What phrases have been trademarked?
Asked by: Megane Lemke | Last update: February 5, 2026Score: 4.6/5 (37 votes)
Here are seven examples of individuals who were more successful in turning their catchphrase into a trademark -- and in some cases, a hefty profit.
- "Three-peat" ...
- "Let's Get Ready to Rumble!" ...
- "Let's Roll" ...
- "That's Hot" ...
- "Bam!" ...
- "Goodnight my sweet Anna baby" ...
- "They are who we thought they were"
What are some trademarked phrases?
From Paris Hilton's “That's hot” to John McEnroe's “You cannot be serious,” some catchy expressions aren't just pop-culture staples—they're officially trademarked phrases, as in protected intellectual property.
What sayings are 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.
How to check if a phrase has been trademarked?
The most reliable way to check if a phrase is trademarked in the United States is by using the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database. The USPTO's Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) is a free tool that lets you search for registered trademarks and pending trademark applications.
What sayings are copyrighted?
6 Trademarked Famous Catchphrases
- “You're Fired!”
- 2. “ Hasta la Vista Baby”
- 3. “ Ancient Chinese Secret”
- 4. “ BANANAS”
- “Let's Get Ready to Rumble!”
- 6. “ That's Hot”
- Learn more about our Translation Services and our Legal Translation services!
- About Language Connections:
How to Trademark a Phrase
Can a catchy phrase be trademarked?
Yes, you can trademark a phrase, tagline, or catchphrase for your brand by registering it with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). To qualify, your phrase must be distinctive, non-generic, and used in connection with commercial goods or services.
Is Taylor Swift's name trademarked?
Is the Taylor Swift name trademarked? Yes, the name Taylor Swift is trademarked. Taylor Swift trademarked her name in 2007 and currently owns more than thirty trademark registrations for her name.
How to tell if a quote is copyrighted?
Search Copyright Records: Copyright Public Records Portal
This is your starting point for finding copyright records held by the Copyright Office. Here, you can search our online records, learn about our searching and retrieval services, and view educational videos and materials.
What are common trademark mistakes?
Common trademarking mistakes include, but are not limited to: Poor choice of brand name. Your business name should resonate with your target customer and express what you do using a strong, memorable image or word. Failing to perform a complete search of trademark databases.
How long does a trademark last?
Trademarks do not have expiration dates.
A federal trademark lasts 10 years from the date of registration, with a potentially unlimited number of 10-year renewal terms. So, every 10 years, the owner of a federal trademark registration must renew it with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
What quotes can I legally use?
You DON'T need permission:
To use quotes from famous people as long as they are used in a brief and positive or neutral way to support your independent work - and with prop- er attribution. To quote or reference the title or author of a work such as books, poems, movies, TV shows or songs.
Is it worth it to trademark a phrase?
Is it Worth it to Trademark a Phrase? If you are using a catch phrase, tag line, or sales line with your goods or services, then yes, it is almost always worth it to trademark that phrase if it is available.
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 ...
What phrases can you not trademark?
Descriptiveness / lack of distinctiveness: Terms that literally describe items as they are ("tomato," "beer," "copper" or any other common word) cannot be trademarked as they must be reserved for general use. Similarly, marks that fail to indicate a particular commercial enterprise to consumers will not be registered.
Is Hasta la Vista trademarked?
NOTE: Many movie studios trademark iconic catchphrases (“Hasta la vista, baby,” “May the Force be with you”). If a phrase is trademarked, using it on merchandise could be trademark infringement or dilution (for famous marks), especially if sold commercially.
What famous catchphrase did Paris Hilton trademark?
"That's hot", "loves it" and "sliving" are Hilton's catchphrases. All three are registered as trademarks for products, like clothing apparel, electronic devices, and alcoholic beverages.
What are the 7 types of trademarks?
7 types of trademarks
- Product mark.
- Service mark.
- Collective mark.
- Certification mark.
- Shape mark.
- Pattern mark.
- Sound mark.
- Generic mark.
Is there a poor man's trademark?
A poor man's trademark is an outdated and ineffective strategy for proving ownership of intellectual property. Mailing a logo or written work to oneself provides little to no legal protection under U.S. copyright or trademark law.
What are some 5 examples of trademarks?
Examples of Famous Trademarks
Famous trademarks represent many of our favorite brands, from APPLE to STARBUCKS. The public immediately recognizes them due to their distinctiveness and renown. Examples of famous trademarks include APPLE, BARBI, FORD, GOOGLE, LEVI'S, TACO BELL, NIKE, PEPSI, and WALMART.
What phrases are not copyrighted?
The Copyright Office's regulations provide that “words and short phrases such as names, titles, and slogans” are not subject to copyright because they contain a de minimis amount of authorship. 37 C.F.R. § 202.1; see also U.S. Copyright Office, Compendium of U.S. Copoyright Office Practices § 313.4(C) (3d ed.
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 3 month rule for copyright?
Copies of all works under copyright protection that have been published or distributed in the United States must be deposited with the Copyright Office within 3 months of the date of first publication.
What has Beyoncé trademarked?
Beyoncé has also trademarked “#beyGood” as well as “BEYGOODFORBURUNDI” – a partnership with UNICEF to provide children in Burundi, East Africa access to safe, sustainable water. The wordmark for “BeyGOOD” was filed in 2017 and officially registered in 2020.
Which is better, TM or R?
R gives you much greater legal protections compared to an unregistered trademark (TM). If you register your brand name or logo (otherwise known as a “mark”), you get a legal presumption of ownership over it. Anyone who challenges your ownership has a much greater burden of proof to overcome if it's registered.
What phrases did Taylor Swift patent?
Some of her most iconic lyrics and phrases have also been trademarked – like “Welcome to New York, it's been waiting for you,” “This sick beat,” “Nice to meet you, where you been?” and “The old Taylor can't come to the phone right now.” They're more than lyrics now; they're part of her identity and her business.