IP Fun Fact
The Twitter Bird has a Name
X, formerly known as Twitter had an iconic bird logo which was named “Larry” after NBA player Larry Bird. This was a tribute to NBA player, who played for the Boston Celtics, Biz Stone’s (one of the founders of Twitter) home-state team.
IP Fun Fact
Barbie’s Full Name is Trademarked
Barbie’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, trademarked by Mattel who have rights over this trademark and branding.
IP Fun Fact
“Superhero” Is a Trademarked Word
Marvel and DC Comics co-own the trademark for the word “superhero,” which is why you’ll often see other publishers use terms like “powered being” or “vigilante” instead.
IP Fun Fact
Rolex Trademarks Even Their Watch Crown
IP Fun Fact
Mr. Jinnah appeared as the Plaintiff’s lawyer in a trademark dispute, in the case of The West End Watch Company v. The Berna Watch Company in 1910 before the Bombay High Court.
IP Fun Fact
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce owns trademark rights for usage of the Hollywood Sign or its likeness for commercial purposes, as well as for the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star.
IP Fun Fact
The Netflix “Ta-Dum” sound (three-note melody) that signifies the beginning of a Netflix original production is Trademarked.
IP Fun Fact
The Smiley Company, is the holder of a large trademark portfolio worldwide, including the original Smiley Logo and the name SMILEY.
IP Fun Fact
MS Dhoni has filed a trademark for his iconic nickname “Captain Cool”
Known for his calm demeanour on the field, the former India captain has secured legal rights over the title, “Captain Cool”. Many other famous sports personalities have also trademarked traits associated with them. Usain Bolt trademarking his lightning bolt pose, Michael Jordan protecting his name and jersey number are some of the examples of a growing trend of athletes branding their identities.
IP Fun Fact
Apple’s Cheeky Beatles Joke
Apple gadgets still include a system sound called “Sosumi”- a pun on “so sue me”- a tongue-in-cheek nod to their long-running trademark battles with the Beatles’ parent company “Apple Corps”. Sound designer Jim Reekes named it as a sly jab, claiming it was a Japanese word to avoid scrutiny. The alert debuted in 1991 and stayed for decades as a hidden in-joke.
IP Fun Fact
Nutella gets ‘well-known trademark’ status in India
On August 1, 2025, the Delhi High Court recognized “NUTELLA” as a well-known trademark in India, granting it broader protection under the Trade Marks Act, 1999. The ruling extends legal safeguards beyond Nutella’s product category, reinforcing brand identity, consumer trust and emphasizing public interest and consumer safety.
IP Fun Fact
‘ISKCON’ Granted “Well-Known” Status
The Bombay High Court had recently declared ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) as a well-known trademark in India.
IP Fun Fact
Meta owns the word “face” as trademark
Meta owns the word “face” as a trademark. This mark was acquired by Meta from a UK company CIS Internet Limited, which ran the site Faceparty.com.
IP Fun Fact
Tiffany Blue is a registered color trademark
Tiffany Blue is a color trademark registered by Tiffany & Co. since 1998. It is officially recognized as Pantone Matching System (PMS) 1837.
IP Fun Fact
Taylor Swift has about 50 trademarks
Taylor Swift has about 50 trademarks and owns over 200 federal trademark registrations for them since the year 2007. Her trademarks range from her name, initials, signature, names of her albums, fan club, song titles, lyrics, concerts and music festival.
IP Fun Fact
Smells can be trademarked in India!
Trade Marks Registry of India has, for the first time, accepted an olfactory (smell) mark for advertisement of “Floral Fragrance / Smell Reminiscent of Roses as Applied to Tyres”, filed by Sumitomo Rubber Industries as the applicant. Given the novelty and technical complexity of the matter, particularly the challenge of graphically representing a scent, the Registry appointed Mr. Pravin Anand as amicus curiae. Drawing on decades of trademark expertise, he assisted the Registry with comparative jurisprudence, legal analysis, and the scientific approach required for assessing an olfactory mark.
IP Fun Fact
PLAY DOH smell granted protection in the US
In 2018, the smell of the iconic PLAY DOH was granted trademark protection by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The trademarked scent is described as a unique scent formed through the combination of a sweet, slightly musky, vanilla-like fragrance, with slight overtones of cherry, and the natural smell of salted, wheat-based dough.
IP Fun Fact
Hear That? It Might Be Trademarked
Trademarks can be heard, not just seen. When a sound becomes uniquely associated with a brand or character, it can earn legal protection. For instance, the iconic sound of Darth Vader breathing was granted protection in 2007 by United States Patent and Trademark Office, and just as iconic, metallic click of a Zippo lighter also became a registered trademark in 2018.
IP Fun Fact
Shah Rukh Khan’s “King Khan” Is Legally His
IP Fun Fact
When A Rapper Sued a Doctor Over a Name
IP Fun Fact
The Trademark That Lost Its Meaning
