These days you can trademark just about anything, from colours to names, sounds or images. Take a look at these five quirky trademarks from around the world.
Photographs of the Eiffel Tower at night.
Come to think of it, you don’t see as many photographs of the Eiffel Tower at night as you do in the day. While the tower itself is part of the public domain, its lighting display is a classed as separate copyrighted work of art. If you want to sell a nighttime image of the illuminated tower, you would need to request permission from the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel.
Reese’s orange colour.
Everyone loves a Reece’s peanut butter cup and its iconic orange wrapper stands out proudly on the shelves. On the back of every Reese’s wrapper you will see a note that states: “orange background color is a registered trademark.”
The Superhero term.
When you see someone in tights and a cape or a benevolent fictional character with superhuman powers, you instantly think superhero. But did you know that “superhero” is actually a trademarked phrase? Even more interesting than that, it is co-owned by long-time rivals Marvel and DC Comics.
New York Stock Exchange bell sound.
We are all familiar with the iconic chime of the New York Stock Exchange bell. Well, that very sound is in fact owned by the NYSE, as are the capitalized versions of the phrases: “Opening Bell” and “Closing Bell.”
Taylor Swifts lyric, ‘This Sick Beat’
Pop star Taylor Swift trademarked the phrase “this sick beat” from her annoyingly catchy single “Shake It Off,”. It is stuck in your head now, isn’t it? Sorry.
Questions about this
Can a colour be registered as a trademark?
Yes. Trademarks today can cover far more than names, including colours, sounds and images. Reese’s peanut butter cups are a well-known example: the back of each wrapper carries a note stating that the orange background colour is a registered trademark. The colour has become so closely tied to the product that it stands out on the shelf on its own.
Answered by Saad Ashraf, Marketing ManagerCan a sound be trademarked?
Yes. Sounds and jingles can be registered as trademarks. The chime of the New York Stock Exchange bell is one example: the sound is owned by the NYSE, as are the capitalised phrases Opening Bell and Closing Bell. A distinctive sound that customers link to one business can be protected in a similar way to a name or logo.
Answered by Saad Ashraf, Marketing ManagerCan I sell photographs of the Eiffel Tower at night?
Not freely. The tower itself is in the public domain, but its lighting display is classed as a separate copyrighted work of art. Anyone wanting to sell a night-time image of the illuminated tower needs permission from the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel. It is a useful reminder that intellectual property can cover things people assume are free to use.
Answered by Saad Ashraf, Marketing Manager
