What Trademark Filings Say About the Economy

From the May 9, 2005 National Law Journal:

• Domestic trademark applicants outnumbered foreign ones by a ratio of 85 to 15.
• Applications by companies in China increased from 488 to 770 in one year.
• Indian applicants matched China in the number of filings for business services data processing and software development
• In the U.S., there were 132,000 "blue state" applicants v. 81,000 from businesses in the red states. Sixteen applications contained the word "Blue State" v. three containing "Red State."
• With 12% of the U.S. population, Californians filed 21% of domestic trademark applications in which computer and electronic goods applications increased 2% while entertainment services class jumped 14%
• With less than 1% of the U.S. population, Nevadans accounted for 2% of filings by U.S. applicants last year, a 40% rise from last year, with almost one-quarter involving casino and gaming services.
• On the other hand, Louisiana and Wisconsin both saw declines, with applications by Wisconsin companies for cheese falling by 50%.

"Clearly, what happens in Vegas winds up at the Trademark Office," writes Glenn Gundersen. And apparently, what happens in Wisconsin, stays in Wisconsin.