How to Trademark a Phrase
Each major company or organization has a specific slogan or phrase to help consumers remember them. The current Mercedes-Benz slogan is “The best or nothing”. This phrase helps represent what Mercedes-Benz as a brand stands for. Mercedes-Benz promises to deliver “the best or nothing” through everything they do. Taylor Swift made headlines when she filed trademark applications for several phrases from her “1989” album, including “this sick beat.” Michael Buffer’s phrase, “Let’s get Ready to Rumbol” was trademarked in 1992. And Nike has built its slogan on the trademarked phrase “Just Do It.” Why trademark a phrase? Trademarking helps ensure that no one else can use a similar phrase to promote similar products or services. It is very simple and good way to compete with your competitors and make your goods and services stand out in market. When can you trademark a phrase? Of course big companies and famous people can trademark phrases, but what about other people? Can you just trademark any phrase? The answer is that phrases, like anything else, are subject to certain trademark rules. First, you must use the phrase in commerce, or intend to use it in commerce. That means that you must use it …