Charlie Chaplin Trademarks
Please note: Gerben IP does not represent Charlie Chaplin. This page is provided for informational purposes and reflects information available in public USPTO records.
April 3, 2024
Charlie Chaplin was an English silent film actor. His career spanned more than seven decades and he is widely thought of as one of the most important film actors in history. He was best known for his character the Tramp, which has reached an iconic status. Despite so much success, Charlie Chaplin did not protect his brand with a trademark portfolio while he was alive. It was not until after his death that the company that represented his image started to file trademarks for his brand.
Born Charles Spencer Chaplin on April 16, 1889, Chaplin grew up in extreme poverty as the child of two music hall entertainers in London. He was sent twice to workhouses where he was directed to homes for children who were paupers as his mother battled mental illness and his father battled alcoholism. His father died in 1900 of liver cirrhosis, and then in 1905, his mother was permanently committed to a mental asylum. Chaplin was then fifteen years old and began living with his older half brother Sydney John Hill, who was in the Navy.
As a teenager, Chaplin used his father’s musical connections to establish himself as a member of Eight Lancashire Lads. This was a clog dance troupe that he toured with during 1899 and 1900. He developed a good reputation, and was rather successful with this act. The problem was that he felt a much stronger draw to comedy.
While he worked various jobs as a youngster to support himself,his first acting gig was in a short lived show called Jim, a Romance of Cockayne. He then had an incredibly successful two and a half year run as a pageboy in Sherlock Holmes. During this time, he completed three national tours and was called back to London to act alongside William Gillette, who had originally played Holmes. After this, he spent time touring in a comedy show “The Repairs” alongside his brother. He also developed variety acts under the umbrella of Casey’s Circus, which helped him to gain immense popularity. At the age of 18, he became part of Fred Karno’s popular comedy company where he continued to grow and find success as a performer. His portrayal of Jimmy the Fearless in 1910 even earned him media coverage. He then embarked on an American tour with Karno’s company. Before the second tour finished, Chaplin signed with the New York Motion Picture Company for an opportunity to make movies.
Chaplin’s second movie, Kid Auto Races at Venice, debuted the character the Tramp, which would give Chaplin his trademark look and onscreen persona. He had filmed almost a dozen films for the company and then had a dispute with a director. This led to his own successful directorial debut with Caught in the Rain in 1914. That same year he appeared in his first comedy feature, Tillie’s Punctured Romance, as part of the supporting cast. After his contract negotiations fell through with the company, he signed on with the Chicago based Essanay Film Manufacturing Company. During this time Chaplin became more able to spend more time on each film, and his onscreen persona developed further. This came with some criticism, but also won him acclaim from more serious comedic critics. In 1915, with actual worldwide fame, he became the first true international star of film.
He then signed a contract with the Mutual Film Corporation, and at the young age of 26, became one of the highest paid people in the entire world. He found great success for the company early on, but as years went by his success was dwindling and production time began to take longer and longer. After a dispute over creative control and freedom, he signed with First National where he had a successful run for four years before moving on to establish his own distribution company, United Artists. The company was formed in 1919 with D.W. Griffith, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford.
He had a two year marriage to actress Mildred Harris. Their child died after only three days and the couple divorced shortly thereafter. The experience is credited with influencing Chaplin to make the film, The Kid. It was screened world wide and would go on to iconic stature. His second marriage was to another teenage actress, Lita Grey. Their marriage would also end in divorce, and even a bit of scandal, as Chaplin paid Ms. Grey quite a large settlement. Over the next fifteen years he would star in many films, including some sound films. One of the most popular films was The Dictator, a satire of Hitler. It was nominated for best picture and five other Academy Awards. In the 1940’s he married 18 year old actress Oona O’Neill, who he would remain married to for the rest of his life.
In the United States, Chaplin faced questions about his moral character and his involvement with young women. He was also caught up in Senator Joseph McCarthy’s House Un-American Activities Committee investigation which accused him of being a communist. He left the US with his wife and children, relocating to Switzerland. He would only return one more time to the US in his lifetime, and that was to personally accept an honorary Oscar in 1972. He died in Switzerland in 1977.
There were no trademarks filed for Charlie Chaplin during his lifetime. He did however establish Bubbles Incorporated SA in 1972 in order to protect his image. This company is responsible for promoting and protecting both his merchandise and image. Bubbles Incorporated SA owns the trademarks for Charlie Chaplin’s name and the image of the Tramp character, which it acquired in the early 1980s. It also use the trademark for his name in association with watches as well as media related to the silent films. There is also a trademark for Chaplin’s World which covers a very diverse array of items owned by Bubbles Incorporated SA. The entity does license the name for use occasionally, but it is very strategic and exclusive when doing so.
Please note: While we make every effort to ensure that the information provided is accurate and up-to-date, we cannot be held responsible for its accuracy or completeness. If you have any questions regarding a specific entity in Gerben's Trademark Library®, please contact us and we will work with you to provide the information you need.
IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S Mobile phone cases, mouse pads. FIRST USE: 20220704. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20220704.
IC 014. US 002 027 028 050. G & S Clocks, novelty pins being jewelry. FIRST USE: 20220704. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20220704.
IC 018. US 001 002 003 022 041. G & S Drawstring bags; tote bags; and pouches for holding make-up, keys and other personal items. FIRST USE: 20220704. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20220704.
IC 020. US 002 013 022 025 032 050. G & S Pillows. FIRST USE: 20220704. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20220704.
IC 024. US 042 050. G & S Duvet covers, throw blankets, comforters. FIRST USE: 20220704. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20220704.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S T shirts, sweatshirts, caps being headwear, hats, aprons, socks, scarves. FIRST USE: 20220704. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20220704.
IC 020. US 002 013 022 025 032 050. G & S [Figurines made of PVC]. FIRST USE: 20130615. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20130615.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Clothing, namely, t-shirts. FIRST USE: 20130400. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20130400.
IC 016. US 002 005 022 023 029 037 038 050. G & S Greeting cards, stickers and cardboard stand-ups. FIRST USE: 20070000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20070000.
IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S Photographic apparatus and instruments, namely, cameras; cinematographic apparatus and instruments, namely, cinematographic cameras, projection screens for cinematographic films, and multimedia projectors for broadcasting movies and films on cinematographic screen; measuring apparatus and instruments, namely, instruments for measuring lengths; audiovisual teaching apparatus and instruments, namely, overhead projectors and multimedia projectors and video-projectors; apparatus and instruments for conducting, switching, transforming, accumulating, regulating or controlling electricity; apparatus for recording, transmission or reproduction of sound or images; blank magnetic recording media, blank sound recording disks; blank compact disks, blank DVDs and other blank digital recording media; magnetic recording media featuring video or sound related to the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography, sound recording disks featuring video or sound related to the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; compact disks featuring video or sound related to the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; DVDs featuring video or sound related to the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography and other digital recording media featuring video or sound related to the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; mechanisms for coin-operated apparatus; cash registers, calculating machines, data processing equipment, computers; fire extinguishers; electronic agendas; decorative magnets; personal stereos; tape recorders; blank videotapes; blank video cassettes; blank USB flash drives; blank audio-video compact disks; blank sound recording disks; videotapes featuring video or sound related to the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; video cassettes featuring video or sound related to the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; USB flash drives featuring video or sound related to the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; audio-video compact disks featuring video or sound related to the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; sound recording disks featuring video or sound related to the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; pocket calculators; cinematographic cameras; editing devices for cinematographic films; photographic transparencies; video screens; headphones; educational and entertaining multimedia software featuring video or sound related to the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; educational and entertaining programs being multimedia software featuring video or sound related to the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; educational and entertaining magnetic and optical data media featuring video or sound related to the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; downloadable music and image files featuring video or sound related to the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; exposed cinematographic films; audio and video cassettes featuring video or sound related to the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography and DVD players; glasses, namely, eyeglasses, sunglasses, and sports goggles; spectacle cases; spectacle lenses; spectacle frames; pince-nez; chains for eyeglasses, cords for eyeglasses, frames for eyeglasses, eyeglass cases; mouse pads.
IC 014. US 002 027 028 050. G & S Precious metals and their alloys; jewelry, precious stones; timepieces and chronometric instruments; jewelry articles; rings; wedding rings; earrings; brooches; necklaces; pins jewelry attaching to clothing as a brooch; tie pins; ornaments; boxes and cases for jewelry; watches; chronographs watches; cases for watches; watch straps; watch chains; watch springs; watch glasses; key rings made of precious metals; cases and boxes for jewelry and jewelry spare parts; medals; figurines statuettes of precious metal; figurines statuettes of precious metal, statuettes of precious metal; decorative boxes made of precious metal; cuff links.
IC 016. US 002 005 022 023 029 037 038 050. G & S Paper, cardboard; bookbinding material; photographs; stationery; adhesives for stationery or household purposes; artists' materials, namely, brushes, charcoal, pastels, pencils and pens; paintbrushes; typewriters; instructional or teaching material excluding apparatus, namely, books and pictures featuring information on the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; teaching materials excluding apparatus, namely, books and pictures featuring information on the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; plastic materials for packaging; printing type; printing blocks; posters; albums, namely, photo albums, stickers albums, scrapbook albums, events albums and coins albums; almanacs, atlases; engraved works of art made of paper, namely, origami folding paper, custom manufactured paper; lithographed works of art made of paper; stamps and seals; writing or drawing books; calendars; notebooks; greeting cards, postcards; printing blocks; flags of paper; transfers and decalcomanias; graphic prints; writing materials, namely, pencils and pens; wrapping paper; pamphlets featuring information on the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; catalogs featuring information on the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; flyers featuring information on the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; books featuring information on the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; booklets featuring information on the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; indexes featuring information on the life of famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; pencils; pens; bookmarkers; place mats of paper; bookends; portraits; figurines of papier mâché; rubber erasers; colored pencils; table napkins of paper; document files; files, namely, files folders.
IC 018. US 001 002 003 022 041. G & S Leather and imitation leather; animal skins; trunks and suitcases; umbrellas, parasols and walking sticks; whips, harness and saddlery; wallets, namely, card cases; wallets, namely, key cases; attache cases; leather goods, namely, briefcases; moleskin; imitation leather; coin purses; handbags not of precious metal; handbags; backpacks; wheeled bags; rucksacks for climbers; bags for climbers in the nature of all-purpose carrying bags; bags for campers in the nature of all-purpose carrying bags; hiking bags; traveling bags; beach bags; bags for school; vanity cases, not fitted; travel sets comprised of leather bags; leather goods, namely, key cases; toiletry sets sold empty; make-up bags sold empty; collars and clothes for animals; nets bags for shopping; small bags and bags of leather for packaging purposes.
IC 021. US 002 013 023 029 030 033 040 050. G & S Utensils for household use, namely, pot and pan scrapers, rolling pins, spatulas, turners and whisks, graters, sieves, kitchen tongs, turners, strainers, spatulas, skimmers; utensils for kitchen use, namely, chopping boards, bread-cases, crushers, graters and ladles for kitchen use; containers for household or kitchen use; combs and cleaning sponges; dishwashing brushes, dishwashing brushes, brushes for cleaning floors; brush-making materials; steel wool; unworked or semi-worked beverage glasses; glassware, namely, wine glasses, champagne flutes, tumblers, beer glasses, cocktail glasses, decanters, porcelain and earthenware not included in other classes; table plates, disposable table plates; bowls; bottles, sold empty; bread bins, tea caddies, soap boxes, cookie jars; decanters; earthenware pots; cups of paper or plastic; bottle openers; perfume sprayers, sold empty; perfume burners; saucers; tableware, namely, plates, bowls, mugs and serving plates, vases; cups, teapots, non-electric coffeepots; statuettes and figurines of porcelain, terracotta or glass.
IC 024. US 042 050. G & S Fabrics and textile goods not included in other classes, namely, cotton fabric, curtain fabric, denim fabric, fabric for wrapping bundles, fabric for footwear and fabric for textile use; bed throws; Fabric and plastic table cloths; textile banners; covers for cushions, bed blankets, bed covers; sheets textile; linen, namely, bed clothes; bed linen; furniture coverings made of plastic materials; unfitted coverings of plastic for furniture; curtains of textile or plastic; shower curtains; window curtains; table napkins of textile, bath towels.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Clothing, namely, shirts, t-shirts, sweatshirts, pants, skirts, dresses, swimsuits, coats, jackets, waistcoats; footwear; headgear, namely, hats, caps, headscarves; T-shirts, polo shirts; caps; socks; shirts; bathing suits; pajamas; sandals; slippers; sweaters; knitwear, namely, pants, shirts, sweaters, skirts, dresses, cardigans, coats, jackets, gloves, scarves; sashes for wear; scarves; dressing gowns; belts; hats, bowler hats, soft hats; masquerade costumes.
IC 028. US 022 023 038 050. G & S Games and toys, namely, card games, crib figurines, crib toys, collectable toy figures, construction toys, construction toys incorporating magnets, drawing toys, electric action toys, electronic action toys, electronic learning toys, fantasy character toys, infant toys, card games, educational card games; gymnastic and sporting articles, namely, baseballs, carriers specially adapted for sport balls; decorations for Christmas trees; building games; board games; puppets; plush toys; toys, namely, vehicles; toys, namely, radio remote-controlled vehicles; toys, namely, scale-model vehicles; toys, namely, headphones and mini headphones; parlor games; dolls' clothes; dolls; game apparatus adapted for use with an external display screen or monitor.
IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S Advertising; business management; business administration; office functions; retail stores services featuring games, software, spectacles, cinematographic goods, audio and video data carriers, printed matter, paper goods, glassware, porcelain and earthenware, textile goods, clothing, footwear and headgear, games and toys; bill-posting; accounting; advertising via mail, post and email; writing and publication of advertising texts; production of advertising films; layout services for advertising purposes; document reproduction; providing home shopping services in the field to cinematographic goods, audio and video data carriers, printed matter, paper goods, glassware, porcelain and earthenware, textile goods, clothing, footwear and headgear, games and toys by means of television and mobile phone; auctioneering; administrative management of museums and exhibitions; sales promotion for others; commercial information and advice for consumers; business project management services; computerized file management; collection and systematization of data in a central file; marketing; public relations; organization of exhibitions for commercial or advertising purposes; outsourcing services; shop window dressing.
IC 036. US 100 101 102. G & S Collection agencies; charitable fundraising; issuance of travelers' checks; issuance of credit cards; issuance of debit cards.
IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S Education services, namely, providing tutorial sessions in the field of culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; training services in the field of culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; entertainment in the field of culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography, namely, personal appearances by a movie star; entertainment in the field of culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography, namely, live comedy shows; entertainment services in the nature of providing a web site featuring photographic and prose presentations in the field of culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; sporting and cultural activities in the nature of organizing community sporting and cultural events in the field of culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; amusement parks; videotape editing; Presentation of exhibitions, namely, providing museum facilities for exhibiting to the public a historical site related to famous characters, culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; organization of exhibitions for cultural or educational purposes; entertainment, namely, planning of receptions in the nature of party and wedding reception planning and coordination services; cinematographic film projection in the nature of movie theaters; rental of motion pictures; production of films, other than advertising films, including on video tapes; electronic desktop publishing; microfilming; arranging and conducting of training workshops, colloquiums, seminars, concerts, conferences, symposiums in the field of culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; publication of books, magazines, brochures; drafting in the nature of technical writing and publication of texts, other than advertising texts; photography; photographic reporting; news reporters services; non-downloadable online electronic publications in the nature of magazines and blogs in the field of arts, movies, cinematography, photography, and entertainment featuring information on culture, knowledge, cinematography and photography; electronic publishing services, namely, electronic publication of non-advertising texts, books and periodicals online featuring cinematography, photography, and entertainment information; booking of seats for shows; ticket agency services for entertainment events.
IC 043. US 100 101. G & S Services for providing food and drink; temporary accommodation; temporary accommodation reservation; fast-food restaurants and snack-bar services; catering services in connection with the operation of a museum; cafeterias; canteens; rental of meeting rooms.
IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S PRE-RECORDED [ VIDEO AND AUDIO CASSETTES ] AND DISCS FEATURING CLASSIC SILENT AND TALKING MOTION PICTURES; MUSICAL SOUND RECORDINGS AND MOTION PICTURE FILMS IN THE FIELD OF CLASSIC SILENT AND TALKING MOTION PICTURES. FIRST USE: 19930101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19930101.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S CLOTHING, namely, T-SHIRTS [, SWEATSHIRTS AND ROBES; HEADWEAR, namely, CAPS ]. FIRST USE: 19880200. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19880200.
IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S DECORATIVE MAGNETS. FIRST USE: 19991019. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19991019.
IC 016. US 002 005 022 023 029 037 038 050. G & S POSTCARDS, [ MOUNTED AND UNMOUNTED PHOTOGRAPHS, CALENDARS, ] NOTE PADS, NOTEBOOKS, AND POSTERS. FIRST USE: 19980201. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19980201.
IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S PRE-RECORDED VIDEO AND AUDIO CASSETTES AND DISCS FEATURING CLASSIC SILENT AND TALKING MOTION PICTURES; MUSICAL SOUND RECORDINGS AND MOTION PICTURE FILMS IN THE FIELD OF CLASSIC SILENT AND TALKING MOTION PICTURES. FIRST USE: 19930101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19930101.
IC 014. US 002 027 028 050. G & S watches [ and clocks ]. FIRST USE: 19860000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19860000.
IC 035. US 101. G & S CARTOON CHARACTER LICENSING SERVICES. FIRST USE: 19810902. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19810902.