Saunders & Silverstein LLP

In 1984, Michael Buffer was hired to announce a boxing match between Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns. Inspired by the Brooklyn rap group UTFO and Muhammad Ali’s quote “Rumble, young man, rumble,” he introduced the match with the now-iconic phrase “Let’s get ready to rumble!” The quip was such a hit that it became a staple of professional boxing and even extended to other combat sports, earning Buffer decades of steady work announcing matches. Understanding the value of his creation, Buffer registered the phrase with the USPTO in 1992 and has since earned a whopping $400 million from licensing the phrase to video games, TV shows, merchandise, and all types of media. The heavyweight attorneys at Saunders & Silverstein can help you register your trademarks to protect your brand and maximize the value of your intellectual property. Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eTP3nD6g #TrademarkMoment

We’re deep into college football season now, so it’s the perfect time to talk about one of the more interesting trademark registrations in sports. In 2019, both Ohio State University and clothing designer Marc Jacobs filed applications with the USPTO for the word "THE" after coming to an agreement over the shared use of the mark. Ohio State University began using and emphasizing “THE” at the start of the school’s name to avoid being referred to as OSU, an acronym shared by Oregon State University and Oklahoma State University. As a result, Ohio State alums refer to their alma mater as "The?Ohio State University." In 2022, the USPTO granted registration for "THE" after the University proved that it had made decades of use of the mark and averaged $12.5 million in annual revenue related to the mark through their licensing program. Meanwhile, Marc Jacobs’ application remains pending. Don’t get schooled by the trademark system. The attorneys at Saunders & Silverstein have the experience to counsel you on all aspects of trademark selection, protection, and registration. Click here for more information: https://www.sandsip.com/ #TrademarkMoment

The Saunders & Silverstein team had a busy September. From the?Marques Conference in Stockholm?to the International Trademark Association (INTA)TMAP meeting in Philadelphia, our team had a great time networking, sightseeing, and of course, learning from all of the insightful presentations?and discussions.

I enjoy the NHL - the Boston Bruins in particular - though I will admit that there are so many games I tend to start paying close attention after the all star break. Apparently I need to pay far more attention because did you know there's a new team this season? It's the Utah Hockey Club! While that clearly sounds like a temporary name, apparently it's in the running as the final choice. That might explain in part why they've gone ahead and applied to register the word mark and three word/design combinations with the USPTO. What might the "real" name end up being? I assume it won't be the Utah state bird, which is confusingly the California Gull. The Golden Eagle is the state bird of prey, but we already have the Golden Knights. A fan vote shows Utah Yeti at the top of the list. That would make for some fun branding, but it also raises a question: is the plural of yeti, yeti? Or is it yetis? Perhaps yetii? And of course, because this is America, some enterprising individual has applied to register UTAH YETI.

Saunders & Silverstein is?proud to announce that?Matthew Saunders?and?Aaron Silverstein?have been named??????????????????????????? ?????????? ??????????????, and?Kaitlyn Garvin?has been named a ?????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????? for 2024. https://lnkd.in/evBhW3Mc

What do American classics like Indiana Jones, Pulp Fiction, and Die Hard all have in common??Zippo lighters! Specifically, scenes that were made more memorable by the characters clicking open the?iconic lighter. That’s what Zippo argued as they successfully pushed to register “the sounds of a?windproof lighter opening, igniting, and closing” as a sensory trademark, citing over 2,000 other?movies in which the product and its sound appear. The registration adds a foundational piece?to Zippo’s ongoing efforts to combat knockoffs worldwide. No firm clicks with your trademark portfolio better than Saunders & Silverstein, whose decades?of experience will help you extinguish your trademark concerns. Click here to learn?more:?https://lnkd.in/eTP3nD6g #TrademarkMoment

Some of you might think, “Hold on a minute, a bottle is functional; how on Earth did that receive a trademark registration?” Trade dress, of course! Coca-Cola introduced its iconic bottle design in 1915 with the specific purpose of distinguishing its soda from competitors. It took several decades of persistent use, but the bottle shape became so closely tied to Coca-Cola’s brand identity that they were able to register its design in 1960, described as “bottles, jars, or flasks with bulging, protruding, or rounded sides” and “ribbing or other surface relief.” ? Trademarks can be more than just simple words, phrases, and logos. When it comes to trade dress, the attorneys at Saunders & Silverstein are bubbling over with experience. Click here to learn more:?https://lnkd.in/eTP3nD6g #CocaCola?#TrademarkMoment

Saunders & Silverstein LLP's Matthew Saunders discusses the importance of recording company name changes with the USPTO, in light of the news of Campbell's Soup Company changing its name to The Campbell's Company.

If you'll be in Stockholm for the MARQUES Annual Conference, be sure to get in touch with Aaron Silverstein to arrange a meeting.

The Gang Goes to Philadelphia. The Saunders & Silverstein LLP team is excited to head to Philadelphia for the 2024 International Trademark Association (INTA) TMAP Meeting. Let us know if you’re attending, we’d love to catch up. Matthew Saunders Michael Rizzo Sarah Leighton Kate Swanson Danielle Williams