Trademark

IP Fun Fact

The Trademark That Lost Its Meaning

The word “Aspirin” was once a protected trademark owned by Bayer AG (German multinational life-science company). However, after World War I, Bayer lost its trademark rights in several countries, including the U.S., where “aspirin” became a generic term. This process, called “genericide” also affected brands like “escalator” and “cellophane.” It shows that trademark protection isn’t permanent if the public starts using your brand name as the product itself.

IP Fun Fact

India’s Oldest Surviving Trademark Registration

India’s oldest surviving trademark registration is Trademark No. 10 for the mark “BLACK AND WHITE” in Class 33 (whisky). It was filed on 1 June 1942 on a “proposed to be used” basis and published in Journal No. 1-0 dated 1 September 1943. According to the Trade Marks Registry, the mark remains registered and valid until 1 June 2026. Originating in the pre-independence era, this trademark is among the earliest entries in the Indian Trade Marks Register and reflects remarkable continuity, having been consistently renewed for over 80 years.

IP Fun Fact

iPhone Name Wasn’t Originally Apple’s

Before  Apple  launched the iPhone, the trademark “iPhone” was actually owned by Cisco. The two companies eventually reached an agreement to share the name. It’s a reminder that even the most iconic product names often come with behind-the-scenes IP negotiations.

IP Fun Fact

The Trademark for a Scream

The movie studio behind Tarzan actually trademarked the famous 2,210,506 “Tarzan yell.” The yell was a creation of the movies based on what Burroughs described in his books as simply “the victory cry of the bull ape.” Owned by  Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., the scream is treated as a distinctive audio identifier.

IP Fun Fact

An Iconic Roar

The iconic lion’s roar used at the start of movies by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is a registered trademark under U.S. Registration No. 1395550. It’s not just a sound effect it’s a brand identity. Before you even see a film, that roar signals exactly which studio is behind it.

IP Fun Fact

The Trademark for the Shape of a Coca Cola Bottle

The iconic contour bottle of Coca-Cola, designed by the Root Glass Company and introduced in 1916, was officially recognized as a trademark by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on April 12, 196. The contour bottle of Coca-Cola is trademarked, meaning even without a label, the shape alone identifies the brand.

IP Fun Fact

The Trademark for a Door Opening

Lamborghini has trademarked the upward-opening motion “scissor doors,” under Registration Number 2793439 (UA), often known as a motion trademark to prevent other manufacturers from using the exact, dramatic movement in a way that suggests a connection to Lamborghini.

IP Fun Fact

Jackie Shroff trademarked its iconic dialogue Bhidu

Actor Jackie Shroff has registered the trademark “BHIDU” under multiple applications, primarily registered under Class 25 (Apparel, 3227968) and Class 41 (Entertainment, 3227969), both filed on April 5, 2016. He also holds a trademark for “Bhidu Ka Khopcha” (4362494).

IP Fun Fact

Styled Right!

Giorgio Armani S.p.A. holds trademark protection over specific stylized representations of letters (such as “A”, “EA”, or the Eagle logo). In intellectual property law, while a simple, non-stylized single letter is difficult to protect, a stylized letter defined by its unique font, spacing, and presentation is considered a valid, enforceable “figurative mark” or “device mark”.

IP Fun Fact

Recognizable, Therefore Protected

Ferrero protects the distinctive gold foil and white cup combination used for its chocolates. Even without branding, the packaging “vibe” alone is protected as trade dress in many markets. Ferrero has successfully protected the distinctive combination of gold foil, white paper cup, and the overall “vibe” (get-up) of the Ferrero Rocher wrapper as trade dress in various jurisdictions.