If you ever hatch a brilliant concept, you should brace yourself for the possibility that someone else might try to swipe it. It’s a harsh reality, but it’s how the world works. The safest play is to file a copyright or a trademark before anyone else can grab your hard‑won creation. That way, if a copycat shows up, you can march into court, halt the infringement, or even walk away with a tidy settlement.
10 Things You Might Not Know About Trademarks
10 Superhero Is a Trademark Owned by Both DC and Marvel
The superhero genre is as massive as it gets, and even though the early 2020s saw a tiny backlash, the fact remains that the highest‑grossing movies ever are dominated by caped crusaders. Marvel and DC together have raked in close to $40 billion at the box office, a staggering figure that underscores the genre’s dominance.
Most fans see Marvel and DC as fierce rivals, and over the decades the two have swapped writers and artists, occasionally producing characters that seemed to echo each other’s creations. The rivalry has been a staple of comic‑book lore for generations.
There have been moments when the two universes have actually intersected—crossover comics have featured Hulk squaring off against Superman, for example. Behind the scenes, however, the companies teamed up to jointly register the term “superhero.”
In the United States, anyone who uses “superhero” or “super hero” (or any variation) runs the risk of a lawsuit, because the word is co‑owned by both Marvel and DC. Dual ownership of a trademark is rare, but it hasn’t been contested. The two firms realized that, since they operate in the same market, fighting over the term would be futile, and enforcement has been inconsistent—some users are left alone, while others have been shut down by legal action.
9 Darth Vader’s Breathing Is a Trademark
Star Wars has grown from a 1970s cult classic into a global cultural juggernaut, spawning movies, TV series, video games, Lego sets, and even themed Spaghetti‑Os. Valued at roughly $65 billion, the franchise protects its assets aggressively.
Beyond obvious trademarks like names and character designs, Lucasfilm went deeper. The iconic “whoosh” of Darth Vader’s breathing was formally registered as a trademark, ensuring no one else could legally employ that distinctive sound.
The registration defines the sound as “the rhythmic mechanical human breathing created by breathing through a scuba‑tank regulator.” By trademarking this audio cue, Lucasfilm blocks any unauthorized use of the breathy hiss.
Trademarking sounds isn’t unheard of; the Law & Order “dun‑dun” chime, the MGM lion’s roar, and Tarzan’s yell are all protected. Vader’s breathing joins that exclusive club of recognizable audio trademarks.
8 Play‑Doh’s Scent Is a Trademark
If you can trademark a sound, why not a smell? Hasbro thought the same when it secured a trademark on the unmistakable aroma of Play‑Doh. The scent, though hard to pin down, is officially described in the registration.
According to the filing, the fragrance blends a sweet, slightly musky vanilla note with hints of cherry and the natural scent of a salted wheat‑based dough. The description is required for the trademark to be granted.
Hasbro filed for the scent trademark in 2018, joining a growing list of protected odors. Today, you’ll find strawberry‑scented toothbrushes, bubble‑gum‑flavored flip‑flops, and even a “flowery musk” used in electronics—all safeguarded by trademark law.
7 Real Estate Agent and Realtor Are Different as Realtor Is a Trademarked Word
If you’ve ever bought or sold a home, you probably dealt with a real‑estate agent. While the terms are often used interchangeably, only one of them—Realtor—is a protected trademark owned by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
To call yourself a Realtor, you must be a member of NAR, agree to a strict code of ethics, and pass a competency exam. This membership unlocks additional resources and branding that ordinary agents don’t receive.
The word Realtor is a proper noun and should always be capitalized, though it’s frequently seen in lowercase. NAR works hard to keep the term from becoming generic, ensuring it continues to signify a specific, trademarked credential.
6 Pitbull Trademarked His “Eeeeeyoooo” Yell
Florida‑born rapper Pitbull is famous not just for his music but also for a signature vocal exclamation—an unmistakable “Eeeeeyoooo!” He successfully filed for a trademark on that distinctive yell, arguing that it’s uniquely associated with him.
The trademark records the sound as “EEEEEEEYOOOOOO.” It joins a very exclusive group—fewer than 40 distinct sounds have ever qualified for trademark protection in the United States—making Pitbull’s achievement especially noteworthy.
5 Taco Tuesday Was a Trademark Until 2023
Tacos are beloved, and the weekly ritual of “Taco Tuesday” has become a cultural staple, even earning a meme‑worthy moment with LeBron James shouting the phrase. It feels like a public‑domain tradition, but it wasn’t always.
Back in 1989, Taco John’s filed a trademark for the phrase, hoping to capitalize on its catchy alliteration. The company owned the trademark nationwide—except for New Jersey—for decades, despite the phrase’s growing popularity.
Eventually, Taco Bell and other industry players pressured Taco John’s to relinquish the mark, arguing that the phrase had become generic through widespread use. After a prolonged battle, Taco John’s surrendered the rights, though a New Jersey franchisee named Gregory Gregory clung to the trademark for a few extra months.
Ironically, Gregory has never been a taco fan, and he once said he’d pass the trademark to his grandson. Yet, in the end, he too let it go, demonstrating how even stubborn owners can bow to cultural momentum.
4 Grammy Trophies Are Made of a Trademark Alloy Called Grammium
Every year, the music world gathers for the Grammy Awards, where the most celebrated artists receive a golden‑looking trophy. While the statue looks like pure gold, its composition is actually a specially crafted alloy.
The Recording Academy coined the name “Grammium” for this unique blend of zinc and aluminum, which is then plated with 24‑karat gold. The alloy’s name and formulation are trademarked, preventing anyone else from producing a Grammy‑style award.
In addition to the zinc‑aluminum core, the horn of the gramophone portion is fashioned from brass. Although the trophy appears valuable, the actual manufacturing cost hovers around $15 per award.
3 Bubble Wrap Is a Trademark
Everyone knows bubble wrap—the plastic sheet dotted with air‑filled pockets that burst with a satisfying pop. What many don’t realize is that “Bubble Wrap” isn’t a generic term; it’s a registered trademark for a specific type of cellular cushioning material.
The trademark, filed in the 1960s, originally covered “Cellular Cushioning Packaging Material which Contains Entrapped Bubbles of Air or Other Gases.” Over time, the brand name became so ubiquitous that it entered the public lexicon, eventually being considered a generic trademark much like Kleenex or Aspirin.
2 7‑Eleven Owns the Term Brainfreeze
A Slurpee from 7‑Eleven is famous for its icy chill, which can lead to the dreaded “brain freeze.” The sudden, sharp headache occurs when the cold rapidly cools capillaries in the sinus area, causing them to constrict.
Recognizing the marketing potential, 7‑Eleven trademarked both the brand name “Slurpee” and the colloquial term “brain freeze,” even though the latter has become a common descriptor for any cold‑induced headache.
Despite the widespread usage of the phrase, the trademark remains active, allowing 7‑Eleven to retain exclusive rights to the terminology in connection with its frozen beverages.
1 Billy Joel Trademarked Billy Joel, and Yoko Ono Owns John Lennon
Celebrities often protect their names as brand assets. Singer‑songwriter Billy Joel filed a trademark covering his name, which now shields everything from merchandise to printed materials that feature his moniker.
In a similar vein, Yoko Ono holds the trademark for John Lennon’s signature. While Billy Joel’s registration protects a standard typeset version of his name, Ono’s trademark specifically covers Lennon’s handwritten signature, preventing its unauthorized reproduction on commercial products.