A Look at Non-Traditional Trademarks: Color, Sound & Scent In The United States
By Justin M. Jacobson, Esq.
Trademarks and service marks are essential and valuable assets of a company. They
are used to identify the source of a particular good or service to the consuming public and
are an indicator of the quality of the goods or services provided. A protected mark for a
specific good or service helps a business increase its recognition and consumer loyalty.
Additionally, an owner’s right in the mark continues to grow through use in commerce.
In the United States, a mark can be registered at either the state or federal level;
however, prior to selecting a particular mark for a product or service, a trademarkscreening search should be performed on all state and federal registered marks as well as
pending marks. Based on the results of the search, a determination on whether to seek
federal registration for the trademark can be made.
In America, trademark rights exist in both traditional and non-traditional marks.
Words, phrases, symbols, logos and/or designs are all examples of traditional trademarks.
In addition, to these traditional marks, exclusive rights can also exist for a particular color,
sound, scent and/or any combinations of these. For the purpose of this article, we will focus
specifically on non-traditional trademarks
The Trademark Act of 1946, known as the Lanham Act, governs trademark matters
in the United States. In the Supreme Court decision Qualitex Co. v. Jacobson Products Co, the
Court ruled that non-traditional trademarks could be protected (514 U.S. 159). In order to
protect a non-traditional mark, the Court required a finding of “secondary meaning.”
“Secondary meaning” exists when the relevant consumers identify a particular mark for a
certain product or service. This is typically due to an extended period of use of a mark for a
specific service or good. This can be proved by submitting evidence that the mark has
acquired distinctiveness through proof of sales success, advertising and promotional
expenditures. This substantiates the length and exclusivity of use. Evidence can also include
unsolicited media coverage confirming this fact, statements in the form of affidavits from
industry leaders recognizing the mark as a source identifier as well as consumer studies and
surveys substantiating this fact.
- Colors
For trademark protection in a particular color, the color must “act as an indicator of
source” and not serve any function. A few prominent examples of protected colors include:
Home Depot’s “orange” color for “retail home improvement stores” (Reg. No. 4,300,027);
Tiffany’s particular shade of blue used on its bags, boxes and catalogue for “Jewelry” (Reg.
No. 4,804,204); Owens-Corning’s “pink” insulation for “foam insulation for use in building
and construction” (Reg. No. 2,090,588); and, United Parcel Service’s (U.P.S.) “chocolate
brown” as applied to the entire surface of its vehicles and employees’ uniforms for
“transportation and delivery of personal property by air and motor vehicle” (Reg. No.
2,901,090). These protected colors have achieved secondary meaning, as the consuming
public associates the protected color with the services provided by those companies. To
protect a “color,” it is essential that the “color” is only used for promoting the brand’s
identity without affecting the goods or services’ functionality. - Sounds
Trademark rights may also exist in a particular sound that is distinctive and is
describable in words. For example, a common telephone ring cannot become a registered
trademark; however, a unique sound or musical arrangements utilized to indicate the
source of specific goods or services can be protected. Examples of protected sounds
include: NBC Universal’s chimes, described as “a sequence of chime-like musical notes
which are in the key of “C” and sound the notes “G,” “E,” “C,” the “G” being the one just below
middle “C,” the “E” just above middle “C,” and the “C” being middle “C” for “the broadcasting
of television programs” (Reg. No. 916,522); MGM Studio’s “lion roaring” for “motion picture
films and prerecorded video tapes” (Reg. No. 1,395,550); and, AFLAC insurance’s protected
“sound of a duck quacking the word ‘AFLAC’” for “Insurance underwriting services in the
fields of dental, health, life, cancer, hospital intensive care, accident and disability, hospital
indemnity, hospital confinement indemnity, Medicare supplement, sickness, home
healthcare, long-term healthcare, and convalescent health care” (Reg. No. 2,607,415).
(https://www.uspto.gov/trademark/soundmarks/trademark-sound-mark-examples) - Scents
Finally, a unique scent can also be protected as long as evidence exists that the scent has
acquired distinctiveness for the listed goods or services and is not a functional part of a
product. Examples of trademarked scents include: The Eddy Finn Ukulele Company’s
“piña colada” scented ukuleles (Reg. No. 4,144,511); Brazilian company, Grendene’s
“bubble gum” scented “shoes, sandals and flip flops” (Reg. No. 4,754,435); and, Lactona
Corporation’s “strawberry” scented toothbrushes (Reg. No. 3,332,910). However, a
particular perfume scent, such as “Chanel No. 5,” is unable to be registered due to the
functionality requirement. Unlike many of the other forms of non-traditional
trademarks, scent marks are extremely rare in the United States. This is due to the
fact that the USPTO requires “substantial” evidence to prove distinctiveness
(Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure § 1202.13). If an applicant is unable to
demonstrate that a scent has acquired distinctiveness, the scent can only be
registered on the Supplemental Register (Trademark Manual of Examining
Procedure § 1202.13).
The use of traditional and non-traditional trademarks by a company is necessary for
a business to distinguish themselves from their competitors. Without them, companies
would be susceptible to similar products or services mimicking the successful aspects of the
their brand. By extending protection to non-traditional, unique identifiers of a particular
good or source, brands are able to fully protect the distinctive aspects that make their
company’s unique services and products.
This article is not intended as legal advice as a professional specializing in the field, such as an attorney, should be
consulted. http://www.trademarklaw.nyc
© The Jacobson Firm, P.C.
