A sound trademark is a trademark that consists of a sound, or a combination of sounds, that is used to identify a particular product or service. Sound trademarks are typically registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in order to protect the trademark holder’s rights to the sound.
One of the most famous sound trademarks is the NBC chimes, which consists of three notes that are played in sequence. The NBC chimes are used to identify the NBC television network and have been in use since the 1930s.
Other well-known sound trademarks include the MGM lion roar, the Intel inside chime, and the Yahoo! yodel. The sound can be registered as a trademark if it is capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one company from those of another company.
Registering a sound trademark
A sound trademark can be registered in order to obtain exclusive rights over the sound mark. However, one must keep in mind that these exclusive rights can be obtained only over the sound mark, not over the particular composition of music. The registration of sound trademark is done in the same way as the registration of any other trademarks. To register a sound mark, you must submit a written application to the USPTO. The application must include a description of the sound, and a recording of the sound. The USPTO will examine the application to make sure that it meets all the requirements for registration.
If the USPTO approves the application, the sound mark will be registered and the registrant will be given a certificate of registration. The registration will be valid for 10 years, and can be renewed for additional 10-year periods.
Once a sound mark is registered, the registrant can use the ® symbol to indicate that the mark is registered. The registrant can also file a lawsuit against anyone who uses the sound mark without permission. Read more about trademarking your audio here.