Can you believe that a smell can be someone’s intellectual property giving them exclusive rights to the scent? Did you know that you can own a sound, gesture or color? Well, it is true, but there are countless examples of unique trademarks (smells, sounds, shapes, and colors).
This blog lists the 10 weirdest yet unique trademarks (few a new additions) that are hard to believe.
1. The Law & Order Sound
The signature Dun Dun sound at the beginning of each episode of The Law & Order is a sound trademark. NBC Universal Media owns the sound trademark explaining it as 2 musical notes, single strike and a quick re-articulation of a perfect 5th pitch interval, played in the key of C sounds the notes C and G, struck simultaneously.
Know more about sound trademarks and key USPTO requirements for registration.
2. Karl Lagerfeld’s Iconic Look
Karl Lagerfeld trademarked his look with his ponytail and prominent spectacles, the fashion world icon and the creative director of the world-famous brand Chanel.
3. The Word “Home”
Yes, home is probably one of the most common words we use in our daily lives. The word “Home” has been trademarked by Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook. The USPTO has trademarked “Home” under trademark classes 9, 35, and 38.
Want to know something more interesting? Facebook has many such unique trademarks, including, “Face” and ‘Book” as separate words.
Click here to check all of Facebook’s trademarks.
4. “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble”
Michael Buffer a prominent wrestling commentator, coined the phrase Let’s get ready to rumble! and trademarked it in 1992. It has been included in several boxing contests, WWE events, movies, and video games. Today, the trademarked phrase has grown into a $400 million company for Buffer.
5. The Robin-Egg’s Blue Color of Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany Blue® has been a registered trademark of Tiffany since 1998. Three years later, it was standardized as a unique color established by Pantone® only for Tiffany and unavailable to the general public.
6. Mo Farah’s Mobot Symbol
We all know about the Usain Bolt’s famous “the lightning bolt pose” trademark, which concludes that gestures are also trademarkable, which is a bit strange, right?
The famous Olympian Mo Farah’s Mobot Symbol is also a gesture trademark.
7. The NYSE bell ring
USPTO granted the trademark registration to the famous NYSE bell ring sound in 2001. The trademark explains it as:
“The sound of a brass bell tuned to D, but with a D-sharp overtone, struck nine times at a fast pace, with the last tone let to resonate until the sound decays naturally, is used as the mark. The rhythmic pattern consists of eight 16th notes and a quarter note, with a total duration of slightly over 3 seconds from the striking of the first tone to the conclusion of the decay on the final one.”
8. Apple’s slide-to-unlock function
Apple’s signature slide-to-unlock function we saw in old iPhone generations was not just a neat feature—but also a registered patent.
Recently, Apple won a $120 million lawsuit against Samsung for copying Apple’s patented “slide-to-unlock” feature.
Does your product also have a function unique to your brand? TRADEMARK IT NOW BEFORE SOMEONE STEALS IT
9. Darth Vader’s Breathing
What can be a better example of a unique trademark than a breathing sound?
Can you believe that the sound of someone’s breath can be a trademark? That is, unless the person in issue is Darth Anakin.
Yes, Anakin Skywalker’s viral under-the-helmet inhale and exhale—created by inhaling through a diving regulator—has been a trademark owned by Lucasfilm.
The brand is registered under two trademark classes:
- Trademark Class 25- costume masks, toys, and action figures
- Trademark Class 28- Halloween costumes
Want to trademark a smell in USA? Here are the USPTO requirements for smell marks.
10. Bubble Wrap
Do you love popping the bubble wraps for fun? But did you know that the “Bubble Wrap” is a trademark name for the inflated cushioning wrap that fills boxes and is addicting to “pop.” Sealed Air owns the trademark. Bubble Wrap is ubiquitous, and it’s challenging to picture moving or shipping without it. However, it has become quite generic owing to its wide usage and synonyms.
And A few new ones that have caught our eye-
11. Trump’s ‘Make America great again’
Donald Trump, the former U.S. president, made “Make America Great Again” the centerpiece of his campaign, using it across rallies, speeches, and merchandise. Over time, it became more than a slogan — it was a political brand. In August 2016, he secured its commercial rights by registering it as a trademark.
12. Paris Hilton’s ‘That’s hot’
Back in 2014, hotel heiress Paris Hilton decided she was the ultimate judge of what’s hot—and made it official. She trademarked her signature phrase, “That’s hot.” Knowing Paris, this probably isn’t the last quirky trademark we’ll see from her.
13. Usain Bolt’s ‘Lightning pose’
Even sports legends get in on the trademark game. In 2012, Usain Bolt locked down the rights to his famous “lightning pose.” Since then, he’s been striking it at every big competition—making sure no one forgets who’s the fastest man alive.
14. Superheroes
What do Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, Black Panther, and Deadpool have in common? Yep—they’re all Marvel trademarks. But Marvel didn’t stop there. In 2007, they went a step further and trademarked the word “Superheroes.” So now, even if a rival creates their own masked vigilante, they can’t officially call them a superhero.
15. Tweet
Twitter nailed down the trademark for it in the EU back in 2011. But getting it recognized worldwide? That’s been a trickier mission and might take some time if it does happen.
16. Taylor Swift’s cats’ names
Taylor Swift isn’t the only star in her house—her cats Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson, and Benjamin Button have their own fame. She first trademarked Meredith and Olivia’s names, then added BB in 2019 under “Meredith, Olivia & Benjamin Swift.” The move lets her put their names on just about anything—clothes, phone cases, mugs, toys, coloring books, and more—turning her furry friends into a full-on merchandise brand.
17. Mattel’s Barbie pink
One of the most famous trademarked colors is “Barbie pink.” Mattel, Barbie’s parent company, secured the rights to this bright shade—officially Pantone 219C—for over 100 categories of Barbie products. And they guard it fiercely.
18. Images of the Eiffel Tower at night
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most photographed landmarks in the world—but here’s a twist: snapping it at night could actually get you in legal trouble. That’s because the evening light show, added in 1985, is copyrighted. Under French law, you can’t share, sell, or publish those night shots without permission from the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel.
19. Zippo’s Lighter Click Sound
Ever noticed the click of a lighter when you flip it open? If not, you should hear Zippo’s—a sound so distinct it’s become iconic. In December 2018, the company registered it as a sound trademark in the U.S., under class 34 for lighters. Zippo’s fame comes from its windproof design, keeping the flame alive even in rough weather. Sound trademarks aren’t easy to get—Harley Davidson once tried to trademark its engine roar but couldn’t prove it was truly unique.
Want A Sound/Smell/Shape/Color Trademark?
General phrases and logo trademarks are not for everyone, and we get it. Some companies require unconventional and unique trademarks to ensure their brand’s message is conveyed to the audience. As appealing as it may sound to get exclusive trademark rights on a sound or color, it is quite difficult. And it should be; otherwise, every other sound or smell or color would become a property of someone, right? So, how do you get an unconventional trademark for your brand?
With decades of experience in intellectual property, TMReady is a trusted one-stop destination for all trademark related needs. Our experts deliver:
- Professional Trademark Search Services— thorough and detailed searches across multiple regions to ensure your logo is protected.
- Reliable Trademark Monitoring Services — keeping an eye on your trademark to detect potential infringements or safeguard unconventional trademarks.
Premium service, without the premium price tag.
TMReady blends precision and compliance — delivering exceptional value at every step.
