Yamaha’s Wave Runner® brand of personal watercrafts incorporates a unique visual display that sets it apart from other brand offerings. The Yamaha Visibility Spout motion mark (commonly known as the “Rooster Tail” or just “tail for short) is a pressurized stream of water exiting vertically from the rear end of the personal watercraft.

Neil Kobayashi, known as the "Wave Runner Papa," invented the Wave Runner® personal watercraft. His vision was shaped during the 1970s while stationed in Shonan, Japan. Inspired by small, motorized watercraft like surfboards fitted with propulsion devices, Kobayashi aimed to develop an affordable and widely accessible craft.

The Kawasaki Jet Ski JS400 entered the market in 1973 and was an immediate hit. Unlike its predecessors, the Jet Ski personal watercraft was lightweight, maneuverable, and designed for high-performance water sports.

It is mid-March which can only mean one thing: March Madness® is almost here! Conference tournaments are still playing out, this weekend on Selection Sunday® the bracket will be set, and next week The Big Dance® will officially begin.

Let’s talk about taste marks. We know what you are thinking: “A taste mark? Really? That’s possible?” Well, you are half right.

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.