Stick figure holding an ignited blue lightsaber labeled “LIGHTSABER®” facing another with hilt only, with a musical note icon and text “OSCILLATING HUMMING BUZZ” — representing the registered Lightsaber sound mark.

Trademark: Lightsaber Sound

First Used: April 1999

First Registered: May 2009

Current Owner: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. LLC

Trademark Type: non-traditional trademark; sound mark

Primarily Associated With: toy swords, role-playing toys

Brief (and likely incomplete) History [1]:

The iconic hum and clash of the Lightsaber® (the word is also a trademark [2]) has transcended generations, captivating people of all ages. Whether it's youngsters reenacting epic battles in their backyard with sticks or fans of all ages at conventions with props, the distinctive Lightsaber Sound is a universal symbol of the Star Wars saga, sparking imagination and excitement worldwide.

The Lightsaber Sound was created by Ben Burtt, a legendary sound designer who worked on the original Star Wars trilogy. Tasked by George Lucas himself, the Lightsaber Sound needed to convey an energy weapon that was both ancient and futuristic (“A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”).

The sound of a Lightsaber at rest was created by recording the humming, buzzing sound of an idling 35mm film projector. To create the dynamic sound of a Lightsaber moving through the air, the humming, buzzing sound was blended together with the sound of interference from a television set. This combination of sounds created a fluctuating, whooshing effect. Finally, for the sounds of Lightsabers clashing in combat, a combination of metallic clashing sounds and other percussive impact noises were captured. These sounds were layered and processed to create the sharp, impactful sound of Lightsaber battles.

While the process of creating the Lightsaber Sound has evolved over time together with advancements in sound design technology, the Lightsaber Sound has been a consistent feature across all Star Wars films, animated series, and other media, becoming one of the most iconic and recognizable sounds in cinematic history.

Interested in learning more about other Star Wars trademarks? Check out our posts on Darth Vader trademarks and May The 4th Be With You.

[1] How the lightsaber got its buzz: why sound genius Ben Burtt is the unsung hero of Star Wars, The Telegraph, posted December 19, 2019, and available at https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/lightsaber-got-buzz-ben-burtt-hero-star-wars-rise-skywalker/; Lightsaber Deep Dive: A Closer Look at the Iconic Sci-Fi Sound Effect, Krotos Studio, posted April 19, 2024, and available at https://krotos.studio/blog/lightsaber-sound-effect-deep-dive.

[2] USPTO, U.S. Trademark Registration No. 2,772,052, available at https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=2772052&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch.

[3] USPTO, U.S. Trademark Registration No. 3,618,321, available at https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=3618321&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch.