WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has shared a curious anecdote about his wrestling footwear. Nintendo sent him a formal request to stop using the Triforce symbol from The Legend of Zelda on his boots. The request arrived politely and without aggression, but with the clarity of protecting their intellectual property. Rhodes, a huge video game fan, wears the emblem for its personal meaning, as he replays A Link to the Past every year.
Brand protection in the era of streaming and live events 🛡️
Nintendo, known for its zeal in protecting its brands, applies legal filters even in areas like professional wrestling. The unauthorized use of the Triforce on a visual product with global distribution activates intellectual property protocols. Although Cody Rhodes does not sell the boots, his weekly television appearances turn the symbol into an exposed element. The Japanese company typically sends cease and desist letters before escalating to legal action, prioritizing negotiation over litigation when the use is non-commercial.
Link doesn't need a key, but Nintendo does 🎮
Next time you see Cody Rhodes in the ring, look at his boots: perhaps the Triforce has been replaced by a generic triangle. Because, let's be honest, if even a WWE champion has to ask for permission to pay homage to a 1991 game, something is wrong in Hyrule. Good thing the letter came with good manners, because if it had been Ganondorf, he might have broken someone's controller.