what sound was trademarked in 2018

The best‑known sound that was newly registered as a trademark in 2018 is the distinctive metal “click” of the Zippo lighter, which was officially recognized as a sound mark in the United States that year.

What this means

• The “Zippo click” is treated as a source identifier, just like a logo or word mark, signaling Zippo lighters to consumers.

• Zippo highlighted research showing most adults can recognize the lighter purely from that sound, supporting its distinctiveness as a trademark.

Quick context on sound trademarks

• Sound marks are non‑traditional trademarks where a sound (jingle, chime, noise) identifies the commercial origin of goods or services.

• They must be distinctive enough that consumers associate the sound with a specific company or product, not just with everyday functional noise.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.