Protect the Name on the Marquee
Artist, band, festival, venue, and production names become valuable fast and are copied just as fast. We register entertainment brands, protect merchandise, and act against tour counterfeits and squatted domains.
What entertainment brands run into
Miami's music festivals, Art Week, Latin music industry, and nightlife make entertainment brands a constant source of naming disputes and counterfeits.
Band and artist name disputes
Two acts with the same name, or a former member using it, is one of the most common entertainment disputes.
Federal Trademark Applications →Problem 2Tour and festival counterfeits
Unlicensed merchandise sold outside venues and online cuts into a major revenue stream.
Counterfeiting Claims →Problem 3Squatted domains and social handles
Event and artist domains are registered by others to sell tickets or divert fans.
Domain Name Disputes (UDRP) →Problem 4Production and show titles
The title of a single creative work is generally not registrable, but a series, show, or production brand can be.
Federal Trademark Applications →What we recommend for entertainment brands
Our five most important steps for protecting a brand in this industry, in the order most clients need them.
Register the name for performances and merchandise
File in Class 41 for entertainment services and in Class 25 and other classes for the merchandise you sell.
Settle ownership among members early
A band or partnership agreement should say who owns the name if a member leaves.
Secure domains and handles before announcing
Register festival and tour domains before the public announcement, when squatters move in.
Prepare a merchandise enforcement plan
Line up registrations, licensed vendors, and a process for takedowns and on-site enforcement before the tour starts.
Use written licenses for promoters and sponsors
Promoters, venues, and sponsors should use the brand under a license with approval and quality-control terms.
Entertainment brand filings at the USPTO, 2021 to 2026
Applicants filed 130,378 U.S. trademark applications in this category from 2021 to 2025, and filings in 2025 were up 9% from 2021. 140,910 live registrations cover it today.
Applications filed per year
U.S. applications by filing date. The 2026 bar covers January to late October.
View data table
| Year | Applications filed | Registered to date | Abandoned | Registrations issued that year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 26,406 | 15,118 | 10,686 | 11,315 |
| 2022 | 26,407 | 13,980 | 10,541 | 11,670 |
| 2023 | 24,539 | 13,130 | 8,250 | 12,860 |
| 2024 | 24,239 | 12,126 | 7,261 | 16,271 |
| 2025 | 28,787 | 10,659 | 6,633 | 16,600 |
| 2026 (Jan.–Oct.) | 26,176 | 1,967 | 1,114 | 16,357 |
Applications filed and registrations issued
Applications by filing year, and registrations by the year they issued.
What happened to each year's applications
Status today of applications filed each year. Recent years are still largely pending.
How we counted. USPTO trademark records, retrieved October 28, 2026. The USPTO does not classify filings by industry, so this page counts: Applications in Class 41 whose services mention entertainment services, live music, musical performances, or music festivals, excluding casino, gambling, and gaming-machine services. An application is counted once even if it names several qualifying classes.
Top five trademark registrants: Entertainment
The owners that received the most U.S. registrations in this category since January 2021. Social and online game companies rank high because their services are registered as entertainment.
U.S. registrations issued since January 2021, by owner
Registrations issued January 2021 to October 2026 in the category described in the data section, by current owner.
View data table
| Rank | Owner | Registrations since 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Playtika (Playtika Ltd. and Playtika UK–House of Fun) | 357 |
| 2 | Amazon Technologies, Inc. | 168 |
| 3 | World Wrestling Entertainment, LLC | 158 |
| 4 | IGT | 149 |
| 5 | Netflix Studios, LLC | 113 |
Owners identified from a random sample of 18,834 of the 85,073 registrations in the category, then counted across all of them by owner name. Listed for information only. These companies are not clients of the firm, and their inclusion implies no affiliation.
What the law says
- The title of a single creative work, such as one film or one book, is not registrable as a trademark. Titles of a series, and names of shows, productions, and festivals, can be.
- Band names belong to whoever controls them under the band's agreements or, without one, under trademark law's priority and control rules. A written band agreement avoids most disputes.
- Registration supports takedowns on ticketing sites, social platforms, and marketplaces, and is required for U.S. Customs recordation.
Start here: a checklist for a new brand
Your checks are not saved.
Who does what for your brand
A licensed attorney is responsible for each matter, supported by paralegals and docketing staff who manage documents, deadlines, and monitoring.
Attorneys
Strategy, filings, and enforcement.
- Clearance searches and written risk opinions
- Applications drafted for entertainment goods and services
- Responses to USPTO refusals and oppositions
- Demand letters, licenses, and litigation
Paralegals and docketing
Files complete and deadlines met.
- Specimens, dates of use, and evidence
- Docketing of every USPTO and renewal deadline
- U.S. Customs recordation and Amazon Brand Registry
- Watch notices for new conflicting filings
Client service
Clear, bilingual, and easy to reach.
- Service in English and Spanish
- Copies of every USPTO notice, explained
- A written estimate before each filing
- Renewal reminders well in advance
Frequently asked questions
Can I trademark my band name?
Yes, if you use it for performances, recordings, or merchandise. Search first, because many band names are already taken.
Can I trademark a movie or book title?
Not for a single work. You can register the title of a series, or a production company or festival name.
Who owns the band name if a member leaves?
It depends on the band's agreements and who controlled the name's use. A written agreement avoids most disputes.
What can I do about bootleg tour merchandise?
With a registration, you can pursue counterfeiting claims, platform takedowns, and court orders covering tour stops.
Do I need to register in other countries for a world tour?
Often yes. U.S. registration does not protect the name abroad. The Madrid Protocol can extend it to many countries.
Can someone else register my festival's domain?
They can try. If they registered it in bad faith, a UDRP complaint can transfer it to you.
Talk to us about your entertainment brand
Tell us your brand, what you sell, and where. We will check the register, recommend the right filings, and give you a written estimate.
- Clearance searches
- Federal and Florida filings
- Enforcement and litigation
- Customs and marketplace protection