Wal-Mart Files 15 Trademark Applications for Member's Mark Logo

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. had a busy day at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on September 12th, filing 15 trademark applications for the logo seen below.

Why 15 applications for the same thing? Each application was filed in a separate class of goods. Because the Trademark Office allows an applicant to file for the same mark in multiple classes, multiple applications for the same mark are not uncommon.

The goods covered by these applications are extremely broad and it appears this is a filing for the Sam Club's Member's Mark logo. Wal-Mart owns registrations for the old "M" logo seen below but, as often happens when a logo changes, the old registrations may not be sufficient to protect the new mark given the differences.

Some of the goods covered by these applications include lace and embroidery (in Class 026), meat, fish, poultry, and game (Class 029), tea and coffee (Class 030), furniture (Class 020), and pharmaceuticals (Class 005).

Given the intent-to-use nature of these applications, Wal-Mart will need to actually start using this logo in commerce in conjunction with these products for the mark to actually register in that class. Wal-Mart filed similar "M" applications in even more classes on September 9th.

According to my quick search, these new applications bring Wal-Mart's total trademark portfolio at the Trademark Office to 826 live applications or registrations.