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Civic pride is all well and good, but not grounds to prevent trademark ownership under the law.

At least that's what Yellowhammer Creative's attorneys assert in its motion to dismiss Birmingham Business Alliance and REV Birmingham's opposition to Yellowhammer's request for the trademark for the "It's Nice To Have You in Birmingham" slogan.

The company applied for the trademark in April 2015, according to records found on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website.

Yellowhammer says in the filing that neither the BBA nor REV have a real interest in the phrase.

"Neither can reasonably say it will be damaged by the possible loss of a benefit it can only speculate might stem from actions beyond its control," attorney Andrew Wheeler-Berliner wrote. "Each Opposer must instead rely on its own actions to establish it has standing."

It wouldn't be the first time a city's slogan was trademarked.

The iconic 'I love New York' slogan with its bright red heart is trademarked by New York Empire State Development and 'Don't Mess With Texas' is trademarked by the Texas Department of Transportation (it was originally used on roadside anti-littering signs).

The BBA has argued that it does in fact have an interest in the trademark because it has used it to advance its mission of economic growth.

"The Birmingham Business Alliance, an 'economic development organization focused on the economic growth and the marketing of the entire seven county Birmingham region' has used and continues to use 'It's Nice To Have You In Birmingham' to 'promote dynamic growth and to improve the quality of life in the region,'" the BBA's attorney wrote in an earlier filing.

Darrell O'Quinn, president of the Citizen's Advisory Board, Erin Melaney Designs and LIV Apartments LLC have also filed requests opposing the trademark.