It was on this day in 1961 that the USPTO issued a federal trademark registration for HOT ROCKS, those hard hot cinnamon candies that caused both tooth decay and tooth fractures. Apparently the mark was later abandoned for candy. A soundalike version (Hot Rox) was later registered for nutritional supplements. That subsequent registration now stands in the way of a Texas company's 2007 attempt to resurrect the mark for candy. Apparently the federal government believes that consumers are likely to be confused between nutritional supplements and candy. Does that seem sad or have I just had too many sugar-coated vitamins?
Oct 17, 2007
