Neuralink's Trademark Bids for 'Telepathy' and 'Telekinesis' Rejected by USPTO
The United States Patent and Trademark Office has rejected Neuralink's attempt to trademark the product names "Telepathy" and "Telekinesis," citing pending applications by another person who filed first.
The Rejection
In letters sent to Neuralink in August, the USPTO refused to allow the applications to move forward because:
- Wesley Berry, a computer scientist and cofounder of startup Prophetic, previously filed trademark applications for Telepathy (May 2023) and Telekinesis (August 2024)
- Neuralink filed its trademark applications in March 2025 — months after Berry's filings
- Prophetic is building a wearable headset to induce lucid dreaming, though only Berry (not Prophetic) is the author of the trademark applications
Neuralink's Product Names
Elon Musk's brain implant company has been using these names for its products:
- Telepathy: The name for Neuralink's brain-computer interface that allows paralyzed patients to control devices with their thoughts
- Telekinesis: A future product name suggesting even more advanced mind-control capabilities
The Legal Complications
The trademark dispute highlights a common pitfall for fast-moving tech companies:
- Product naming without securing IP rights first
- Common English words as trademarks face higher scrutiny
- First-to-file rules favor those who move quickly on registration
- Even companies with billions in funding can make basic IP mistakes
Context
This isn't Neuralink's only legal challenge. The brain implant company faces ongoing scrutiny over its clinical trials, safety record, and the ethical implications of brain-computer interfaces. The trademark rejection adds to a growing list of regulatory hurdles for Musk's most ambitious venture.