| 1 | %% Image kept on page per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1594223778051913600 |
| 2 | %% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread. |
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| 4 | [[quoteright:204:[[ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/crashinbox_9508.gif]]]] |
| 5 | [[caption-width-right:204:[-Well, to be fair, [[WhatDidYouExpectWhenYouNamedIt the Brand Name™ should have clued You]][[labelnote:©]]"You" copyright your parents [[TropeName year of your birth–year of later parent's death+70]][[/labelnote]][[WhatDidYouExpectWhenYouNamedIt in]].-] ]] |
| 6 | %% |
| 7 | ->''"Paging through the movie's press kit, I came across this quote attributed to Amy Jo Johnson, who plays Kimberly, the Pink Power Ranger: "''Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie''™ is a mix between ''Star Wars'' and ''The Wizard of Oz''." I wonder if Amy Jo actually said "TM" when she was delivering that wonderfully fresh and spontaneous quote..."'' |
| 8 | -->-- '''Creator/RogerEbert's''' [[https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mighty-morphin-power-rangers-the-movie-1995 review]] of ''Film/MightyMorphinPowerRangersTheMovie'' |
| 9 | |
| 10 | A humorous way to make Things[[SelfDemonstratingArticle ™]] stand out is to add Random MediaNotes/{{Trademark}} Symbols® everywhere. May be used as a Social Commentary® on our increasingly homogenized, commercialized World®, but more often than not, done just because of the RuleOfFunny℠. They can also be used to point out how Cliche™ something is, or employed in SarcasmMode (perhaps in conjunction with ScareQuotes℠) to passive-aggressively imply that something exists only as a Concept™; for example, some people refer to global warming as "Global Warming™". Another sarcastic variation℠ is to sprinkle Trade Snark over [[TheWarOnStraw your paraphrase of an opponent's position]] to imply that they're using the term in question as [[ConceptsAreCheap a meaningless buzzword®]]. |
| 11 | |
| 12 | For added Spice™, try adding Registered Trademark® and Copyright© Symbols®©™. (This is not actually [[Literature/TheWayThingsWork How Copyright Works]]™.) |
| 13 | |
| 14 | And of course, it's always fun to have characters with MediumAwareness[[OverlyLongGag ™]] compliment others on their expert use of the "™," especially if the symbol appears on the word as written but not the word as spoken. |
| 15 | |
| 16 | Compare StuckOnBandAidBrand for a similarly awkward attempt to acknowledge ownership of a brand, minus the LampshadeHanging. DisneyOwnsThisTrope is related; it's when you make a joke that a concept, especially one that ''shouldn't'' or ''couldn't'' belong to a company, is now a trademark. |
| 17 | ---- |
| 18 | !!Examples™: |
| 19 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 20 | |
| 21 | [[folder:Advertising™]] |
| 22 | * There was an Intel radio ad where this was lampshaded -- one of the announcers mentioned "Intel(TM)", and the other commented, "Good use of the trademark symbol!" |
| 23 | [[/folder]] |
| 24 | |
| 25 | [[folder:Anime and Manga®]] |
| 26 | * ''Manga/HidamariSketch'' commonly has the sound effects trademarked. |
| 27 | * In one episode of ''Manga/SgtFrog'', Fuyuki worries that Saburo might be a Man in Black. The [[FunWithSubtitles Gag Dubtitles]] are quick to point out, "Fuyuki is using [[TheMenInBlack the generic 'Men in Black,']] not the trademarked 'Film/MenInBlack™'." |
| 28 | * The closed captions for ADV's GagDub of ''Anime/GhostStories'' render Keiichirou's crying as "[Keiichirou Sob™]". |
| 29 | [[/folder]] |
| 30 | |
| 31 | [[folder:Comic Books®]] |
| 32 | * The [=BEYOND=] Corporation© from ''ComicBook/{{Nextwave}}''. |
| 33 | * ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}™ had a ''field day'' with this. |
| 34 | --> And now Marvel has their very own Civil War™ -- do we have a ™? We are talking about trademark lawyers who once tried to put a ™ on the word ''Death''™, so...\ |
| 35 | It started with these ComicBook/NewWarriors® dweebs screwing up and making a bad guy named Nitro™ blow up and take a school in Stanford with him. |
| 36 | * Occasionally played straight in ComicBooks when someone will say the name of a character and the name appears as their logo in the SpeechBubble. |
| 37 | -->"Look, up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman™!" |
| 38 | * Continuum®, Hera's EvilPlan in ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules''. |
| 39 | * More than one wag has pointed out that, for half a century, ComicBook/{{Robin}}® the Boy Wonder™ wore something that looked uncannily like a Registered Trademark symbol ''on his chest''. |
| 40 | * ''ComicBook/SonicX'': Eggman intruduces a robot version of himself called Egg-Gantor in issue #6 - and then, in small print: "'''™''' Eggman Corporation, all rights reserved! So ''there''!" |
| 41 | * The shortlived, humorous Creator/{{Marvel}} comic ''What The?'' used this gag more than once. |
| 42 | * One issue of ''ComicBook/{{Normalman}}'' had a field day with this. Whenever a comic-book company's lawyers get skittish about protecting their intellectual property, you'll see a flurry of issues where little ™ or ® signs appear next to the main characters' names (and, sometimes, the main characters' ''vehicle'' names, e.g. "Batmobile™"). So, in the ''normalman'' issue in question, he put a ™ after ''everything''. |
| 43 | * The miracle plastic Boing® in ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'' -- great for trapping alien fiends of mass destruction! |
| 44 | * One issue of ''ComicBook/JohnnyTheHomicidalManiac'' involves Johnny meeting God™. |
| 45 | * One character -- mentioned but not seen -- in Creator/GrantMorrison's ''[[ComicBook/DoomPatrol Doom Force]]'' was named TM™. |
| 46 | * All over the place in ''ComicBook/AmericanFlagg''; in fact, the issue of ''ComicBook/{{Normalman}}'' mentioned above was the one which parodied this series. |
| 47 | * In ''ComicBook/ReidFlemingWorldsToughestMilkman'', at a New Years Eve party, Reid gets trapped by a droning bore who starts explaining that he lives by thirty different principles. "They help me define my Head Space™". |
| 48 | * Some ''[[ComicBook/TheSimpsons Simpsons]]'' comics have Homer using these in his speech bubbles. |
| 49 | * In ''ComicBook/HackSlash'', Cassie uses this to [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] all the SlasherMovie cliches in "Campfire Stories": |
| 50 | --->'''Cassie''': A Hatchet Man™ '''and''' a Haunted Cabin™? This camp has '''everything!''' |
| 51 | * ''ComicBook/DestroyerDuck'' has [[https://2.bp.blogspot.com/79re5LM9duPlA9yab-0EIMG0Fq0crkeTIk9kPp8aobJDRmYMQcQSQUYOyQuVyMNaK_rK1uXi2a0jJnRnBdU0cfvO5Ax1iWg2_vgoUYsyW9epQGxNCDlbpAD49F0FgMUjArcqXF4rig=s1600 Vanilla Cupcake™]], a thinly disguised ''WesternAnimation/StrawberryShortcake'' parody who even has a ™ symbol tattooed on her cheek. |
| 52 | [[/folder]] |
| 53 | |
| 54 | [[folder:Comic™ Strips®]] |
| 55 | * One ''ComicStrip/FoxTrot'' strip (March 23, 2014) has Peter playing an AllegedlyFreeGame titled "Candy™ Farm™ Dungeon™." This may be a reference to ''VideoGame/CandyCrushSaga'' and its attempt to trademark the word "candy." |
| 56 | [[/folder]] |
| 57 | |
| 58 | [[folder:Fan Works®]] |
| 59 | * ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' fanfic ''Fanfic/ThoseLackingSpines'' has [[PurpleProse Overly Detailed Purple Description Mode]]™, as well other examples throughout the literature. |
| 60 | * ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5377900/3/Vindication_of_an_Evil_Angel Vindication of an Evil Angel]]'', is a ''Anime/CodeGeass'' fanfic that has Suzaku using the GRIN™ on Lelouch. |
| 61 | * ''Fanfic/PartRightHalfWrongAThirdCrazy'', a ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'' fanfic, brings us "Epic, life-altering journey®". |
| 62 | * The ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' fanfic ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1803569/1/This_Army_Life This Army Life]]'' has Sephiroth's Evil Smile™. |
| 63 | * From ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8941455/3/Magic-Winx-Fanfictionix Magic Winx! Fanfictionix!]]'' we have the Last Fairy of Earth™. |
| 64 | * ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': |
| 65 | ** The Bronies use the phrase "Do Not Steal" like this when mocking poorly designed {{Original Character}}s. It's even a [[http://derpibooru.org/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&sbq=do+not+steal&commit=Go tag]], along with the even ''worse'' "[[https://derpibooru.org/tags/donut+steel Donut Steel]]", on Derpibooru. |
| 66 | ** In ''[[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/174671/2/seeking-power/chapter-one-archmage Seeking Power]]'', the Tradesnark is an actual spell. Fortunately, it hasn't been used much. |
| 67 | ** [[http://41.media.tumblr.com/637cb2187a0e2dbc3f29e1413618ee26/tumblr_n3j0i5apdr1rj4ht7o3_1280.png Used as part of a gag]] on ''Blog/AskKingSombra''. |
| 68 | * ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries''™: "...with my all-new DUEL DISK SYSTEM! ...Trademark." |
| 69 | * ''WebVideo/ImAMarvelAndImADC'': "Copyright ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}... Copy and I'll sue..."'' |
| 70 | * [[InvokedTrope Used intentionally]] by Cross in ''Fanfic/ThisBites'' for his [[IAlwaysWantedToSayThat List Of Things I Want To Say At Least Once In The Right Context™"]]. He even brings it up the first time he mentions the list. |
| 71 | -->'''Cross:''' And yes... you ''did'' hear a trademark in that. |
| 72 | * ''Fanfic/IAmNotGoingThroughPubertyAgain'': Might Guy is known for stricking the NiceGuy Pose™. |
| 73 | [[/folder]] |
| 74 | |
| 75 | [[folder:Films™ -- Live-Action®]] |
| 76 | * ''Film/TheLoveGuru'': |
| 77 | ** Guru Pitka uses these on advice-giving acronyms. |
| 78 | ** And on the posters for the film itself, the title has a "TM" by it. |
| 79 | * In the direct-to-video film ''Do You Have a Licence to Save This Planet?'' from Creator/BBVProductions, the villain is the Licensed Reality Corporation™. |
| 80 | [[/folder]] |
| 81 | |
| 82 | [[folder:Literature™]] |
| 83 | * Used a lot in the ''Literature/ThursdayNext'' series, especially the '''Goliath'''™ Corporation ("for all you'll ever need™"), but also the Toast™ Marketing Board and others. In the Bookworld, there's the [=UltraWord=]™ story delivery system. (Earlier systems, such as BOOK 8.3 which the Bookworld returns to at the end of the novel, are not trademarked and are presumably open source). |
| 84 | * ''The Seems'', by John Hulme and Michael Wexler, features this on all devices used by residents and Fixers of the Seems. |
| 85 | * Creator/DaveBarry's book ''Dave Barry in Cyberspace'' features a RunningGag of referring to Microsoft's products (especially versions of Windows®©™) with trademark symbols after the names, including one long sequence in which other bizarre symbols are put after things, such as "Windows 95[[superscript:💣]]" and "Windows 95[[superscript:[[TakeThat BILLGATESISAWIENER]]]]." |
| 86 | * Will Ferguson's ''Happiness™'' is about a self-help book that actually works, turning people into happy zombies and making the publishing company so much money that they trademark the word "happiness". |
| 87 | * The {{Cyberpunk}} M. T. Anderson. novel ''Literature/Feed2002'' has Clouds™ and School™. |
| 88 | * One page at the end of the ''Literature/PrincipiaDiscordia'' uses a circled K (similar to that used to mark Kosher products, but in this case standing for "Kallisti") followed by the phrase "All Rites Reversed", to indicate that it was being released into public domain. Which was (alongside the ''Literature/{{Illuminatus}}'' trilogy, itself inspired by the ''Principia Discordia'') part of the inspiration for acidhouse band Music/TheKLF (aka Kopyright Liberation Front, aka K Foundation, aka The JAMS) and some of their more controversial work. |
| 89 | * ''"The words [=ScreeWee=] (tm), Empire (tm) and Mankind (tm) are registered trademarks of Gobi Software, Tibet."'' -- Creator/TerryPratchett, ''Literature/OnlyYouCanSaveMankind'' |
| 90 | * The sequel to Daniel Suarez' ''Literature/{{Daemon}}'', titled ''Freedom™'' |
| 91 | * ''Literature/TheUnidentified'' by Rae Mariz has intouch® (basically an iPhone) and notebook®. Considering the book takes place in a school in a mall owned by a corporation, consumerism is a big theme. |
| 92 | * ''Literature/TheToughGuideToFantasyland'' puts a superscript OMT (Offical Management Term) on words or phrases that are, in the author's opinion, particularly overused in [[ExtrudedBookProduct Extruded Fantasy Product]]. |
| 93 | * ''Literature/AmericaTheBook'' has a number of [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute "Were You Aware?"]] facts in the margins, but what pushes it into this territory appears midway through. |
| 94 | -->'''Were You Aware?''' ''That the term'' Did You Know? ''is copyrighted by another publisher?'' |
| 95 | * Done for ''Literature/TheSupervillainySaga'' with its titular character being ''Merciless: The Supervillain without Mercy™.'' It is a RunningGag by the second book and continues throughout. At one point, Merciless is asked who he trademarked the name ''with.'' |
| 96 | * ''Literature/OldMansWar'' brings us two of the many technological advances which make the Colonial Defense Union's SuperSoldier program so effective, a highly adaptive nanomachine replacement for blood called [[WeWillUseWikiWordsInTheFuture SmartBlood™]], and a combination computer and wireless communications device implanted in the brain known as a [=BrainPal™=]. The narration even pauses at one point to {{Lampshade}} the inappropriate levity of the branding used for a computer exclusively used by soldiers in combat. |
| 97 | * The second ''Literature/RedDwarf'' novel ''Better Than Life'' [[InsistentTerminology insists]] on referring to Talkie Toaster as "Talkie Toaster™, patent applied for." Every instance is also present in the audiobook version. |
| 98 | * In ''[[Literature/DanShambleZombiePI Unnatural Acts]]'', Senator Balfour's Unnatural-hating supporters evidently trademarked the phrase "You are Damned!" as a ''political slogan''. |
| 99 | [[/folder]] |
| 100 | |
| 101 | [[folder:Live-Action TV™]] |
| 102 | * On an episode of ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', Howard uses Google Street View to find the location of the set of ''Series/AmericasNextTopModel''. He reacts, "God bless you, Google Street View Registered Trademark!" |
| 103 | * ''Series/TheColbertReport'': |
| 104 | ** The last line of Creator/StephenColbert's "[[ChristmasSongs Another Christmas Song]]" is "Copyright Stephen Colbert!" |
| 105 | ** He occasionally adds "Trademark" after made-up words, with one note directed specifically at Fox News stating that he held the copyright on the phrase "No Fact Zone". |
| 106 | * A serious employment of Trade Snark from ''Series/CountdownWithKeithOlbermann'': in one of his Special Comments, the host refers to the way the September 11 attacks are used as a fear-mongering tactic by politicians, to the point where it is nothing more than a product used to win votes. Throughout the comment, Olbermann drives it into our minds by referring to the attacks as "9/11(tm)" over and over. |
| 107 | * ''Series/TheDailyShow'': While reporting on Disney applying for a trademark on the name "SEAL Team 6" just days after the death of Osama bin Laden, Jon Stewart tried to beat them at their own game by trademarking ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994''. When he found out it's already trademarked, he trademarked the "TM" on the ''Lion King'' logo. |
| 108 | * The ''Series/DoctorWho'' [[http://web.archive.org/web/20120916234609/http://cybusindustries.net/index.html tie-in website]] for [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E5RiseOfTheCybermen Cybus]] [[Recap/DoctorWhoS28E6TheAgeOfSteel Industries]] includes an [[http://web.archive.org/web/20120916234534/http://cybusindustries.net/lumic.htm interview with John Lumic]] which is dotted with ®s, ©s and ™s, including [[MegaCorp Cybus Industries]]©, [[EverythingIsOnline Cybusnet]]™, [[UnwillingRoboticisation Upgrade]]™, [[TheSleepless Sleep Replacement System]]® and [[OneNationUnderCopyright Czechoslovenia]]™. |
| 109 | * Jackson Stewart and Oliver Oken of ''Series/HannahMontana'' ended their (in)famous cheese jerky rap with "Sizzlin' Stewart & Smokin' Oken Enterprises. Patent pending." Also, Rico owns the North American rights to his [[{{Catchphrase}} catch phrases]] "Hey-O!" and "Muahahahaha!" |
| 110 | * ''Series/KamenRiderZeroOne'' distinguishes the protagonist's company, Hiden Intelligence, from their rival ZAIA Enterprise in part by having ZAIA miss no opportunity to loudly promote their brand as part of their CorporateSponsoredSuperhero. Not only does Thouser's transformation jingle end in "Presented by ZAIA!", the special effects that accompany his FinishingMove emblazon ''the screen itself'' with '''© ZAIA Enterprise'''. For extra {{Jerkass}} points, Thouser is a copyright troll - most of his technology is stolen from others, and his main weapon (the Thousand Jacker) even lets him [[PowerParasite steal and copyright the heroes' attacks]] ''during a fight''. ZAIA, the jet-black soldier from ''[[Film/KamenRiderZeroOneOthersMetsubouJinrai Kamen Rider Metsuboujinrai]]'', takes this trope to an extreme: Not only is he named after the company, he also announces (verbally) "Presented by ZAIA!" after transforming in front of Jin. Even in death, he still gets one last chance to promote not only his brand, but also glorify himself with two simple words, in his dying breath: "ZAIA...forever!" |
| 111 | [[/folder]] |
| 112 | |
| 113 | [[folder:Music®]] |
| 114 | * The Groovegrass Boyz, a country music/funk band, released ''Groovegrass® 101 featuring the Groovegrass Boyz™''. |
| 115 | * The interstitial tracks of the Music/PDQBach album ''Two Pianos Are Better Than One'' play the role of an [[ForInconveniencePressOne automated touch tone service]] called "Inter-Ear [=TelecommuniCulturePhone=]™." The trademark symbol is pronounced every time, represented by a recording of Schickele cheerily saying "Trademark!" shifted up to chipmunk pitch. |
| 116 | * Music/GreenDay's "Music/AmericanIdiot" has one lyric written in its booklet as "Is calling out to [[OneNationUnderCopyright idiot America™]]". |
| 117 | * Creator/NeilCicierega's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t-iFr9q1I8 "Lenny Kravitz - Fly Away (lyrics)"]] throws an ® symbol whenever it mentions the Milky Way® chocolate bar. |
| 118 | [[/folder]] |
| 119 | |
| 120 | [[folder:Pinballs™]] |
| 121 | * An EnforcedTrope in Creator/{{Gottlieb}}'s ''Pinball/TheAmazingSpiderMan''. Every single piece of Spider-Man art on the backglass and playfield is accompanied by a Trademark symbol. It becomes rather annoying when trying to admire the artwork. |
| 122 | * Also enforced in Creator/{{Bally}}'s ''Pinball/TheSixMillionDollarMan'', where every mention of "bionic" is accompanied by a trademark symbol. |
| 123 | -->'''Steve Austin:''' Red alert! Full BIONIC™ power! |
| 124 | * In ''Pinball/TheWizardOfOz'', all of the characters' names are accompanied by TM symbols, resulting in status messages like "Dorothy™ Captured!" |
| 125 | [[/folder]] |
| 126 | |
| 127 | [[folder:Pro Wrestling®]] |
| 128 | * WWE games (and their manuals), the blurb on the back of home video releases, press releases and other assorted media frequently have a TM symbol for every superstar (wrestler) mentioned. As in: "Matt Hardy™ went on to fight Christian™...". |
| 129 | ** For a period in the Attitude Era around the turn of the millennium, two such names stood out as they were ''registered'' trademarks -- so one would see the likes of "Stone Cold Steve Austin™ vs Triple H™ vs The Rock®", and The Undertaker®'s Ministry of Darkness™. Presumably the words "rock" and "undertaker" already being part of the language meant they could not be simply trademarked like the other names. |
| 130 | * "World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.'s [[http://www.wwe.com/main-help/generalfaq/copyright trademarks and service marks]], including not only its world famous WWE and WWE marks, but also the names of its Superstars (like John Cena, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Undertaker, etc.), are protected by state, federal, and international trademark laws." |
| 131 | * According to a minor wrestler just starting, the entire reason that Vince [=McMahon=] has them take stage names: so he can own the name and persona. |
| 132 | * When appearing in WWE, Wrestling/DavidHeath initially wrestled under the name Gangrel™, a name taken from ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'' and a trademark of Creator/WhiteWolf.[[note]]The writers were given RPG books as reference material, and didn't twig that "Gangrel" was not a public domain name like, say, "Nosferatu". They settled for a 5-year agreement which White Wolf would be credited in any material in which Gangrel was used.[[/note]] Cue WWE flashing the trademark notice upon returning from commercial every time Gangrel was about to appear, in video games where the character featured, etc. |
| 133 | * The "ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk" [[Wrestling/HulkHogan Hogan]] gained ire from Marvel, and, under the threat of a lawsuit, the WWE had to pay residuals to Marvel every time the name was used. Pointedly, when Hogan went to the WCW, he quickly changed his character to "Hollywood Hogan", presumably because TBS wasn't thrilled about paying. Hogan later personally bought out Marvel's claim on his ring name. |
| 134 | * It appears often in other materials; the TabletopGame ''Know Your Role'' also has scattered trademark symbols on various wrestlers. It's not omnipresent, but it's likely to show up when a group are listed. |
| 135 | * Hilariously, the wrestler Steve Borden actually owns the trademark for his ring name Wrestling/{{Sting}}. The [[Music/ThePolice musician of the same name]] has to pay Steve whenever he performs in the U.S. However, Sting the wrestler is very reasonable about it and the fee is extremely low (around $1 and the occasional ticket). |
| 136 | [[/folder]] |
| 137 | |
| 138 | [[folder:Radio™]] |
| 139 | * The ever snarky and self-deprecating Jack FM series of radio stations makes fun of one of their own {{Catch Phrase}}s. |
| 140 | -->'''Station Voice:''' Wait, Jack FM actually trademarked the phrase "A Bunch of Songs in a Row™"? That's so weird. |
| 141 | [[/folder]] |
| 142 | |
| 143 | [[folder:Tabletop Games®]] |
| 144 | * The old gamer legend that back in the day of their apparently short-lived ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' role-playing game, Creator/{{TSR}} (then-owners of TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons) actually claimed a trademark on the term "[[ThoseWackyNazis Nazi]]". |
| 145 | ** While names of characters were trademarked all through the short run of the role-playing game, "Nazi™" can be found on the fold-up 'miniatures' included in module IJ2, ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' and the character sheets for NPC Nazi's in the same module. |
| 146 | * ''TabletopGame/{{Munchkin}}'' has Professor Tesla's Electrical Protective Device (pat. pending). |
| 147 | * Also used in ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'', with one secret society using "The Force is with us, Tee-Em" as part of its recognition symbol. And then there's the Semantics Control firms, which actively try to inflict this upon everyone in Alpha Complex (leading to much hilarity and no small number of weapons discharges). |
| 148 | * Creator/GamesWorkshop's Lord of the Rings models have trademarks accompanying all character names on the boxes, which is perfectly justifiable considering they don't own the rights to the characters as they're producing the game on license from New Line Cinema. Doesn't make it any less silly when an article on ''Magazine/WhiteDwarf'' includes trademarks every time they mention Bilbo™ or Gandalf™. They seem to have caught on on how silly it looks so later issues have just written the names in italics. |
| 149 | * John "Pen of Chaos" Lang, author of Le Donjon de Naheulbeuk(™), also developed an eponymous tabletop role-playing game based on his universe, and likes to describe sideffects or tactics like "Fear™", or "Ruse™" in his manuals. This is totally in-universe, since Le Donjon de Naheulbeuk takes place in a RPG universe, where levels, factions, characteristics are elements of the everyday life, and where "Ruse" could actually be trademarked, as much as "fireball". |
| 150 | * Becomes a RunningGag in ''TabletopGame/ViolenceTheRoleplayingGameOfEgregiousAndRepulsiveBloodshed'', a [[BlackComedy dark satire]] of hack-n-slash [=RPGs=]. The title is always shortened to just "''Violence™''," complete with trademark symbol. |
| 151 | [[/folder]] |
| 152 | |
| 153 | [[folder:Video Games®]] |
| 154 | * ''[[VideoGame/ImOK I'm O.K - A Murder Simulator]]'' had the final boss [[spoiler: a giant ([[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]])]] with a trademark symbol hanging in mid air next to him at all times. |
| 155 | * In [[{{Woolseyism}} the English version]] of ''VideoGame/PaperMarioColorSplash'', the minigame Snifit or Whiffit is apparently trademarked in-universe, as revealed in a note found in a chest in Fortune Island. The English version of ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheOrigamiKing'' has an even more blatant example, as Mario "agrees" to the terms and conditions of a "Not-a-Lease Lease™" by obtaining the Boot Car and its whistle and is specifically told that there's "no need to read or understand the details" of it. |
| 156 | * Possibly due to sharing a few of the same Creator/{{Nintendo}} localizers as the above ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' examples, the English version of ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossingNewHorizons'' dubs the online password system Dodo Code™. |
| 157 | * The ''VideoGame/MonkeyIsland'' games have them in the dialog text, but not the voice acting in the later games. Some characters seem to notice their presence even so; in ''Escape from Monkey Island'', a lawyer complements Guybrush on "Nice use of the ™" in Melee Island™. Even Guybrush says the word "™" [[spoiler:while he summons his wife Elaine to the Flotsam Island Courthouse]] in ''VideoGame/TalesOfMonkeyIsland''. |
| 158 | * Creator/LucasArts seems to be fond of this, as seen in ''VideoGame/DayOfTheTentacle'' with Dr. Fred's Sludge-O-Matic™, and in the design document, the Chron-O-John™. |
| 159 | * ''VideoGame/EveOnline'': |
| 160 | ** CCP hf is known for having patches that will be released "Soon™". And not just patches: planetary interaction, atmospheric flight, walking in stations, and numerous other promised features have been coming Soon™ for years. Even admittedly unfinished COSMOS sites have agents handing you missions with the helpful and in-depth description of "Soon™". |
| 161 | ** The symbol for one of the factions -- [[https://eve.fandom.com/wiki/Caldari_State Caldari State]] -- is a giant ©-Symbol |
| 162 | * Soon™ shows up in other [=MMOs=] as well. When players ask Creator/BlizzardEntertainment employees about when something long anticipated in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' will be released, one of the most common responses is "[[BlatantLies Soon™]]" Lampshaded by the developers for Blizzard Dota where the game is advertised to be realeased "Soon''ish''™", with the voice-over annoyed saying ''"Seriously"''. There are several other variants [[https://wow.gamepedia.com/Soon documented]]. |
| 163 | * It shows up on ''VideoGame/TheLordOfTheRingsOnline'' forums, as well. One of the bluenames made a [[http://my.lotro.com/user-34/2010/09/13/a-brief-history-of-time-according-to-sapience/ list]] over all the various trademarks used, which details the difference between a patch arriving Soon™, "Soon", Soon, soon, and other similar trademars. Most of which, of course, [[MathematiciansAnswer doesn't give you any clue whatsoever to how long you'll have to wait for the patch.]] |
| 164 | * From a HaveANiceDeath sequence in the VGA remake of ''VideoGame/SpaceQuest I'': |
| 165 | -->'''Scott:''' Let's run that one again with the aid of our new How-He-Blew-It Cam (TM) and Chalkboard (TM). I have to say that carefully, Mark. Every time we mention something with a trademark or copyright, the lawyers come out to feed. |
| 166 | * ''Videogame/ANightmareOnElmStreetNES'': FREDDY'S™ COMING! |
| 167 | -->'''WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd:''' Oh God! Is Freddy coming? He sure is! |
| 168 | * ''VideoGame/TheNamelessMod'': The subtitles for the speech of Goats shows that they trademarked slightly misspelled versions of every other word. The most important one is "Melk™", which they use as a drug for some reason. |
| 169 | * ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}'' has some of this in the game, but it mostly shows up in the promotional material. |
| 170 | -->''Asbestos Is Harmless!™'' |
| 171 | * In the DOS game ''Contraption Zack'', the title hero introduces himself with: |
| 172 | -->'''Zack:''' Hey guys! How's it going? My name is Zack©™ |
| 173 | * Every time someone mentions the term RPG in ''VideoGame/{{Segagaga}}'', there's a disclaimer that pops out to tell us that "[=RPG=]s are a trademark of [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Bandai]]" [[note]]Allegedly a [[TakeThat jab]] to Bandai's unsuccessful attempt [[DisneyOwnsThisTrope to trademark the acronym]].[[/note]] |
| 174 | * The [[Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment Namco Museum]] {{Compilation Rerelease}}s on the Platform/PlayStation was originally five volumes, each represented on the cover as a letter from Namco's logo: N, A, M, C, and O. When Namco Museum Encore was later released on the same system, Namco followed the previous pattern by having the boxart be the ® from the Namco logo. |
| 175 | * ''VideoGame/TheStanleyParable'' brings us the Stanley Parable Adventure Line™ from the "Confusion" ending, which has the ™ symbol stuck on in the subtitles every time The Line™ is mentioned, even with pronouns. |
| 176 | -->Oh no, not You™ again! |
| 177 | * ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' has a couple of fans of Mettaton who each describe their "fave Mettaton Moment(TM)." There's also MTT-Brand Burger Emporium's slogan, "Sparkle up your day (TM)," though this is a somewhat plausible-sounding trademark. |
| 178 | * ''VideoGame/{{Paradigm}}'' has ''The Cone TM'' |
| 179 | * ''VideoGame/TheBattleCats'' features [[StoneWall Eraser Cat]], which according to its description has "Really Good™ Defense". In this case, the Tradesnarked term is [[MadeOfIron completely accurate]]. |
| 180 | * In ''VideoGame/TheDittyOfCarmeana'', video game clichés such as Rescue the Princess™ and The Chosen One™ are trademarked, even in the dialogue captions. |
| 181 | * ''[[VideoGame/LeisureSuitLarry1InTheLandOfTheLoungeLizards Leisure Suit Larry]] [[VideoGameRemake Reloaded]]'': The ™ symbol has ''itself'' been trademarked! |
| 182 | -->'''Narrator:''' Note: the "™" Trademark symbol is a registered trademark® of Trademark Registry Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Copyright© Registered Trademarks, LLC. |
| 183 | * The VideoGame/WorldOfWarships community frequently jokes that Wargaming (the company that owns [=WoWS=]) has trademarked the word "Soon" since that is typically the only response that was ever given when the playerbase inquired as to when a new feature (usually a premium ship or tech tree line) would come out. |
| 184 | * ''VideoGame/BugFables'': |
| 185 | ** One of the items from the Termite Kingdom, the Mega Rush™, is always written with a trademark symbol next to it. |
| 186 | ** The song that plays on Metal Island is titled "Summer Holiday at the Metal Island™," with a trademark symbol in its name, even when selecting the song from Samira's list. |
| 187 | [[/folder]] |
| 188 | |
| 189 | [[folder:Web Animation™]] |
| 190 | * Viva Reverie does this in ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventurePhantomBlood JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood]]'' ''WebAnimation/ButReallyReallyFast'', when Dire (aka slow kick guy) attempts his Thunder Cross Split Attack on Dio. |
| 191 | * ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'' has Sbemailiarized Entertainment™ © ® [[RunningGag LLC,,.]] Esq., which becomes Sbemailiarized Entertainment™ © ® LLC,,. GQ and Sbemailiarized Entertainment™ © ® LLC,,. FHM. |
| 192 | * ''WebAnimation/RetardedAnimalBabies'' blows this out the window in episode 3. Matt Groening says that he is here to prevent RAB from out-grossing his "vastly superior Simpsons©®™©®©©®©™™©©™™™™™™ movie. (Make sure subtitles are on.)" |
| 193 | [[/folder]] |
| 194 | |
| 195 | [[folder:Webcomics™]] |
| 196 | * On the website ryansheppard.com the main comic is known as TM(tm) being a parody of this trope even though there are no actual trademarks on the name but some are pending. |
| 197 | * ''Webcomic/ImpjakAdventure'': Two mentions of Soylent end with ™. |
| 198 | * The ''Webcomic/MSPaintAdventures'' home page used to take the snark approach with their notice of copyright (still legally binding), but it was revised to a more standard approach with the mid-2011 site redesign. |
| 199 | * The "{{Technobabble}} Box™" series from ''Webcomic/TheWayOfTheMetagamer''. |
| 200 | %%* Done almost gratuitously throughout ''Webcomic/{{Sonichu}}''. |
| 201 | * ''Webcomic/{{Precocious}}'': Mommy Relaxation Time™ |
| 202 | * ''Webcomic/PrincessPi'' introduces Pi's archival as, "Princess Ip!® Princess Pi's greatest enemy!™" |
| 203 | * One of the Royal Sides in ''Webcomic/{{Erfworld}}'' is actually named Hobbittm, with "tm" being part of the word, as a parody of the Tolkien Estate's zealous enforcement of their right (and particularly their trademarking of the word "hobbit"). |
| 204 | * ''Webcomic/OneOverZero'': Zadok, when advertising the "Horizonite™" or the "Oil®". |
| 205 | * ''Webcomic/{{XKCD}}'': [[https://xkcd.com/2304/ Discussed.]] (Or is that Invoked, since the trademark is real, but the snark is snark?) |
| 206 | * ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'': Sarah declares "I want Fancy Feast!®" while in a cat form. Grace asks if they are a sponsor but Sarah says they're just hoping to get free samples for the kitties. |
| 207 | * ''Webcomic/ParadoxSpace'': In "Fiduspawn", the company spokesman at Fiduspawn Headquarters tends to put a ™ superscript in front of almost every specific noun he mentions. |
| 208 | * In ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'', Faye and Bubbles' repair shop has a custom polymer that displays the Wendy's logo when dry, given to them by the Wendy's marketing department. When Bubbles is explaining this, she [[https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3526 feels obliged]] to say "trademark" quietly every time she says "Wendy's". |
| 209 | [[/folder]] |
| 210 | |
| 211 | [[folder:Web Original™]] |
| 212 | * ''Roleplay/DestroyTheGodmodder''®: the Curse of Repetition™ has been trademarked by twin. |
| 213 | * [[http://bash.org/?246624 This]] bash.org quote. |
| 214 | * [[http://www.screwattack.com/shows/originals/screwattack-top-10s/top-ten-worst-fighting-games ScrewAttack's list of Worst Fighting Games Ever]] says "Batman (trademark) and Superman (trademark)" during ''Justice League Task Force''. |
| 215 | * Charlie from [[https://www.youtube.com/user/charlieissocoollike Charlieissocoolike]] does this constantly regarding the phrase "What I decided to do." He pronounces the ™ Tee Em. |
| 216 | * [[http://forum.rpg.net/showpost.php?p=12510203&postcount=160 This]] [=RPGnet=] forum post. [=RPGnet=] threads on Creator/PalladiumBooks get this treatment a lot. |
| 217 | * The [[https://www.landoverbaptist.org/ Landover Baptist Church]], a parody of American religious attitudes, has actually patented phrases like True Christian™ so that it can be legally distinguished as God's True American Church. One of its more distinguished spokespeople, [[https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Betty_Bowers Mrs Betty Bowers]], actually styles herself as ''America's Best Christian™''. |
| 218 | * LetsPlay/HellfireCommentaries: |
| 219 | ** This exchange from ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogCD Sonic CD]]'' playthrough, describing the race against Metal Sonic: |
| 220 | --->'''Tom:''' And don't forget Robotnik is chasing you with a Death Laser™.\ |
| 221 | '''FTA:''' [laughs]\ |
| 222 | '''Tom:''' And if you get caught by that, the Death Laser--\ |
| 223 | '''FTA:''' ™.\ |
| 224 | '''Tom:''' --you will die.\ |
| 225 | '''FTA:''' ™.\ |
| 226 | '''Tom:''' Yes, I trademarked death; that's right.\ |
| 227 | '''FTA:''' [[RuleOfThree ™.]] |
| 228 | ** Also, during the DramaticReading of the ''[[Creator/DCComics Total Justice]]'' [[MerchandiseDriven miniseries]], every mention of 'Fractal Tech Gear' is followed by an interjection of 'trademark' by Helldragon. |
| 229 | * Hardcore™: We'll probably get modded for this. |
| 230 | * ''WebVideo/RedLetterMedia'': Mr. Plinkett does use this to great effect on his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=9QThD0r3hZg#t=313s Attack of the Clones Review]]. He also uses it in his Avatar review. |
| 231 | ** The Nerd Crew podcast also does this, with the Star Wars™ Backpack Pack Nerd Box™. |
| 232 | * Website/SCPFoundation: A common feature of [[MyLittlePanzer Dr. Wondertainment®]] entries. |
| 233 | --> [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-1553 SCP-1553]]: '''WARNING: Remember that Shadow Creatures are as friendly (or dangerous!) as you imagine them to be. Do not attempt to draw Real™ people using Shadow Paint Play-Set™. Dr. Wondertainment is not responsible for injury, discomfort, or existential crisis resulting from misuse of Shadow Paint Play-Set™.''' |
| 234 | ** There's also [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-2557 SCP-2557, A Holding of Envelope Logistics®]]: |
| 235 | --->'''Description''': The concept of SCP-2557, as a set of Special Containment Procedures in the Foundation Database, is a possession of Envelope Logistics®, the leading buyer, seller and holding company for abstract concepts in the tri-universe region. |
| 236 | *** In the "What a Wonderful World" canon, characters even explicitly make sure to include a proper "tee emm" for everything in conversations. |
| 237 | * The ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'' doesn't bother with a lot of trademark and copyright symbols, but Phase routinely puts the trademark and copyright symbols on every (mythical) Goodkind Industries product that gets mentioned, in large part because he is one of the Goodkinds. |
| 238 | * MemeticMutation example: a Brazilian Twitter started to mock how the local media [[ShillingTheWesley praised]] Belgium's [[UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball footballers]] by at times adding the trademark, "great Belgian generation™". It caught on quickly. |
| 239 | * In ''Blog/WhatIf'' [[http://what-if.xkcd.com/108/ #108]], an expensive software called Adobe®©™ Photoshop®©™ CS®™ 5™ is mentioned. |
| 240 | * On the Q&A website Website/{{Quora}}, a user Dave Consiglio answered a lot of questions about the effect of hypothetical catastrophic events (huge asteroids, evaporating oceans, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking peanut butter overdose]]) and they got so popular that at some point he – with a good portion of Quora users – started using the trademark sign [[https://www.quora.com/topic/Everybody-Dies-1 Everbody Dies™]]. |
| 241 | * Daniel Hardcastle, or ''WebVideo/NerdCubed'', has a video known as [[https://youtu.be/dtXNXrB0lJY Nerd³ Plays Barbie™ Dreamhouse™ Party™™™]]. Made funnier by the fact that "Barbie" only has one trademark but "party" has three. |
| 242 | * In the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Cj8d6EcFp0 animated trailer]] for ''Podcast/TheAdventureZoneBalance'', Taako is listed as "Taako™, you know, [[RunningGag from TV]]". |
| 243 | * After taking over Fox News' "Fair And Balanced" slogan for his own show, ''WebVideo/SomeMoreNews'', anytime Cody now mentions this slogan, he will add ™©® after. |
| 244 | * ''WebVideo/SsethTzeentach'' uses the ™ symbol in the titles of his videos as a RunningGag. Examples include his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ow5lGFju1c Morrowind review]] ("A Moon-Sugar Fortified Experience™"), his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjugsyOKNvg STALKER review]] ("Soviet Survival Simulator™"), his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC5niDwkaV8 Deus Ex review]] ("Stop Globalists™ | Tase Children™"), and his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ2r2ZFTaWk God Hand]] review ("Beat Thugs™ | Demons™ | Women™"). |
| 245 | * Leftist [=YouTuber=] Mexie put out a video called [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY_Dt1jey4M "Why I'm No Longer Vegan™"]], with the titular "Vegan™" referring to what she sees as a culture of myopic purity testing rather than pragmatism within the vegan community, but simultaneously parodying the common title of ex-vegan declaration videos. |
| 246 | * [[https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1361434-anarcho-capitalism A]] [[https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1282203-anarcho-capitalism sizable]] [[https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1166026-anarcho-capitalism number]] [[https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/1166028-anarcho-capitalism of]] [=AnCap=] "Picardia" memes will use these, in reference to the PrivatelyOwnedSociety they depict. |
| 247 | [[/folder]] |
| 248 | |
| 249 | [[folder:Western Animation™]] |
| 250 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': |
| 251 | ** The theme song for Kamp Krusty manages to jam its copyright disclaimer into the lyrics: |
| 252 | --->'''Campers:''' We will always love Kamp Krusty / A registered trademark of the Krusty Korporation / All rights reserved! |
| 253 | ** The episode "Please Homer, Don't Hammer 'Em" features a scene showing some of the items Marge has made practicing woodwork. One of them is a sign which reads "The Simpsons (in the show's trademark font) © 20th Century Fox". |
| 254 | ** In the Episode "Pokey Mom", Homer punctuated any discussion around his accidental invention the "Spine-O-Cylinder" with a stern "patent pending!". |
| 255 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' |
| 256 | ** Momcorp apparently holds the trademarks on "screen door" and "love", among other words. |
| 257 | ** The Nimbus's laser cannon has a maximum power setting labeled Hyperdeath™. |
| 258 | ** Trespassers will be "deathsecuted™". |
| 259 | * In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'', a [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Bat-signal]] appears in the air, with a "TM" quickly flying up next to it. |
| 260 | * From the ''WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}}'' videotape "You Will Buy This Video": |
| 261 | -->'''Brain:''' Join me, as I gleefully lead you on a journey of the mind, courtesy of my latest invention... [[HypnoticHead HypnoVision]]!\ |
| 262 | '''Pinky:''' Trademark, Brain?\ |
| 263 | '''Brain:''' Yes, Pinky. Trademark. |
| 264 | * Bucky Bailey's Bully Buckers™ in the ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "Butterballs" is pronounced, verbatim, "Bully Buckers, trademark," [[InsistentTerminology every single time]]. |
| 265 | * The ''WesternAnimation/SpaceGhostCoastToCoast'' episode featuring the ''Series/Batman1966'' live-action series cast has Space Ghost look for "Batman. Restricted." (Space Ghost is misidentifying the Registered® symbol.) |
| 266 | * ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' |
| 267 | ** The Frisbee™ flying disk is referred to as "small plastic disk that you throw". At one point, [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick discuss how clunky the name is and try to come up with something shorter and snappier. They eventually settle on "small plastic disk that you ''toss''." |
| 268 | ** In the episode describing Krabs and Plankton's past together, Krabs introducing his to-be-signature burger has the words "Krabby Patty®" appear in an arc above the sandwich. |
| 269 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Kaeloo}}'' has "Time Machine Express™", a company that sells time machines. |
| 270 | * ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'': In one episode, Brainiac forces Lex Luthor to build him a new body. Once Brainiac is defeated, Superman wants the military to examine Brainiac, but Lex claims that the body belongs to him because every piece used in its construction is trademarked to [=LexCorp=]. |
| 271 | [[/folder]] |
| 272 | |
| 273 | [[folder:Other™]] |
| 274 | * As a ShoutOut to Website/ThisVeryWiki, [[http://www2.macleans.ca/category/blog-central/arts-culture-blog/tv-guidance/ TV critic Jaime Weinman]] always adds a ™ and usually capitalizes the word Trope™ whenever he uses it. |
| 275 | * Creator/DaveBarry parodied this in his book "In Cyberspace" when talking about Windows 95 and Microsoft. |
| 276 | * "Anti-consumerist collective" [[http://www.rtmark.com ®™ark]]. |
| 277 | * On Website/{{Twitter}} it is not uncommon to see people add a "™" after a phrase for ironic reasons, such as proclaiming something frivolous and trivial as extremely important, for example when referring to ''The Discourse™'' (i.e. pointless and tedious political debate on minor factional disagreements), or when being ironic or sarcastic, such as referring to something very bad as ''Extremely Good™''. |
| 278 | [[/folder]] |
| 279 | ---- |
| 280 | ''[[SelfDemonstratingArticle Tradesnark, Humorous, Things, Random, Trademark, Symbols, Commentary, Funny, World, Spice and Examples are all trademarks and/or registered trademarks of]] Trope Co. [[OverlyLongGag in the United States and/or other countries. All rights reserved.]]'' |
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