This week, people around the world are preparing to celebrate New Year’s Eve. And given the popularity of New Year’s Eve celebrations, it is no surprise that businesses seek to capitalize in many ways, including through trademark protection. So as we close out 2016 and begin 2017, let’s take a look at some interesting U.S. trademarks related to the “New Year.” One of the most well-known New Year’s Eve television broadcasts is NEW YEAR’S ROCKIN’ EVE, also referred to as DICK CLARK’S NEW YEAR’S ROCKIN’ EVE. Back in 1993, Dick Clark Productions, Inc. trademarked the name of this television program (U.S. Trademark No. 1,825,779) in connection with entertainment services, namely, a series of televisions programs primarily featuring music.

While probably the most famous New Year’s Eve celebration is in New York City where the ball drops each year, other cities/places around the United States celebrate in their own way and have protected the names of these celebrations, including:

• NEW YEAR’S EVE CHILE DROP (U.S. Trademark No. 4,848,205) in connection with a fireworks display in Albuquerque, New Mexico;

• MUSIC CITY NEW YEAR’S EVE BASH ON BROADWAY (U.S. Trademark No. 4,256,353), a live outdoor New Year’s Eve party in Nashville, Tennessee;

• NEW YEAR’S EVE GUITAR DROP HARD ROCK CAFÉ (U.S. Trademark No. 3,945,377), a New Year’s celebration at the Hard Rock Café in Orlando, Florida;

• NEW YEAR’S AT THE NEEDLE (U.S. Trademark No. 4,164,765), a fireworks display in Seattle, Washington; and

• BIG D NYE (U.S. Trademark No. 3,527,506), a New Year’s Eve event in Dallas, Texas.

Of course, champagne or sparkling wine typically flows on New Year’s Eve, and F. Korbel & Bros. have trademarked OFFICIAL CHAMPAGNE OF NEW YEAR’S EVE in connection with alcoholic beverages, namely, sparkling line (U.S. Trademark No. 2,220,897). This trademark was first registered in 1997 and remains in effect today.

A television staple on New Year’s Day remains the Rose Bowl Parade. In 2005, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association received a trademark registration for AMERICA’S NEW CELEBRATION in connection with annual cultural events, including floral pageants, parades, concerts, equestrian presentations, and sporting events (U.S. Trademark No. 2,956,701).

Finally, no New Year’s Day is complete without making some resolutions. Some of the most common resolutions are to lose weight and exercise more, and there are even trademarks in connection with it, including NEW YEAR, NEW YOU (U.S. Trademark No. 2,202,280) in connection with health and fitness products and NEW YEARS DOUBLE (U.S. Trademark No. 4,603,552) in connection with running events.

As you celebrate New Year’s Eve and ring in the New Year, remember that trademarks do not take a break for holidays. So if you are planning a special event or a product in connection with New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, perhaps you should make a resolution to consider whether trademark protection is available. This may ensure an even happier start to the New Year!

For more information on this topic, please visit our Trademark Protection service page, which is part of our Trademark Practice.

Klemchuk LLP is an Intellectual Property (IP), Technology, Internet, and Business law firm located in Dallas, TX.  The firm offers comprehensive legal services including litigation and enforcement of all forms of IP as well as registration and licensing of patents, trademarks, trade dress, and copyrights.  The firm also provides a wide range of technology, Internet, e-commerce, and business services including business planning, formation, and financing, mergers and acquisitions, business litigation, data privacy, and domain name dispute resolution.  Additional information about the trademark law firm and its trademark attorneys may be found at www.klemchuk.com.

Klemchuk LLP hosts Culture Counts, a blog devoted to the discussion of law firm culture and corporate core values with frequent topics about positive work environment, conscious capitalism, entrepreneurial management, positive workplace culture, workplace productivity, and corporate core values.

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