Harry Potter is the brainchild of author J.K Rowling, though Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. currently owns the distribution rights. The story follows Harry and his companions through the trials and tribulations of the wizarding world.
The first book, Harry Potter and The Philosophers Stone, was released in 1997 after famously being rejected by a dozen different publishers. The Harry Potter books were the first children’s books to make the New York Times Bestseller list since E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web in 1952. The movie series followed in due course and was an international box office sensation.
The Harry Potter series comprises the following books:
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The movie releases mirror this order closely, though the deathly hallows movie was split into two parts. In addition to this, there are Harry Potter-themed expansions at the Islands of Adventure theme park at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida. There are also related spin-off movies, such as Fantastic beasts and where to find them.
Famous Harry Potter Trademarks
Warner Bros is the trademark owner of Harry Potter, and they have an array of famous trademarks. Let’s go through some of the most popular Harry Potter trademarks that are registered with the United States patent and trademark office (USPTO).
Gryffindor
This heraldry-like logo consists of a shield with a helmet and lion design surrounded by a leaf design, a moon, and a star above a banner finished with the word “Gryffindor.” The first use of the logo was in 2011. The name was also trademarked (in 1999). The trademark was registered in the following categories:
- Decorative magnets; cellular telephone accessories, namely, cellular telephone cases and cellular telephone face covers; protective covers and cases for tablet computers; stands adapted for tablet computers; mouse pads; decorative magnets.
- Clothing for men, women, and children, including Halloween costumes.
- Watches, jewelry, and accessories.
- Non-metal and non-leather key chains.
- Toys and sporting goods, games, and action figures.
- Christmas tree ornaments.
- Printed matter and paper goods, including books, drama features.
- Party favors and party decorations, including napkins.
Harry Potter
Warner bros trademarked the name Harry Potter in 1999 when filming for Harry Potter and the sorcerers stone began. The Harry Potter trademark applies to the following categories:
- Motion picture films, including animated films.
- Digital audiotapes.
- Audio video cassettes.
- Eye-glasses, including sunglasses.
- Coloring books, children’s activity books.
- Mounted and unmounted photographs and posters.
- Art.
- Coffee mugs and cups.
- Homewares, bakeware.
- Cookies, bases for milkshakes, breakfast cereal.
- Coffee beverages and milk.
- Tea.
- Chocolate-based beverages.
- Meat tenderizers.
- Entertainment services.
- Theatrical performances.
Muggles
A muggle in the Harry Potter story is a person that doesn’t have any “magical” abilities, but it is also one of Warner Brothers’ registered trademarks. The first use was in 1999 and covered the following categories:
- Children’s books.
- Sketchbooks, songbooks, and storybooks.
- Flashcards.
- Lunch bags.
- Table cloths and placemats, paper napkins.
- Crossword puzzles.
- Hair combs, hairbrushes.
- Dinnerware and drinking vessels.
- Cookie cutters and kitchenware.
- Cooking pots.
- Clothing for men, women, and children.
- Artificial flowers, wreaths, and garlands.
- Dolls, stuffed toys, and windup toys.
- Christmas tree ornaments and craft sets for making Christmas decorations.
Quidditch
Quidditch is a sport that first appeared in the novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (1997). It is a famous fictional sport played by witches and wizards riding flying broomsticks. The trademarks were first used in 1999, and the trademark registration covers the following categories:
- Clothing for men, women, and children.
- Jewelry and accessories, including bracelets, brooches, lapel pins, and necklaces.
- Printed matter and paper goods such as notebooks.
- Toys such as action figures and accessories, toy vehicles, dolls, electronic games, video game machines, toy banks.
- Decorative magnets.
Harry Potter And The Cursed Child
Harry Potter and the cursed child is a 2016 two-part theatre play based on an original new story by J K Rowling. Warner Bros own the word mark “Harry Potter and The Cursed Child” and the trademark filing, submitted in 2016, applies to the following categories:
- Decorative magnets.
- Key rings.
- Printed matter and paper goods, including stationery, posters, writing paper, and bookmarks.
- Paperweights and accessories.
- Reusable tote shopping bags.
- Cushions.
- Beverage glassware such as mugs.
- Lanyards for badges and keys.
- Clothing for men, women, and children includes shirts, hoodies, and sweatshirts.
- Ornamental novelty badges.
- Games and playthings such as stuffed toys.
Hogwarts
Hogwarts is the fictional setting for much of the Harry Potter series, and Warner trademarked the name in 1999. The trademark encompasses the following categories:
- Toys that include games, playthings, and sporting goods.
- Jigsaws and puzzles.
- Decorations and Christmas tree ornaments.
- Clothing for men, women, and children, including Halloween costumes, novelty masks, and swimwear.
- Printed matter and paper goods.
- Stationery and writing equipment.
- Motion picture films.
- Digital audiotape recorders and players.
- Video game cartridges and cassettes.
- Flotation devices, swimming floats, pool toys.
The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the name of the Harry Potter-themed attraction at the Universal Orlando Resort In Florida. The filing date was in 2007, and the first use was in 2010. The trademark applies to the following categories:
- Ornamental lapel pins.
- Printed matter and paper goods such as stationery, writing paper, greeting cards, and activity books.
- Bags, including athletic bags, baby backpacks, beach bags, and book bags.
- Pens and decorative decals.
- Umbrellas and wallets.
- Toys, including games, action figures, game equipment, puzzle games.
- Novelty face masks.
- Skateboards, ice skates, water.
- Nonalcoholic beverages and drinks such as fruit juices and fruit drinks.
- Ice cream, pretzels, sugar confectioneries.
- Toy snow globes.
- Clothing for men, women, and children
- Glass, ceramic, and earthenware goods such as mugs and beverage glassware.
- Washcloths, bath linens, and towels.
I solemnly swear that I’m up to no good.
Warner Bros Inc. trademarked this phrase in 2018, and the application is still pending approval; if approved; it will cover the following categories:
- Rugs and floor mats for vehicles.
- Embroided clothing patches.
- Bath linens, including bath towels.
- Home linens, including bed sheets and curtains.
- Ceramic, glass, and earthenware goods.
- Pillows and seat cushions.
- Picture frames.
- Tote bags, knapsacks, and drawstring bags.
- Stationery such as notepads, binders, pens, notebooks, diaries, and other writing accessories.
- Non-luminous and non-mechanical metal signs for decoration; decorative boxes made of non-precious metal; identification bracelets made of metal being non-precious metal bracelets, not jewelry; metal letterboxes; figures of pewter or common metal; and decorative tin cans sold empty.
- Jewelry, watches, bracelets, and other accessories.
- Motion pictures and digital media.
- DVD’s, CD Roms, Audio-video cassette tapes.
Summing Up
The Harry Potter franchise is worth an estimated $25 billion, making it one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time. Warner Bros have been scrupulous in making trademark applications to protect their intellectual property to prevent competitors from diverting revenue away from it. Trademark protection grants you a way to get legal recourse if you’re a victim of trademark infringement.
