Google is the world’s largest search engine. The tech giant performs more than 1 trillion searches a year and generates over $100 million in advertising revenue daily. Like many technology companies, however, it had humble beginnings. Starting at Stanford In 1995, Larry Page and Sergey Brin were computer science students at Stanford University. They began … Read more

You may think of it as a crisp, tasty fall fruit, but an apple is more than that in legal terms. When you see the Apple name and logo, do you think of Apple Corps, the music company, or Apple Inc., the technology company? Both companies use the same name and a similar logo, and … Read more

Dozens of companies make inline skates, but Rollerblade is the brand that made the sport a global phenomenon. With more than 200 patents and over 100 trademarks, the company is a major player in the inline skate industry. Rollerblade created the first inline skate with a working brake and a flexible boot. The brand has … Read more

When is a real estate agent a Realtor? The National Association of Realtors has held a trademark on the term since 1949, but many people still think all agents are Realtors. The courts and the U.S. Patent and Trade Office all disagree. Trademarked Title In 1916, Charles Chadbourn, a real estate agent in Minneapolis, wrote … Read more

The crackling sound of a Velcro fastener is something we’re all familiar with. Used on everything from shoes to seat belts, Velcro forms a strong bond without the use of buckles, buttons or zippers. Many people don’t realize it, but Velcro is a registered trademark for a specific brand of hook and loop fastener. Walk … Read more

Vaseline is one of the most recognized ointments in the world. This popular brand of petroleum jelly has an instantly recognizable jar and label. From the original product, the brand has expanded into a full line of moisturizers and lotions. Invented by an unemployed chemist, it is now a global brand. How Vaseline Started In … Read more

Jet Ski is one of the most famous names in personal watercraft. Its competitors include the Yamaha WaveRunner, the Bombardier Sea-Doo and the Honda AquaTrax, but few of those names have caught on the way Jet Ski has. Even though the Sea-Doo outsells the Jet Ski, it’s the latter that has become a household name … Read more

Ever since people discovered ice and snow, they’ve looked for ways to incorporate them into cold, tasty treats. Ice cream and sherbet have been around for hundreds of years. Cones and cups made these frozen treats portable, but it took an 11-year-old California boy to invent one of the most famous. Frozen Fun In 1905, … Read more

Many people don’t realize that Bubble Wrap—the inflated, cushioning wrap that fills boxes and is addictive to “pop”—is a trademarked name. The Sealed Air company owns the trademark. Bubble Wrap is everywhere, and it’s hard to imagine moving or shipping anything without it. That’s not bad for an invention that started off as wallpaper. Invented … Read more

Most people associate a slow cooker with its most famous brand name, the Crock-Pot. A 1974 version of the humble slow cooker is even in the National Museum of American History. More than 12 million people buy a Crock Pot every year, and the brand far outsells its competitors. Inventing a Solution The Crock-Pot began … Read more

Available at every drugstore, convenience store and grocery store in the country, ChapStick is one of the most popular lip balms ever made. A staple for almost 100 years, these sweet, flavored wax sticks command over 55% of the lip balm market. Second-place competitors Burt’s Bees and Carmex each have about 30%. How ChapStick Began … Read more