Bruno Mars was the big winner at last night’s GRAMMY® awards. Mars, like many other top-selling musical acts today, realizes the value of trademarks in his portfolio. Mars owns several USPTO trademark registrations, and more than two dozen pending applications. See details below – and click TSDR links for USPTO records.
The GRAMMY’s also have a valuable trademark portfolio, with more than 100 registrations owned by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc.
- Like many other well known award trophies, the Grammy award shape is registered
- A pending dispute opposing Voodoo Doughnut Recording’s logo over use of gramophone in its logo http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?qt=adv&pno=91237944&propno=&qs=&propnameop=&propname=&pop=&pn=&pop2=&pn2=&cop=&cn= …
For more about trademarks and musicians, see my article in the American Bar Association Section of Intellectual Property Law’s LANDSLIDE magazine
- ’Cause They Never Go Out of Style: Why Musicians Are Registering More Trademarks Than Ever. “[O]btaining trademark registrations in a band name or other marks used by an artist can be useful to protect profits and prevent the dilution of a valuable brand. Further, taking the steps to clearly identify who owns what part of that bundle of rights upon dissolution could prevent long, expensive, and potentially damaging litigation.” The article discussed efforts by musicians to protect their brands, as well as frequent trademark pitfalls that they often encounter. The article discusses why trademark registration is valuable when it is available for musicians and other artists.
