There are a few hoops to jump through in carrying a brand name through the decades. Even if you created the entire legend and meaning behind it, you still have to keep up with the paperwork to own it in the legal sense, and that's the core of the decision behind FCA Chrysler's recent move to extend their trademark on "Cuda" with the United States Patent Office (USPTO). Additionally, the application for "Barracuda" was double-filed, leaving the USPTO to deny the renewal as they review the application.

Last August, the FCA Dealer Presentation showed a 'Cuda concept, rumored to be smaller than the Challenger, giving it Camaro- or Mustang-sized proportions.

On June 17, 2014, FCA Chrysler was cleared by the USPTO to trademark 'Cuda and Barracuda, but in order to do so, the names would have to be used on a product in interstate commerce, according to Allpar. What that means is there needed to be some motor vehicle, trim piece, badge, or part bearing those names.

It's clear that, right now, there's neither a 'Cuda or Barracuda on the road, so every six months, FCA Chrysler must file an extension to hold their place on trademarking the names. This is important to ensure that no other outside party can effectively steal the nameplate from FCA Chrysler and withhold it from the automaker.

According to Allpar, FCA Chrysler most recently renewed the extension for "Cuda" on December 3, 2015, although they only have two more extensions—one more year—available before the USPTO will declare that the application to trademark has been abandoned. With the rumors swelling that we'll see a 'Cuda in 2016, FCA Chrysler will hopefully pull it off with time to spare.

The interesting sidebar of this story is with the "Barracuda" name, which was stalled in the USPTO process when the new trademark application was double-filed on top of an application from January 2012. The old application was officially abandoned after the new application was filed; for now, the Barracuda name is tied up in limbo as the USPTO examining attorney reviews both applications before approving the newer one.