Tuesday 1st February 1994

Harley-Davidson applied to trademark the distinctive sound of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle engine: “The mark consists of the exhaust sound of applicant’s motorcycles, produced by V-twin, common crankpin motorcycle engines when the goods are in use”. Harley-Davidson’s competitors opposed the application, arguing that cruiser-style motorcycles of various brands use a single-crankpin V-twin engine, which produced a similar sound. These objections were followed by litigation and after six years of arguments, Harley-Davidson withdrew their trademark application.