Trademark filings are of course public records at the USPTO. With some skilled searching of USPTO filings, businesses may be able to find out what type of work their competitors are doing, or what other industry trends are.
For example, does Apple have any new brand names in the works?
- IBOOKSTORE for a large range of products and services
- an application seeking protection for the design of their Magic Mouse
How about well known restaurateur Todd English, might he have any new restaurants in the works? Several applications owned by “Todd English Trademarks, LLC for
- DA CAMPO OSTERIA BY TODD ENGLISH
- DIRTY OLIVES
- FAT OLIVES
- THE TODD ENGLISH COLLECTION – new line of kitchen and cookware?
What movies or other new things might be coming from Disney? Here are some “intent to use” applications owned by Disney
- MY FRIENDS TIGGER & POOH (film)
- IRON WEASEL (tv)
- RAPUNZEL (film)
- CAMP ROCK 2 THE FINAL JAM (film)
- PETER PAN (film)
- ELECTRIC SPOOFALOO (film)
- KICK BUTTOWSKI: SUBURBAN DAREDEVIL (film)
- BAMBI (film)
- MALEFICENT (film)
How about plans for the upcoming “The Oprah Winfrey Network”? Looks like they have lots of plans, including clothing (skorts?), sunglasses, hockey sticks, and yoga mats:
- Books, magazines, newsletters, instructional manuals and printed instructional teaching materials, all featuring subjects of general human interest; photographs; stationery; adhesives for stationery or household uses; artists’ materials, namely, artists’ brushes and artists’ pastels; paint brushes; plastic material for packaging, namely, plastic bags; printers’ type; printing blocks; posters; postcards; note cards; desk top organizers; desk sets; desk pads; blotters; personal organizers; diaries; agendas; pens; pencils; pencil cases; pen cases; drawing rulers; bookmarks; book plates; book covers; paper stationery portfolios; binders; notebooks; coloring books; note pads; non-electric erasers; non-electric pencil sharpeners; stencils; stationery letter and writing paper holders; file folders; rubber stamps; blackboards; paper bags; plastic bags for general use; wrapping paper; trading cards; children’s activity books; educational activity books in fields of general human interest; composition books; stickers; decals; paper napkins; paper tablecloths; place mats of paper; calendars; paper, including writing paper, art paper, construction paper; art and crafts paint kits; art prints; color prints; lithographic prints; photographic prints; comic strips; paper party favors; paper party decorations; paper party bags; maps
- Clothing, namely, shirts, pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, dresses, tops, bottoms, overalls, foul weather gear, rainwear, jackets, coats, ponchos, sweaters, sweat shirts, sweat pants, sweat jackets, sweat suits, tracksuits, T-shirts, jerseys, pullovers, loungewear, socks, hosiery, undergarments, pajamas, robes, nightwear, sleepwear, sleep masks, gloves, mittens, scarves, beachwear, swimwear, baby tops, baby bottoms, baby bibs not of paper, bathrobes, belts, neckwear and suspenders; headwear; footwear
- Entertainment services, namely, multimedia programs in the field of general human interest, distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media; providing entertainment information regarding ongoing television programs via a global computer network; production of television programs; production of multimedia programs
- Providing healthcare information to others via a global computer network
- Prerecorded audiovisual recordings, audiotapes, videotapes, video discs, compact discs, DVDs and multimedia software recorded on CD-ROM, all featuring subjects of general human interest; electronic learning games in the nature of electronic game software for educational purposes; video game discs; computer game discs; electronic game programs; downloadable ring tones, graphics, ring backs, animated ringers, video ringers and animated screensavers via the Internet and wireless devices; digital media, namely, downloadable prerecorded video clips, prerecorded audio clips, text and graphics held in electronic personal computers and handheld wireless devices, all featuring subjects of general human interest; sunglasses
- Communications services, namely, transmitting streamed sound and audio-visual recordings via the Internet, cable networks, wireless networks, satellite, or interactive multimedia networks; audio and video broadcasting services over the Internet; transmission of information in the audio-visual field; television broadcasting services; cable televison broadcasting; satellite television broadcasting; mobile media services in the nature of electronic transmission of entertainment media content; podcasting services; webcasting services; video-on-demand transmission services; providing on-line chat rooms and electronic bulletin boards for transmission of messages among users in the field of general interest
- Games, toys and playthings, namely, action skill games; action target games; amusement game machines; arcade games; baby multiple activity toys; basketball table top games; bath toys; bean bags; bendable toys; billiard game playing equipment; bingo game playing equipment; board games; bobble head dolls; bubble making wand and solution sets; building games; cases for play accessories; children’s multiple activity toys; children’s multiple activity tables; children’s play cosmetics; children’s art activity toys not including arts and crafts clay kits or paint kits; collectible toy figures; construction toys; costume masks; crib mobiles; crib toys; electric action toys; electronic educational game machines for children; electronic learning toys; electronic toy vehicles; non-electronic toy vehicles; puppets; infant toys; infant rattles; jigsaw and manipulative puzzles; juggling equipment; kaleidoscopes; kites; magic tricks; marbles; memory games; mobiles for children; scale model vehicles; musical toys; paper airplanes; parlor games; party games; pinball-type games; play balloons; play wands; plush toys; pull toys; push toys; ride-on toys; rocking horses; sandbox toys; snow globes; spinning tops; squeeze toys; stacking toys; talking toys; wind-up toys; toy banks; toy butterfly nets; toy modeling dough; card games; toy model hobby craft kits; soft sculpture toys; puzzles; toy action figures and accessories therefor; play figures; dolls and accessories and playsets therefor; yo-yos; gymnastics and sporting articles not included in other classes, namely, gymnastic apparatus; balls for games; sport balls; exercise balls; basketball game playing equipment in the nature of basketballs, hoops, nets and backboards. soccer game playing equipment in the nature of balls, nets and goals; baseball game playing equipment in the nature of baseballs, bats, bases and mitts; badminton game playing equipment in the nature of rackets, shuttlecocks, poles and nets; hockey game playing equipment in the nature of hockey sticks, pucks, nets and goals; dart game playing equipment in the nature of darts and dartboards; football game playing equipment in the nature of footballs and goalposts; table tennis game playing equipment in the nature of paddles, table tennis balls, table tennis tables and nets; tennis game playing equipment in the nature of tennis balls, rackets and nets; golf game playing equipment in the nature of golf clubs, golf balls, tees, divot repair tools; volleyball game playing equipment in the nature of volleyballs, poles and nets; cases specially adapted for sports equipment; croquet sets; disc toss toys; ice skates; in-line skates; roller skates; jump ropes; jungle gyms; netballs; nets for ball games; nets for sports; paddle ball games; personal exercise mats; yoga mats; play swimming pools; play tents; sandboxes; playground slides; swing sets; see-saws; skateboards; skipping ropes; sleds for use in downhill amusement rides; trampolines; decorations for Christmas trees; pet toys; and playing cards
What is new in the candy business?
- Perhaps new offerings from Tic Tac? TIC TAC FANCIES
- CANDYWORKS stores from Mars?
- M&M’S MUNCHERS ?
- M-BALL ?
- MPORIUM stores?
- DITTOS ?
BALISTO ?
As you can see, quite a bit of information about possibly forthcoming brands, products, and services can be unearthed searching uspto.gov trademark records. The trademark record is a snapshot of the economy. While a registration or filing is not mandatory, companies recognizing the value and impact of their brands generally file early to protect possible new business opportunities. This allows the public – or the competition – to get a little peek into what might be coming.
