Velcro® is an amalgam of the French words “Velour” (velvet) and “Crochet” (hook). In 1941, Swiss engineer George de Mestral was inspired by a simple yet persistent natural occurrence—burrs clinging to his dog’s fur during a hike. Intrigued by the tiny hooks on the burrs that latched onto fabric and hair, he set out to develop a textile fastener that mimicked this mechanism.

Gerber introduced the Gator® series of knives as part of its effort to create a high-performance knife line for outdoor and hunting enthusiasts. Of course, a defining feature of the Gator series is the iconic Gerber Gator Knife texture mark applied to the handle.

A texture mark protects distinctive texture(s) associated with a brand. Whereas some of the previous types of trademarks we have discussed protect the visual appearance of a good or service, a texture mark protects the touch and feel of a good.

The color red as applied to pocketknives is a registered trademark owned by VICTORINOX AG (Swiss Army Brand). The Swiss Army Red color mark associated with Swiss Army® pocketknives has a deep-rooted history tied to the knives' origins and the Swiss national identity.

The Swiss Army Logo was first adopted by Victorinox internationally in 1909, and in the US in 1974. At that time, Karl Elsener, the founder of Victorinox, introduced the emblem to differentiate his knives from those of competitors and to emphasize their Swiss origin and quality.

In the late 1800s, the Swiss Army commissioned the creation of a simple folding pocketknife for use by their soldiers for opening canned food and disassembling service rifles that typically required a screwdriver.

The Ultra PRO Card Protector Sleeve hologram mark is a significant piece of trademark history – it is the oldest, still active hologram mark trademark registration in the United States. The Ultra PRO Card Protector Sleeve hologram mark was first used in 1995 and registered as a trademark in 1998.

A hologram mark protects distinctive hologram(s) associated with a brand, specifically, three-dimensional images that change appearance when viewed from different angles.

Congratulations to the Eagles for advancing to the 2025 Super Bowl®! This week we will be highlighting some NFL championship related trademark registrations, including those owned by the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. Good luck, Eagles!

Congratulations to the Chiefs for advancing to the 2025 Super Bowl®! This week we will be highlighting some NFL championship related trademark registrations, including those owned by the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. Good luck, Chiefs!

Congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs for advancing to the 2025 SUPER BOWL®! This week we will be highlighting some trademark registrations celebrating the NFL championship game, including those owned by Philadelphia and Kansas City. Good luck to both teams!

You sit down to watch some Saturday morning cartoons and the familiar Hanna-Barbera Star swirls on the screen. No matter the cartoon that was about to play, you knew you were in for some high-quality entertainment. Also known as the “Swirling Star” or the “Hanna-Barbera Rainbow,” the Hanna-Barbera Star motion mark is an iconic piece of animation and branding history.

A motion mark protects distinctive motion(s) or movement(s) associated with a brand, including animated images or sequences, moving aspects of products, or motions used in rendering services.  

The sport of table tennis first originated in England in the late 1800’s as a parlor game played by the upper class. Table tennis quickly caught on with the public and was marketed under a variety of wild brand names including Gossima, Whiff Waff, Parlour Tennis, Indoor Tennis, Pom-Pom, Pim-Pam, Netto, Clip-Clap, and of course Ping-Pong®.

We hope for a great game on the field, but based on trademark portfolios it isn’t close. OHIO STATE®, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY®, THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY®, OSU®, whatever trademarked name you want to call them (maybe not whatever name you want, looking at you Michigan fans), the school has one awesome collection of trademark registrations, including a can’t-believe-it’s-registered word mark and several unique non-traditional trademarks.

Congratulations to Notre Dame for advancing through the College Football Playoffs to the 2025 College Football National Championship Game!

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.

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.

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).

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.