What is the oldest active trademark?
Asked by: Sharon Jaskolski | Last update: April 27, 2026Score: 4.6/5 (44 votes)
The oldest registered trademark in the world is often cited as the Bass Brewery's red triangle, registered in the UK in 1876, but the oldest continuously used and internationally registered trademark is the winged hourglass logo of Longines watches, registered in Switzerland in 1889. The Bass Ale triangle was first under the UK's new law, while Longines holds the record for international registry and unchanged use, appearing on watches since the 1880s.
What is the oldest trademark still in use?
Meet Samson: A Trademark with Staying Power
The honor of the oldest U.S. trademark still in continuous use belongs to a mark first registered in 1884.
What was the first registered trademark?
According to the USPTO, the Averill Ready-Mix Paint logo is the first U.S. registered trademark, filed for paints on August 29, 1870 and issued on October 23, 1870.
What was the first thing ever trademarked?
In America, the first brand to register a trademark under the US Federal Trademark Act of 1870 was the Averill Chemical Paint Company. Averill registered a logo — an eagle with a ribbon — along with the words "Economical, Brilliant." Sadly, Averill's trademark did not help it stay in business or anything.
What is the world's most valuable trademark?
According to Forbes, the world's most valuable trademark is that belonging to Google.
Trademarking a Name - When Should You File for Trademark Registration?
What is the strongest trademark?
Fanciful marks are considered to be the strongest type of mark. Examples of fanciful marks are: EXXON. KODAK.
What word did Kim Kardashian try to trademark?
Kim Kardashian is again brewing up a social media storm – this time over her application to trade mark the word “Kimono” for her new range of shapewear.
What cannot be trademarked?
The following things cannot be registered as trademarks: Deceptive Words, Names, Phrases, Slogans (they are misleading) Merely Descriptive Words (e.g., Best ice cream, Red car) Merely Decorative Features (they don't identify source)
What is the oldest unchanged active trademark?
The Longines Logo is the oldest registered trade mark still in use in its original form registered with the World Intellectual Property Organization.
What would Jesus do trademark?
Recently, Tyler Perry won the right to trademark “What Would Jesus Do.” There are a couple of points I'd like to make about this story. First, some of the media coverage has suggested Tyler Perry can now stop Christians from wearing the popular WWJD bracelets. This is not true.
What is the most recognizable trademark in the world?
Most recognizable brands in the world
- Apple. Apple is the largest company in the world by market capitalization. ...
- Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola has been a symbol of refreshment for over a century and is one of the most recognizable non-tech brands in the world. ...
- Amazon. ...
- Google. ...
- McDonald's. ...
- Nike. ...
- Samsung. ...
- Visa.
What is stronger, TM or R?
Legal Protection: The ® symbol provides stronger legal protection than ™. It gives you the right to sue for trademark infringement if someone else tries to use your registered trademark without permission.
Can you buy old trademarks?
If the mark has been abandoned for three to five years, odds are, you're in the clear. That's the span that the USPTO requires trademarks to be maintained, meaning if the proper paperwork hasn't been filed, it's potentially up for grabs. The risk comes from the Lanham Act.
What is the oldest still existing brand?
Very generally speaking, the oldest company in the world is usually recognized as Kongo Gumi, the Japanese construction company that was founded in 578 AD.
How long do trademarks expire?
Trademarks can last forever so long as they are put to use and renewed on time. A federal trademark lasts 10 years from the date of registration, with a potentially unlimited number of 10-year renewal terms.
What is the most famous logo ever?
Here is a list of the top 101 most famous logos of all time:
- Pepsi. ...
- Apple. ...
- Starbucks. ...
- McDonald's. ...
- Microsoft. ...
- Nike. ...
- Google. Google is likely to become the most famous and recognisable logo over the next decade. ...
- 10 best fonts for modern logo design in 2023. How to make your brand stand out?
What is the oldest logo still in use?
The oldest logo still in use is widely considered to be Stella Artois, with its core horn symbol dating back to 1366 from the original Den Hoorn brewery in Belgium, although it's often presented with the star added later in 1926. Other contenders for oldest include Twinings (1787), known for its unaltered lion crest logo, and Meissen Porcelain (1723) with its crossed swords mark.
Is Timex older than Rolex?
Yes, Timex (founded as Waterbury Clock Company in 1854) is significantly older than Rolex (founded in 1905), with Timex having roots in 19th-century American clockmaking, long before Rolex even existed as a company, though Rolex became famous for its luxury watches much later.
Is Longines better than Rado?
Movement — Longines is more critically acclaimed for the accuracy of their watch movements than Rado. Despite the fact that Rado watches are also immensely accurate, more collectors are fond of Longines watches for their precise movement mechanisms.
What is the rule 37 of trademarks?
Further, Rule 37 of Trade Marks Rules, 2017 states that an applicant for registration of a trademark may, whether before or after acceptance of his application but before the registration of the trademark, apply in Form TM-M accompanied by the prescribed fee for the correction of any error in or in connection with his ...
Is Coca-Cola a trade mark?
Yes, "Coke" and "Coca-Cola" are heavily trademarked by The Coca-Cola Company, covering the name, logos, script, bottle shape (trade dress), and advertising, all to distinguish their products from competitors and protect their brand identity. They own registrations for numerous variations like "Coke," "Coca-Cola," and "Diet Coke".
What are the 4 types of trademarks?
The four main types of marks registered with the USPTO are Trademarks, Service Marks, Certification Marks, and Collective Marks; however, marks are also categorized by strength (fanciful, arbitrary, suggestive, descriptive, generic), which determines protection levels, with fanciful (like Kodak) being strongest and generic (like "Aspirin") having none.
Is Taylor Swift's name trademarked?
Yes, Taylor Swift has a massive trademark portfolio protecting her name, albums (like Midnights, 1989), iconic lyrics ("This Sick Beat," "The Old Taylor Can't Come to the Phone Right Now"), tour names, and even her cats (Meredith, Olivia, Benjamin) and fan terms ("Swifties," "Swiftmas") for various products and services. Her proactive strategy covers a wide range of merchandise and commercial uses to maintain brand control.
Who is richer, Kim or Kylie?
Kim Kardashian is significantly richer than Kylie Jenner, with Kim's net worth estimated around $1.9 billion thanks to her SKIMS brand, compared to Kylie's roughly $670-$710 million from Kylie Cosmetics and other ventures, making Kim the wealthiest of the Kardashian-Jenner siblings as of early 2026.
What names can't be trademarked?
What Words Cannot Be Trademarked?
- Generic Terms. (Example: “Coffee” for a coffee shop) ...
- Descriptive Terms Without Distinctiveness. (Example: “Best Miami Plumber”) ...
- Geographically Descriptive Names. (Example: “Orlando Roofing Services”) ...
- Surnames (Last Names) (Example: “Johnson Plumbing”) ...
- Common Phrases or Industry Terms.