USPTO Federal Trademark

Trademark Your Thanksgiving Brand

Trademark Your Thanksgiving Brand

Thanksgiving isn’t just about gratitude, turkey, and pumpkin pie —it also serves as a great reminder that creativity can be deliciously seasonal. Even the most playful or quirky ideas for products, services, or marketing campaigns deserve careful attention to ensure your brand is protected. Seasonal branding can be fun, but without proper trademark planning, it can also lead to headaches.

Fun Thanksgiving Trademarks

Many businesses have turned Thanksgiving themes into memorable brand names. Think of clever twists on holiday foods, festive slogans, or seasonal clothing lines. For example, some companies have trademarked names like “Pumpkin Spice Madness”, “Turkey and Touchdowns”, or “GobbleGobble.com”. Even whimsical marks for décor, apparel, or novelty items are often protected under U.S. trademark law.

These examples show that a creative, holiday-inspired name can be a strong marketing tool.  Proper protection is key to ensuring your unique name delivers marketing value without legal risk.

Lessons from Seasonal Trademarks

Holiday-themed trademarks offer important lessons for small business owners and entrepreneurs:

  • Creativity matters – A unique, memorable name stands out and is easier to protect. Take Stuff My Turkey (https://stuffmyturkey.co) as an example: its playful, holiday-inspired name is instantly recognizable and demonstrates how a distinctive brand identity can make a big impact.
  • Think long-term – Some seasonal names can grow into year-round brands if properly protected. For example, Williams Sonoma’s Thanksgiving Crunch, while clearly designed with Thanksgiving flavors in mind, evokes the spirit of the holiday and can create a festive, memorable experience for customers any time of year. Wisely, they filed for the trademark in 2024.
  • Check first – Before using a seasonal name, conduct a thorough trademark search to make sure it’s available.

Even something as seemingly simple as a Thanksgiving pun could already be taken by another business, so doing your homework upfront is crucial.

Protecting Your Festive Ideas

There are several ways to secure your seasonal branding:

  • Federal trademark registration – Registering your mark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office provides nationwide protection and establishes clear legal rights. It allows you to prevent others from using a confusingly similar name or logo anywhere in the U.S., and gives you stronger grounds to enforce your rights if infringement occurs. Even seasonal or holiday-themed names benefit from this level of protection.
  • State trademark registration – If federal registration isn’t immediately feasible, registering your mark at the state level can provide protection within that specific state. While more limited than federal registration, it can still deter local competitors from using the same or similar branding and establish your rights within your primary market.
  • Common law trademark rights – Simply using your mark in commerce can create legal rights, even without formal registration. These rights are limited to the geographic area where the mark is actually used and can be harder to enforce than registered marks. Nevertheless, they can serve as a foundation while you prepare for federal or state registration.

Even for seasonal campaigns, taking the time to register or at least monitor your mark can prevent conflicts with other businesses using similar names.

Turning Holiday Inspiration into a Strong Brand

A well-thought-out Thanksgiving name can become more than a seasonal gimmick—it can help your brand stand out, drive sales, and even serve as the foundation for future marketing campaigns. Combining creativity with strategic trademark planning ensures your ideas remain yours to use, now and in the future.

Seasonal creativity is fun, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of your brand’s protection. Whether it’s a turkey-themed product, a clever pie pun, or a festive campaign slogan, make sure your ideas are backed by proper trademark research and registration.

Protect your Thanksgiving ideas and beyond—TradeMark Express can help with comprehensive searches, registration prep, and brand monitoring to keep your business safe.

DISCLAIMER: References to particular trademarks, service marks, products, services, companies, or organizations appearing on this page are for illustrative and educational purposes only and do not constitute or imply endorsement.
The information provided on this site is for general informational purposes only. All information on the Site is provided in good faith; however, we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, validity, or completeness of any information on the Site. The Site cannot and does not contain legal advice. The legal information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only, and is not a substitute for legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for legal advice.
Shannon Moore

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Shannon Moore
1 month ago

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