How Easter Brands Use Trademarks
Each spring, supermarket shelves explode with pastel packaging, limited-edition treats, and playful slogans that vanish after the season ends. But behind every marshmallow bunny or egg-shaped candy is a smart legal strategy: trademark protection.
While Easter season only lasts a few weeks, the trademarks behind these seasonal hits work year-round to protect product identity, maintain brand equity, and keep competitors at bay.
Let’s look inside the Easter basket and see how seasonal trademarks work—and what they can teach small and mid-sized businesses about protecting their own spring-themed offerings.
Why Easter Products Need Trademark Protection
You might think a product that only appears for a few months doesn’t need full trademark protection. But that’s exactly why it does.
Seasonal products rely heavily on instant brand recognition. A Cadbury Crème Egg is more than just chocolate—it’s a protected trademarked name, paired with distinctive packaging and marketing that reinforce the brand each year. If someone else launched a similar egg with a confusingly similar name or look, Cadbury could challenge it legally. That’s the power of a registered trademark.
Even seasonal slogans are protected. Reese’s, for example, regularly rotates holiday-themed slogans tied to its iconic peanut butter cups—think “Not Sorry” or “There’s No Wrong Way.” If a competitor tried to use a similar phrase in a spring campaign, trademark law gives Reese’s the tools to push back.
Lessons for SMBs and Seasonal Brands
You don’t need to be a candy giant to learn from these strategies. If your business launches seasonal packaging, limited-edition products, or spring marketing campaigns, trademarks are an essential part of your brand protection plan.
Let’s say you release a spring-themed skincare line with pastel packaging and a clever name like “Bloom Balm.” Before you invest in labels, ads, or influencer promotions, you should do a comprehensive trademark search. If the name is already in use or registered in a related category, you could face legal trouble—or worse, have to rebrand after launch.
If your product clears a search, trademark registration gives you exclusive rights to that name, protecting your investment and giving you leverage against copycats.
Protecting More Than Just the Product Name
For example, the shape of the Lindt chocolate bunny is registered as a trademark in multiple countries. That means no other chocolate company can legally create a bunny in the same shape and packaging. If they try, Lindt can—and does—take legal action to defend its seasonal icon.
Final Thoughts: Seasonal Doesn’t Mean Short-Term
Seasonal products may come and go, but trademarks are long-term business assets. Whether you’re selling chocolate bunnies, limited-run candles, or holiday-themed merchandise, protecting your brand with a trademark ensures that your creative efforts—and your shelf space—are legally defended.
At TradeMark Express, we specialize in helping small businesses navigate seasonal trademark strategy with comprehensive searches and expert guidance.
Need help with your seasonal branding? Let’s make sure your spring products are as protected as they are popular.