way, when Pats owner Bob Kraft showed his SuperBowl ring to Russian Premier Vladimir Putin, it ended up on the plane back to the MotherLand in Putin's pocket!! ESPN.com - NFL - Kraft: Super Bowl ring was gift to Putin