Oprah Winfrey Files for Array of Culinary Trademarks

Oprah Winfrey's empire is looking to annex new territory -- namely, the kitchen. The media mogul filed federal paperwork to trademark an impressive variety of culinary goods, which will become part of a brand dubbed "Oprah's Kitchen." It is unknown when "Oprah's Kitchen" will debut. Requests filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on May 19 reveal what could be a very ambitious plan for the Oprah-fied pantry's repertoire. Or Ms. Winfrey's legal team is simply laying claim to all the food products it thinks it may eventually decide to produce. From individual ingredients such as spices, almonds, and olive oil to courses including green salads, dessert puddings and pre-packaged meat entrees to treats for four-legged friends, the O-team's food label is set to be virtually all-encompassing. Ms. Winfrey is no stranger to the world of food and drink. Her partnership with Teavana saw the sale of "Oprah Chai Tea," which benefitted the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation. Moreover, a similar unearthing of trademark paperwork by the New York Post in 2012 illustrated the talk show host's forays into brands like "Oprah's Organics," "Oprah's Harvest" and "Oprah's Farm," which offered earthy food products and agricultural and catering services. Indeed, one can expect a certain "Oprah effect" to take hold of any food products to which she attaches her name. Screen time on Ms. Winfrey's talk show has worked wonders for other companies' products -- the Spanx website, for example, crashed when it was inundated with visitors who had seen the previously nascent product in Ms. Winfrey's hands. "Oprah's Kitchen" is especially interesting in light of Ms. Winfrey's partnership with Weight Watchers, for which she serves as a board member, advisor and partial owner. It remains to be seen whether Ms. Winfrey's food trademarks bear any connection to her relationship with the weight management company.

Oprah Winfrey Files for Array of Culinary Trademarks

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