What was the first trademark?

Asked by: Dr. Green Grimes  |  Last update: February 7, 2026
Score: 5/5 (32 votes)

The concept of trademarks dates back to ancient times with blacksmiths, but the first registered trademark was the Bass Red Triangle for Bass Pale Ale, registered in England in 1876; in the U.S., the first was Averill's Ready-Mix Paint in 1870, though it was later deemed unconstitutional, making the J.P. Tolman Company's Samson mark (1884) the oldest active U.S. trademark.

What was the first ever trademark?

United Kingdom: 1876 – The Bass Brewery's label incorporating its triangle logo for ale was the first trademark to be registered under the Trade Mark Registration Act 1875.

What is the oldest trademark?

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.

Who invented the trademark?

They also had appellations of origin (such as in the textile industry). Evidence suggests that the first piece of trademark legislation was passed in England in 1266 under the reign of King Henry III.

What is the most famous trademark?

Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola is one of the most famous trademarks in the world. The company was founded in 1886, and its distinctive red and white logo has been used since 1887. The company sells over 1 billion bottles of Coca-Cola a day, and the brand is worth an estimated $74 billion.

Trademark or LLC... Which Comes First?

15 related questions found

What is the strongest trademark?

Fanciful marks are considered to be the strongest type of mark. Examples of fanciful marks are: EXXON. KODAK.

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 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 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.

What is the most expensive trademark?

Here are the companies with the most valuable trademarks:

  • Google is the most popular search engine, and its trademark is worth $44.3 billion. ...
  • Microsoft has a trademark value of $42.8 billion and a market cap of $204 billion. ...
  • Walmart has a trademark value of $36.2 billion and a market capitalization of $184 billion.

What is the oldest logo still used?

Twinings Tea

It's the oldest logo in the world that's had fully unceasing use. Keep in mind, 1787 was 2 years before George Washington was sworn in as America's first president. The Twinings logo consists of the family name presented appearing beneath a family crest.

What are the 4 types of trademarks?

The 4 Categories of Trademarks

  • Generic . A generic term is a common description that does not receive trademark protection. ...
  • Descriptive . ...
  • Suggestive . ...
  • Arbitrary or Fanciful .

What are 7 types of logos?

Top 7 Types of Logo Design Every Business Should Know

  • Wordmark Logos. ...
  • Lettermark Logos. ...
  • Brandmark (Symbol/Icon) Logos. ...
  • Combination Logos. ...
  • Emblem Logos. ...
  • Mascot Logos. ...
  • Abstract Logos.

What was the first logo ever?

The first logo to be trademarked was the Bass red triangle in 1876. The Arts and Crafts Movement of late-19th century, partially in response to the excesses of Victorian typography, aimed to restore an honest sense of craftsmanship to the mass-produced goods of the era.

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.

What are three trademarks?

Federal Mark, State Mark, and Common Law Mark

The U.S. recognizes three different legal forms of a mark. Federal marks are marks registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”).

Can I trademark a name myself?

Unlike surnames, personal names (first names and first names used with last names) can act as trademarks without proof of secondary meaning because they are considered to be inherently distinctive.

What does "IP" stand for in trademark law?

Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce.

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).

Is Coca-Cola a trade mark?

In addition, you acknowledge that the Site itself is protected by copyright law. You further acknowledge that Coca Cola owns the trademarks “Coca Cola”, “Coke” and all associated Coca Cola trade names, service marks and logos. All other trademarks used on the Site are the property of their respective owners.

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 word did Kim Kardashian try to trademark?

If you think of a word as a visual symbol of the brand, you can see why Kardashian applied for a trademark over the word “kimono” as styled in a particular font.

Can you legally be named Jesus?

Naming prohibitions aim to stop people from choosing offensive or confusing names. Trademarks are also usually not permitted. Here are some examples of illegal names in the United States: Jesus Christ.

What did Albert Einstein say about Jesus?

I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene." Einstein was then asked if he accepted the historicity of Jesus, to which he replied, "Unquestionably! No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word.

What does WWJD mean backwards?

It should be, rather asked by, saying, "what did Jesus do (WDJD)?" To ask, WWJD is an insult and quite frankly disrespectful and blasphemous because it means you are, insinuating that Jesus Christ didn't take EVERTHING to the Cross and fulfilled ALL when He proclaimed, "it is finished" (John 19:28-30).