Katy Perry denied 'Left Shark' trademark

LOS ANGELES, April 22 (UPI) -- Katy Perry was denied a trademark for "Left Shark" this week.

The 30-year-old singer sought to trademark the costume worn by her bumbling backup dancer at Super Bowl XLIX, but was rejected due to insufficient evidence the public associates Left Shark with Perry's halftime performance.

The design "identifies only a particular character; it does not function as a service mark to identify and distinguish applicant's services from those of others and to indicate the source of applicant's services," trademark examiner David Collier of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office said.

Perry submitted the request in an attempt to stop artist Fernando Sosa and others from profiting from non-licensed Left Shark designs. The singer's lawyers sent Sosa a cease-and-desist letter after he listed merchandise featuring the character for sale.

Collier asked Perry to be more specific about the types of "costumes" and "figurines" she wishes to trademark should she apply again. The pop star is currently on her Prismatic World Tour in support of her fourth studio album, Prism (2013).