The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has filed a trademark application for the phrase "Vice City" with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, a move that curiously coincides with the impending release of Grand Theft Auto 6. The application, submitted on August 4, aims to protect the use of "Vice City" specifically within the context of wrestling exhibitions, live performances, and related media, rather than an attempt to enter the video game market or broadly control the term.
The WWE's filing details its intention to use "Vice City" for entertainment services including wrestling performances rendered live and through broadcast media, providing wrestling news and information, and fan club services. The application is currently pending review.
According to multiple wrestling industry outlets, this trademark attempt is reportedly linked to up-and-coming wrestler Lola Vice, who is expected to join the main WWE roster from the NXT development brand. The term "Vice City" is said to be a reference to her Miami, Florida roots.
This development is particularly unusual given that Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled to launch in approximately 15 weeks for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The game is set in Vice City, a location that has been a staple of the Grand Theft Auto franchise for decades. Adding another layer of complexity is the relationship between WWE and 2K Games, the publisher and developer of the WWE 2K series. 2K Games is owned by Take-Two Interactive, which is also the parent company of Rockstar Games, the developer of Grand Theft Auto.
It remains to be seen if this situation will prompt any legal communication between Take-Two Interactive and WWE concerning the trademark filing, especially given the proximity to Grand Theft Auto 6's release and its setting.