Trademarks: Generic words can me trademarked too ...

[allroundguy]

In some places, almost any word can be trademarked.
An example herafter.

You'd think "Alice" cannot be trademarked?
Read on ...

Mark Image
Word Mark ALICE
Goods and Services IC 015. US 002 021 036. G & S: Cases for musical instruments; Japanese plectrums (bachi); tuning apparatus for musical instruments; music instrument stands; turning apparatus for sheet music; string instruments; guitars; musical instruments, namely, lutes; guitar strings; strings for Western musical instruments
Mark Drawing Code (5) WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS IN STYLIZED FORM
Serial Number 79059683
Filing Date July 15, 2008
Current Filing Basis 66A
Original Filing Basis 66A
International Registration Number 0979270
Owner (APPLICANT) GUANGZHOU ROMANCE MUSICAL; INSTRUMENTS CO., LTD CORPORATION CHINA No. 8 Lianhe, Mawu Village Shijing Town,; Baiyun District,; Guangzhou; 510425 Guangdong CHINA
Description of Mark Color is not claimed as a feature of the mark.
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator

 

[Robbie]

You can have TM on virtually any word but its what the TM relates too.

i.e. guitars, phones, tv etc etc

Look at Orange Telephone - They own Orange as a TM.

Regards,

Robbie

 

[bluearrow]

Yes another example is " Apple ".

 

[olderguy]

cordblood is trademarked and yet i know a guy that owns the plural version of that dot com, of course that term is generally used meaning plural / singular both

what do you think about the ownership / value of such a name