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Traditional TMs, Non-Traditional TMs Justin Powley Traditional TMs, Non-Traditional TMs Justin Powley

College Football National Championship 2025

Congratulations to Notre Dame and Ohio State University for advancing through the College Football Playoffs to the 2025 College Football National Championship Game! This week we will be highlighting some college football championship related trademark registrations, including those owned by Notre Dame and Ohio State University.

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Non-Traditional TMs Justin Powley Non-Traditional TMs Justin Powley

Power Plus Cherry Lubricant Scent

The Power Plus Cherry Lubricant scent mark is a significant piece of trademark history – it is the oldest, still active scent mark trademark registration in the United States. The Power Plus Cherry Lubricant scent mark was first used in 1990 and registered as a trademark in 2001. With its unique pink coloring and trademarked cherry scent, Power Plus brand lubricants are still in use and sold today.

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Intro to TMs Justin Powley Intro to TMs Justin Powley

Non-Traditional Trademarks: Scent Marks

A scent mark protects distinctive scent(s) associated with a brand. The scent mark must be used in connection with a good or a service, distinctively identify that good or service as being offered by the brand owner, and be non-functional (e.g., the scent can’t be the primary purpose of the product).

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Traditional TMs Justin Powley Traditional TMs Justin Powley

New Year’s Rockin’ Eve

The New Year’s Rockin’ Eve® show was created by television and radio personality Dick Clark as a modern alternative to traditional New Year’s Eve programming like Guy Lombardo’s long-running New Year’s Eve specials.

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The Elf On The Shelf

The Elf on the Shelf® brand was born out of a cherished family tradition and entrepreneurial vision. Carol Aebersold, along with her twin daughters, Chanda Bell and Christa Pitts, wanted to share the special holiday ritual they had grown up with.

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Non-Traditional TMs Justin Powley Non-Traditional TMs Justin Powley

NBC Chimes Sound

The NBC Chimes sound mark is not just one of the most famous sounds in broadcasting history, but also a significant piece of trademark history – it is the oldest, still active sound mark registration in the United States! Although the sound has varied over time, the NBC Chimes sound mark was first used in 1961 and registered as a trademark in 1971, and is still in use in connection with broadcasting television programs today.

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Traditional TMs Justin Powley Traditional TMs Justin Powley

Cool Whip

The Cool Whip® brand, not to be mixed up with the Miracle Whip® brand (seriously, don’t. it’s a long story. trust us on this one), was invented as a convenient alternative to traditional whipped cream.

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Traditional TMs Justin Powley Traditional TMs Justin Powley

Miracle Whip

The Miracle Whip® brand finds its origins in both the Industrial Revolution and the Great Depression. Miracle Whip was created to be a more affordable mayonnaise during the Great Depression, by combining the ingredients of mayonnaise with cheaper salad dressing.

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Non-Traditional TMs Justin Powley Non-Traditional TMs Justin Powley

Keystone Red Brand Fencing Position

The Keystone Red Brand Fencing mark is a significant piece of trademark history – it is the oldest, still active position mark registration in the United States! Both the position mark, and the word mark RED BRAND®, are registered trademarks still used in connection with fencing materials today.

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Traditional TMs Justin Powley Traditional TMs Justin Powley

Turducken

Happy Thanksgiving! Sometimes it can be hard to decide what to serve or eat as the main course. Feeling a little weird? The perfect solution may be to just choose all the meats and go with the Turducken® roast.

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Non-Traditional TMs Justin Powley Non-Traditional TMs Justin Powley

Bicycle Playing Card Configuration

The United States Playing Card Company is the owner of several timeless and historically significant trademark registrations, including the Bicycle® Playing Card configuration mark, one of the earliest, still active US trade dress and configuration mark registration. The Bicycle brand of playing cards was first introduced in 1885 by the United States Playing Card Company, which was founded in 1867 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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Traditional TMs Justin Powley Traditional TMs Justin Powley

Wite-Out

Wite-Out® Brand correction fluid was invented in the 1960s by two friends hoping to solve an annoying problem at the time:  they wanted to correct typing errors easily but available correction fluids at that time would smudge ink on photostatic paper.

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Traditional TMs Justin Powley Traditional TMs Justin Powley

Liquid Paper

The world’s first correction fluid was invented in 1951 by Bette Nesmith Graham (the mother of Michael Nesmith from The Monkees!). Bette’s work as a typist led her to experiment with solutions for correcting accidental typing mistakes, and the LIQUID PAPER® brand was born.

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Traditional TMs Justin Powley Traditional TMs Justin Powley

Coca-Cola Logo

The Coca-Cola Logo was designed using Spencerian script font, a flowing script that was a popular style in the late 1800s. Over the years, the Coca-Cola Logo has remained remarkably consistent, with only minor tweaks to modernize it while preserving its classic feel. The Coca-Cola Logo’s timeless design has played a critical role in establishing the brand's visual identity and has become one of the most recognized logos worldwide.

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