
Dr. Martens Trademarks
Please note: Gerben IP does not represent Dr. Martens. This page is provided for informational purposes and reflects information available in public USPTO records.
September 21, 2023
Dr. Martens is a company that manufactures and sells shoes, boots, clothing, sandals, bags, and accessories. Commonly known as Docs, Doc Martens, or DMs, the British clothing and footwear brand operates in Wollaston, in the Wellingborough district of Northamptonshire, England.
The most famous product line from the company is its footwear, although it also manufactures and sells several accessories such as clothing, shoe care products, and bags. Dr. Martens’s footwear is recognizable by their unique air-cushioned soles, often dubbed “Bouncing Soles,” with yellow stitching and an upper shape, welted construction.
The company’s design studio is in Camden Town, London, with manufacturing plants operating in China, the UK, and Thailand. Dr. Martens is also listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Let’s look into Dr. Martens’s company history, its UK operations, and trademarks.
Dr. Martens Company History
Dr. Martens traces its history back to Klaus Martens, a German doctor in the Nazi army during World War II. After sustaining an injury to his ankle in 1945, Klaus found the standard army boots too uncomfortable for his injured foot. Therefore, he designed improvements to the boots, adding air-padded soles made from tires and soft leather.
After the war ended and German soldiers were recovering valuables from their cities, Martens took leather from a cobbler’s shop, which he later used to make himself a pair of boots featuring air-cushioned soles.
Martens struggled to sell his shoes until he met Herbert Funck, an old university friend, and a Luxembourger, in Munich in 1947. Funck was immediately intrigued by the shoe’s design and went into business with Martens in Seeshaupt, Germany.
The duo used discarded rubber shaped by molds to make the shoes. They immediately became a hit among housewives who loved their comfortable soles. 80% of sales in the first decade were from women aged above 40.
The company’s sales grew rapidly, and by 1952, they’d opened a new factory in Munich. By 1959, the company had grown big enough that Martens and Funck planned to market it internationally. R. Griggs Group, a British shoe manufacturer, immediately bought the patent rights to manufacture the shoes in the United Kingdom.
Dr. Martens UK Operations
R. Griggs effected a few changes to make the brand appealing to the UK market. First, it anglicized the name to “Dr. Martens,” added the trademark yellow stitching, reshaped the heel for a better fit, and trademarked the soles as AirWair.
The first Dr. Martens shoes in the UK launched on April 1, 1960. The shoes, still in production today, donned an eight-eyelet cherry-red colored smooth leather design famously dubbed style 1460.
Since its original launch, Dr. Martens has made various variations of the shoe. One year later, Dr. Martens UK launched the three-eyelet shoe featuring the style number 1461.
Up to 2018, Dr. Martens’s shoes in the UK were manufactured in the company’s Cobbs Lane factory in Wollaston, Northamptonshire. Some shoe manufacturers within the Northamptonshire area and surrounding areas secured licenses to produce the boots under strict quality standards.
Dr. Martens’s boots in the UK became popular among workers such as police officers, postmen, and factory workers. In the 1960s the young working class in England, known as skinheads or skins, started wearing the brand. This English subculture was the first to adopt the names “Docs” or “DMs” for the shoes. By the late ’70s, Dr. Martens were popular among punks, scooter riders, several new-wave musicians, and members of other youth subcultures.
Accent Group became the first Dr. Martens manufacturer outside the UK in 1989. The company obtained rights to manufacture the shoes in Dunedin, New Zealand.
The popularity of Dr. Martens’s shoes rose further in the ’90s with the rise of grunge fashion. On November 1994, the first Dr. Martens department store in the UK opened in Covenant Garden, London. The six-story store also sold belts, food, and watches.
By this time, R. Griggs was employing 2,700 people with projected annual revenue of £170 million. The company’s production capacity had also grown to produce 10 million pairs of shoes annually.
Dr. Martens Trademarks
Dr. Martens has sought or obtained federal trademark registration for about 26 trademarks. These include “DOC’S,” “DM’S,” and “DOC STYLE.”
On August 21, 2021, Dr. Martens obtained federal trademark registration for “DOC’S.” The company uses the trademark for its leather and imitations of leather sold in bulk, such as purses, pocket wallets, and key cases.
Dr. Martens obtained federal trademark registration for “DM’S” on July 4, 2000. The company uses the trademark for its footwear.
In July 2020, Dr. Martens obtained federal trademark registration for “DOC STYLE” and it uses the trademark for its clothing, namely pants, shirts, and sports jerseys.
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.
- Logo #1
- AIRWAIR
- AIRWAIR WITH BOUNCING SOLES
- DR. MARTENS AIRWAIR
- WITH BOUNCING SOLES
- WITH BOUNCING SOLES
- AIRWAIR
- AIRWAIR
- DR. MARTENS PASCAL
- DR. MARTENS QUAD
- DR. MARTENS ADRIAN
- GETTA GRIP
- TARIK
- AUDRICK
- 2976
- DR. MARTENS SINCLAIR
- 1461
- Logo #2
- Logo #3
- HARDWAIR
- WITH BOUNCING SOLES
- WITH BOUNCING SOLES
- JADON
- 1460
- DR. MARTENS AIRWAIR WITH BOUNCING SOLES
- DR. MARTENS AIRWAIR WITH BOUNCING SOLES
- DR. MARTENS AIRWAIR WITH BOUNCING SOLES
- DR. MARTENS AIRWAIR WITH BOUNCING SOLES
- DRYWAIR
- DRYWAIR
- Logo #4
- Logo #5
- TOUGH AS YOU
- DR. MARTENS AIRWAIR WITH BOUNCING SOLES
- AIRWAIR DR. MARTENS WITH BOUNCING SOLES
- SOFTWAIR
- AIRWAIR
- AIRWAIR
- Logo #6
- AIRWAIR WITH BOUNCING SOLES
- AIRWAIR WITH BOUNCING SOLES
- AIRWAIR
- Logo #7
- Logo #8
- Logo #9
- Logo #10
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S footwear. FIRST USE: 20180301. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20180301.
IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S Downloadable digital media, namely, image files containing artwork, text, audio, video, games and Internet Web links relating to popular culture, retail, footwear, clothing and fashion accessories; downloadable image files of footwear, clothing and fashion accessories authenticated by non-fungible tokens (NFTs); downloadable mobile applications for computer games in the field of online virtual environments; downloadable computer game software; downloadable virtual reality and augmented reality application software for rendering digital images in the field of popular culture, retail, footwear, clothing and fashion accessories; downloadable smartphone software for rendering digital images of avatars for use in virtual environments; virtual reality and augmented reality computer software downloaded from the internet for rendering digital images in the field of popular culture, retail, footwear, clothing and fashion accessories; downloadable software for the authentication of digital collectibles via non-fungible tokens; downloadable digital images in the nature of virtual reality models; Internet of Things sensors, namely, motion sensors, temperature sensors, proximity sensors; Internet of Things gateway routers; downloadable computer application software for connecting, operating, and managing networked footwear, clothing and fashion accessories in the Internet of Things; downloadable virtual reality software for playing virtual reality games; virtual reality glasses; virtual reality headsets; downloadable augmented reality software for playing computer games; downloadable software for the exchange of virtual currency; downloadable virtual goods, namely, computer programs featuring shoe cleaning preparations, shoe cream, shoe polishing preparations, purses, wallets, bags, rucksacks, satchels, travelling bags, school bags, trunks, travelling cases, brief cases, footwear, boots, sandals, shoes, insoles for footwear, clothing, belts, socks, stockings, scarves, gloves, tights, headgear, hats, caps, sweatbands, headbands, shoe laces, provided online and in online virtual worlds.
IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S Online retail store services in relation to digital content, namely, virtual goods in the nature of shoe cleaning preparations, shoe cream, shoe polishing preparations, purses, wallets, bags, rucksacks, satchels, travelling bags, school bags, trunks, travelling cases, brief cases, footwear, boots, sandals, shoes, insoles for footwear, clothing, belts, socks, stockings, scarves, gloves, tights, headgear, hats, caps, sweatbands, headbands, shoe laces, downloadable software being non-fungible tokens (NFTs), mobile applications, software, application software, smartphone software, computer software downloaded from the internet, downloadable software, namely, non-fungible tokens, Internet of Things sensors, Internet of Things gateways, computer application software for use in implementing the Internet of Things, virtual reality software for playing virtual reality games, virtual reality glasses, virtual reality headsets, augmented reality software, downloadable software, namely, virtual currency, virtual goods in the nature of shoe cleaning preparations, shoe cream, shoe polishing preparations, purses, wallets, bags, rucksacks, satchels, travelling bags, school bags, trunks, travelling cases, brief cases, footwear, boots, sandals, shoes, insoles for footwear, clothing, belts, socks, stockings, scarves, gloves, tights, headgear, hats, caps, sweatbands, headbands, shoe laces, provided online and in online virtual worlds; sales promotion through customer loyalty programs; organisation and business management of customer loyalty programs for commercial promotional, and advertising purposes; business administration of customer loyalty and incentive schemes.
IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S Providing on-line non-downloadable digital images, audio and video content in the field of popular culture, retail, footwear, clothing and fashion accessories; entertainment services, namely, providing temporary use of non-downloadable interactive games; entertainment services, namely, providing online, non-downloadable virtual avatars and characters for use in interactive virtual environments ; virtual reality game services provided on-line from a computer network; entertainment services, namely, providing on-line, non-downloadable virtual shoe cleaning preparations, shoe cream, shoe polishing preparations, purses, wallets, bags, rucksacks, satchels, travelling bags, school bags, trunks, travelling cases, brief cases, footwear, boots, sandals, shoes, insoles for footwear, clothing, belts, socks, stockings, scarves, gloves, tights, headgear, hats, caps, sweatbands, headbands, and shoe laces for use in virtual environments created for entertainment purposes; education services, namely, providing information in the field of popular culture.
IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S Downloadable digital media, namely, image files containing artwork, text, audio, video, games and Internet Web links relating to popular culture, retail, footwear, clothing and fashion accessories; downloadable image files of footwear, clothing and fashion accessories authenticated by non-fungible tokens (NFTs); downloadable mobile applications for computer games in the field of online virtual environments; downloadable computer game software; downloadable virtual reality and augmented reality application software for rendering digital images in the field of popular culture, retail, footwear, clothing and fashion accessories; downloadable smartphone software for rendering digital images of avatars for use in virtual environments; virtual reality and augmented reality computer software downloaded from the internet for rendering digital images in the field of popular culture, retail, footwear, clothing and fashion accessories; downloadable software for the authentication of digital collectibles via non-fungible tokens; downloadable digital images in the nature of virtual reality models; Internet of Things sensors, namely, motion sensors, temperature sensors, proximity sensors; Internet of Things gateway routers; downloadable computer application software for connecting, operating, and managing networked footwear, clothing and fashion accessories in the Internet of Things; downloadable virtual reality software for playing virtual reality games; virtual reality glasses; virtual reality headsets; downloadable augmented reality software for playing computer games; downloadable software for the exchange of virtual currency; downloadable virtual goods, namely, computer programs featuring shoe cleaning preparations, shoe cream, shoe polishing preparations, purses, wallets, bags, rucksacks, satchels, travelling bags, school bags, trunks, travelling cases, brief cases, footwear, boots, sandals, shoes, insoles for footwear, clothing, belts, socks, stockings, scarves, gloves, tights, headgear, hats, caps, sweatbands, headbands, shoe laces, provided online and in online virtual worlds.
IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S Online retail store services in relation to digital content, namely, virtual goods in the nature of shoe cleaning preparations, shoe cream, shoe polishing preparations, purses, wallets, bags, rucksacks, satchels, travelling bags, school bags, trunks, travelling cases, brief cases, footwear, boots, sandals, shoes, insoles for footwear, clothing, belts, socks, stockings, scarves, gloves, tights, headgear, hats, caps, sweatbands, headbands, shoe laces, downloadable software being non-fungible tokens (NFTs), mobile applications, software, application software, smartphone software, computer software downloaded from the internet, downloadable software, namely, non-fungible tokens, Internet of Things sensors, Internet of Things gateways, computer application software for use in implementing the Internet of Things, virtual reality software for playing virtual reality games, virtual reality glasses, virtual reality headsets, augmented reality software, downloadable software, namely, virtual currency, virtual goods in the nature of shoe cleaning preparations, shoe cream, shoe polishing preparations, purses, wallets, bags, rucksacks, satchels, travelling bags, school bags, trunks, travelling cases, brief cases, footwear, boots, sandals, shoes, insoles for footwear, clothing, belts, socks, stockings, scarves, gloves, tights, headgear, hats, caps, sweatbands, headbands, shoe laces, provided online and in online virtual worlds; sales promotion through customer loyalty programs; organisation and business management of customer loyalty programs for commercial promotional, and advertising purposes; business administration of customer loyalty and incentive schemes.
IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S Providing on-line non-downloadable digital images, audio and video content in the field of popular culture, retail, footwear, clothing and fashion accessories; entertainment services, namely, providing temporary use of non-downloadable interactive games; entertainment services, namely, providing online, non-downloadable virtual avatars and characters for use in interactive virtual environments ; virtual reality game services provided on-line from a computer network; entertainment services, namely, providing on-line, non-downloadable virtual shoe cleaning preparations, shoe cream, shoe polishing preparations, purses, wallets, bags, rucksacks, satchels, travelling bags, school bags, trunks, travelling cases, brief cases, footwear, boots, sandals, shoes, insoles for footwear, clothing, belts, socks, stockings, scarves, gloves, tights, headgear, hats, caps, sweatbands, headbands, and shoe laces for use in virtual environments created for entertainment purposes; education services, namely, providing information in the field of popular culture.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Insoles for footwear; Inner socks for footwear; ankle Socks; fur and faux fur covering for footbeds, namely, fur and faux fur insoles; fluffy footbeds, namely, insoles; furry footbeds, namely, insoles. FIRST USE: 20210901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20210901.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Footwear. FIRST USE: 19700000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840900.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Footwear. FIRST USE: 19700000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840900.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Footwear. FIRST USE: 19600000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840900.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Footwear. FIRST USE: 19600000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840900.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Boots; Footwear; Shoes. FIRST USE: 20090901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20090901.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Boots; Footwear; Shoes. FIRST USE: 19950301. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19950301.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Boots; Footwear; Shoes. FIRST USE: 20090901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20090901.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Footwear; Boots and shoes.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Boots; Footwear; Shoes. FIRST USE: 20210901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20210901.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Boots; Footwear; Shoes. FIRST USE: 20210901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20210901.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Footwear. FIRST USE: 19760902. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840101.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Footwear, boots, shoes. FIRST USE: 20170901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20170901.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Footwear. FIRST USE: 19610401. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840101.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Footwear. FIRST USE: 19950000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19950000.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Footwear. FIRST USE: 19600000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840000.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S footwear; boots; boot uppers. FIRST USE: 20040301. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20040301.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Footwear; Clothing, namely, shirts, socks, hats, and scarves. FIRST USE: 19650000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840900.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Footwear. FIRST USE: 19700000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840900.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S footwear; boots; boot uppers. FIRST USE: 20130901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20130901.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Footwear. FIRST USE: 19600401. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840000.
IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S Retail store services and online retail store services in the fields of shoe care products, footwear, clothing, leather goods, bags, wallets, industrial footwear products, and shoe laces; order fulfillment services; advertising services, namely, promoting the goods of others; providing consumer product information for the purpose of selecting goods to meet the consumer's specifications; home shopping services in the fields of shoe care products, footwear, clothing, leather goods, bags, wallets, industrial footwear products, and shoe laces. FIRST USE: 20030110. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20030110.
IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S Safety and industrial footwear, namely, protective industrial footwear and protective footwear for the prevention of accident and injury; safety protective footwear for protection against accident or injury; protective footwear for the prevention of accident or injury; protective shoes, namely, protective industrial shoes, protective shoes for protection against accidents and fire, and protective shoes for protection against irradiation; protective industrial shoes; protective shoes for protection against injury, namely, protective shoes for the prevention of accident or injury; shoes for protection against accidents, irradiation and fire; protective footwear, namely, protective industrial boots; protective industrial boots; safety boots for use in industry for protection against accident or injury, namely, protective industrial boots; prerecorded CDs featuring music. FIRST USE: 20030100. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20030100.
IC 018. US 001 002 003 022 041. G & S Purses; schoolbags; school satchels; satchels; rucksacks; haversacks; sport bags; travelling bags; handbags; tote bags; non-leather luggage. FIRST USE: 20180600. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20180600.
IC 003. US 001 004 006 050 051 052. G & S Shoe cleaning and shoe polishing preparations; boot cream and polish; creams for leather, leather polish; footwear polishes and preservation creams for leather; leather cleaning preparations and preservation creams for leather. FIRST USE: 20181200. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20181200.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Footwear and parts thereof, namely, footwear soles; headgear, namely, hats; clothing accessories, namely, headscarves, scarves, socks; men's and women's casual apparel, namely, socks. FIRST USE: 20170700. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20170700.
IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S Protective industrial footwear, protective industrial shoes, protective footwear for the prevention of accident or injury, protective shoes being shoes for protection against accidents and/or fire and/or irradiation. FIRST USE: 20160700. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20160700.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Industrial footwear, industrial shoes, protective footwear not being for the prevention of accident or injury, protective shoes not being for protection against accidents and/or fire and/or irradiation; soles for industrial footwear. FIRST USE: 20160700. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20160700.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Footwear. FIRST USE: 19600000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840000.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Footwear. FIRST USE: 19600000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840000.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Clothing, namely, shirts, jackets, pants, shorts, skirts and dresses; sport jerseys; knitwear, namely sweaters; clothing layettes; coats; top coats; shirts; T-shirts; polo-shirts; clothing jackets; jeans; tops as clothing; trousers; leggings; tights; underwear; headwear; cap as clothing; hats; sweatbands; hoods; skull caps; scarves; mufflers as neck scarves; neckerchiefs; shawls; gloves; stockings; sweat-absorbent stockings; socks; clothing belts; clothing leather belts; footwear; heel loops being pullstraps sold as components for shoes and boots; boots; sandals; shoes; boot uppers; insoles; metal fittings for footwear in the nature of eyelets, buckles and studs sold as components of footwear; soles for footwear; insoles for footwear.
IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S Sunglasses.
IC 035. US 100 101 102. G & S Retail store services and online retail store services, in the field of shoe care products, footwear, clothing, sporting goods, bags, belts, purses, pocket wallets, wristwatches, watches, sunglasses, blank flash memory cards and drives, pre-recorded flash memory cards and drives, protective footwear, headgear, protective clothing, shoe laces; order fulfillment services, advertising services relating to products and sales promotion, all of the foregoing for others; promoting the goods and services of others by providing product and service information to customers regarding the choice of products and services; providing home-shopping services in the field of shoe care products, footwear, clothing, sporting goods, bags, belts, purses, pocket wallets, wristwatches, watches, sunglasses, blank flash memory cards and drives, pre-recorded flash memory cards and drives, protective footwear, headgear, protective clothing and shoe laces by means of television, computers and mobile computer devices.
IC 018. US 001 002 003 022 041. G & S Leather and imitation leather, goods made of leather or imitation leather, namely, handbags, purses, pocket wallets and [ key cases; animal skins and hides; trunks and suitcases, ] travel bags, all purpose carrying bags, [ tote bags, ] rucksacks, [ leather shopping bags, ] school satchels [ ; containers, namely, leather traveling bag sets, umbrellas, parasols and walking sticks; whips, harness and saddlery ].
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S Footwear. FIRST USE: 20031201. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20031201.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S [Clothing, namely,] footwear [,coats, jackets, anoraks, parkas, T-shirts, polo shirts, long and short sleeved shirts, blouses, tank tops, sweaters, sweatshirts, sweatpants, pants, jeans, shorts, skirts, dresses, vests, waistcoats, belts, socks, hats, gloves, and caps]. FIRST USE: 19600101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840901.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S footwear. FIRST USE: 19600000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840000.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S footwear. FIRST USE: 19941230. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19941230.
IC 025. US 039. G & S footwear. FIRST USE: 19610400. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840900.
IC 025. US 039. G & S footwear. FIRST USE: 19610400. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840900.
IC 025. US 039. G & S footwear. FIRST USE: 19610000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840901.
IC 025. US 022 039. G & S footwear. FIRST USE: 19920800. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19920900.
IC 025. US 039. G & S footwear. FIRST USE: 19600401. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840000.
IC 025. US 039. G & S footwear. FIRST USE: 19600000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840000.
IC 025. US 039. G & S footwear. FIRST USE: 19600401. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19840000.