First 1st! – A Historic Sound Mark Filing

In February of this year immediately before Carnival, I had the distinct honour of working with the Trinidad and Tobago Intellectual Property Office to be the first person to file an application for the registration of a sound mark under the new legislative framework for trademarks in Trinidad and Tobago. This mark was the unmistakable, unconventional, fanciful (and fun) audio trademark of multimedia artist Roland ‘Remy’ Yearwood artistically known as RemBunction, who has been a longtime creative collaborator and friend of mine, and for whom I act as trademark agent. It was great to see his iconic sound mark acknowledged for what it is, and now protected as his intellectual property. The team at TTIPO was, as always, incredibly supportive during the process leading to the historic filing. As a member of their extended family having been trained by WIPO alongside their supremely professional and capable specialists for the recently launched IP Academy, I was reminded that I’m part of a dynamic group dedicated to IP progress and education (some of whom are pictured below with Remy and their intrepid leader, IP Controller Regan Asgarali). The new IP Academy will serve T&T and the region, advancing education and training in intellectual property for the ultimate goal of economic improvement. I think that this filing begins a discussion about intellectual property in general, specifically what a sound mark is, and perhaps stimulates some curiosity about what unconventional marks can be filed. All in all, this 1st is a win for all of us!

Photo courtesy TTIPO (c) 2023