Joan Rivers was known much better in the field of
comedy than intellectual property, and while there are plenty of accolades
being given her for her genius as a comedian, we think she should also be
recognized as someone who understood the value of a trademark.
Starting way back in 1984, Joan began trying to
trademark a well known part of her comedy routine, the phrase “Can we talk?”
and on September 9, 1986 she was awarded US Trademark No. 1408489 for “CAN WE
TALK?” in the field of GREETING CARDS, WRITING PAPER AND ENVELOPES, NOTE CARDS,
AND PAPER NAPKINS AND PLACEMATS. But did she stop there? No, not only could she
talk, but she could file trademarks. Soon to follow were:
1849038 and 1842345 for “YOU DESERVE TO BE
HAPPY”, 1818890 for JOAN RIVERS CLASSICS COLLECTION, 2085516 for “JOAN RIVERS”, 2114309 for "JOAN'S WORLD", 2150995 for "IMPERIAL TREASURES BY JOAN RIVERS",
2291516 for “BABY HEARTS”, and 2293497 for “BABY HEARTS BY JOAN RIVERS”. And
this was all by the close of 1999.
The turn of the century saw Ms. Rivers heading
right back to the USPTO with 2358260 for “DO IT NOW!”,
2293628 for “NAIL CLASSICS”, 2293629 for “JOAN RIVERS NAIL CLASSICS”, 2388350 for
the rather long trademark on “YESTERDAY IS HISTORY, TOMORROW IS A MYSTERY.
TODAY IS GOD'S GIFT. THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED THE PRESENT.” For a jewelry line,
2742296 and 2474106 for “JOAN RIVERS RESULTS”, 2364280 for “PINK CHAMPAGNE”,
2574314 for “HEARTS & FLOWERS BY JOAN RIVERS”, 2847704 for “JOAN RIVERS
BEAUTY”, and last but certainly not least, 4566503 which issued in July of 2014
for “IN BED WITH JOAN” for “Entertainment services, namely, providing on-going
webisodes featuring Joan Rivers interviewing celebrities via a global computer
network.”
