Trademark & Copyright Law
On September 30, 1930, the MOTOROLA mark was first registered as a U.S. trademark for “radio receiving sets.” U.S. Registration No. 275837 is no longer in force, having expired in 1992, but the MOTOROLA name lives on.
By Joe Haupt from USA [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.
On August 18, 1987, Italian automaker De Tomaso Modena S.P.A. was granted its first registration for the PANTERA mark. Aficionados of 1970s-era supercars may remember the De Tomaso PANTERA (Italian for “panther”), which was a low slung, mid-engined, two-seat affair that made its debut in 1971. Although production of the PANTERA model ceased in 1991, the mark is still in use for “structural parts for automobiles,” and the PANTERA registration remains in force.
By ShanHams (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.
On August 8, 1972, one of the most successful advertising slogans of the 1970s, IF YOU’VE GOT THE TIME, WE’VE GOT THE BEER, was registered as a U.S. trademark by the Miller Brewing Company. Forty-four years later, the registration is still in force, the slogan is still being used in advertising, and when it’s time to relax, one beer apparently still stands clear.
Cue the creepy animatronics! On August 3, 1982, a date which will live in infamy, Pizza Time Theatre, Inc. was granted its first U.S. registration for the innocuous-sounding mark CHUCK E. CHEESE, for “providing restaurant services” and “providing video and coin operated game services, featuring costumed live and animated characters in entertainment services.” Today, almost two generations of traumatized youths later, the mark is still in use and the original registration is still in force. And the friendly, terrifying mechanical band plays on and is totally not going to kill you.
By Martiniturbide (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.
Sixteen years ago, on August 1, 2000, the first U.S. registration for the PIKACHU mark from the now ubiquitous Pokémon video game franchise was granted to Nintendo of America Inc. for “clothing, namely, hats, headwear, nightwear, shirts, shorts, sleepwear, and T-shirts.” Registration No. 2374006 was renewed in 2010 and remains in force.
And yes, in case you were wondering, Nintendo currently has at least three pending U.S. trademark applications for POKÉMON GO, so don’t worry.
By Laika ac from UK (Danshui) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.
![By Joe Haupt from USA [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/539530d2e4b0e3021538f0db/1475297880479-Y15IGJ6LXRGEJZYDMR77/Motorola+Radio)
![By ShanHams (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/539530d2e4b0e3021538f0db/1471559718211-YO8702AM0IXJVGIIV8JQ/De+Tomaso+PANTERA)
![By Martiniturbide (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/539530d2e4b0e3021538f0db/1470279450685-3TCJVE1FIGGLO7XJW9NX/Chuck+E.+Cheese)
![By Laika ac from UK (Danshui) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/539530d2e4b0e3021538f0db/1470092909799-ELJ53QLDFVY254XZNB7D/Pikachu)