USPTO Shows Off Rare Lucasfilm Trademark Filing on Twitter
The characters of the Star Wars film series are all iconic for one reason or another: Luke Skywalker's lightsaber, Princess Leia's hair, and Chewbacca's growl come to mind. And when it comes to villain Darth Vader's characterization, perhaps what is even more widely known than his mask and cape is the sound of his mechanical breathing.
That sound is something that Lucasfilm, the company run by Star Wars creator George Lucas, protects from infringement thanks to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
This type of trademark is referred to as a non-visual mark or "soundmark" by the USPTO. Like a trademark, the soundmark is also used to protect intellectual property from infringement.
The USPTO showed off the application for Vader's signature breathing, filed in 2008, on its Twitter...









