Lollipop Trademark History Explained

Summary

The term lollipop itself is not trademarked as its a common term for a type of candy. In 1931, George Smith trademarked Lollipop for his candy company, but it lapsed due to its generic nature. The US Patent and Trademark Office does not allow common, generic terms to be trademarked to prevent monopolies over common terms. Specific brand names and logo designs related to lollipops may still be trademarked.

Full Conversation

Are lollipops trademarked?
Hello Sean, in the US, the term "lollipop" itself is not trademarked as it's a common term for a type of candy. However, specific brand names and logo designs related to lollipops may be trademarked. Do you have a specific lollipop brand in mind?
What did they do with it in * then?
Hello Sean, in *, George Smith trademarked the term "Lollipop" for his candy company, but it was later lapsed due to its generic nature. Now, it's a common term not associated with any specific brand.
When did that happen exactly?
The exact date of when George Smith's trademark lapsed is not publicly documented. However, it's known that such lapses occur after a trademark hasn't been defended or used for a significant period, typically 5 years in the US.
So generic terms aren’t trademarked?
Correct, Sean. In general, the US Patent and Trademark Office does not allow common, generic terms to be trademarked. This is to prevent one company from having a monopoly over a common term.