Vorsprung durch music: Will electric cars drive an increase in sound trademarks?

Porsche’s unsuccessful attempt to register an ‘engine noise’ could pave the way for EVs to make more unusual sounds—even music, comments Lee Curtis of HGF.

Porsche’s unsuccessful attempt to register an ‘engine noise’ could pave the way for EVs to make more unusual sounds—even music, comments Lee Curtis of HGF.

Although there are a reasonable number of sound trademarks registered both before the UK and EU trademark offices, registered sound trademarks are still a relatively rare species.

However, the sound trademark has not gone completely unnoticed among at least one sector of the economy, notably electric vehicle manufacturers and the rise of the electric vehicle might herald the increased use of sounds as brands in this sector and attempts to register them.