You can trademark a number when it is used a brand for services and products. Numbers can be trademarked when they are used in commerce as brands, just like names, logos, and phrases.
By Michael Kondoudis, Trademark Attorney
Introduction
Can you trademark a number? This is a question that we get asked often, and the answer may surprise you. Here’s what you need to know about trademarks and numbers.
What is a Trademark?
Before we answer the question of whether or not you can trademark a number, it’s important to understand what exactly constitutes a trademark. A trademark is any word, symbol, phrase, logo, device, or combination thereof that identifies and distinguishes your product or service from those offered by other businesses. Generally speaking, trademarks serve two primary purposes: they protect your brand identity and they help customers differentiate between different brands in the same industry.
Can you trademark a number?
Yes, you can trademark a number and many numbers are trademarked!
Do you need help with your trademark?
Examples of trademarked numbers
- 007 is a brand of motion pictures
- 501 is a brand of clothing
- 23 is a personal brand of Michael Jordan
- WD-40 is a brand of lubricating oil
- FORTUNE 500 is a brand of business/financial information
What is needed to trademark a number?
To trademark a number, the number must be used in commerce as a brand to identify and distinguish a product or service from the competition. If the number is only used for decoration or ornamentation, it cannot be trademarked.
Additionally, any numbers that are used as trademarks must be unique and distinctive. If a number is too similar to other existing number trademarks, it will likely not qualify for trademark protection.
How to trademark a number
To trademark a number, you must submit an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This is an important step to ensure that no one else has trademarked the same or similar numbers as yours. Once your trademark registration is approved, you will be protected for up to 10 years from anyone attempting to use your trademark in a commercial setting without permission.
The benefits of trademarking a number
Trademarking a number comes with many benefits, including official legal ownership, the exclusive right to use it in your industry, and enhanced legal tools to make protecting your legal rights easier.
Trademarking a unique and distinctive number can provide many benefits for businesses and individuals alike – from providing legal protection against infringement and counterfeiting to helping customers recognize and remember your product or service more easily. Additionally, when done properly, trademarking a unique number can also help create brand loyalty and recognition over time by making your product/service stand out from competitors who do not employ this tactic.
In sum, trademarking a number can provide you with the peace of mind that others will not be able to use it without your permission.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Take next step toward LEGALLY owning your trademark!
We have a simple, 5 step process we use to help our clients secure their trademarks. If you’re interested in protecting your mark, we invite you to book a FREE brand protection strategy session with us here.
For more than twenty years, Michael Kondoudis has been the go-to trademarking expert for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Michael is a USPTO-licensed trademark and patent attorney, educator, speaker, and author of the Amazon best-seller: Going From Business Owner to Brand Owner. He is also an authority trusted by national news media on major trademark stories.
Fun Facts: Michael is a member of the Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court and an actual rocket scientist (B.S. Astronomy and Astrophysics, Indiana University 1994).