By trademarking his name, she can control on how his name is used and whether or not someone can capitalize on the use of it... including those who may wish try to misuse his name in a detrimental fashion. My guess is that her attorney's advised her to do it and I personally don't blame her. I know if my kid was slain and it was a big public trial and there was a large group of people out there who had the potential to start running his name in the mud, I would want the ability to put a stop to it as well.
There are two ways of looking at it... you figured out one aspect. However, if in fact she starts selling t-shirts out of the trunk of her car, then your assessment will be 100% correct and she will be a piece of **** for it.
I hadn't thought of it that way. You bring up an excellent point.