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The Graveyard of the ‘80s: 50 Abandoned Trademarks Waiting to Be Revived (and How to Claim One)
Big hair, shoulder pads, Walkmans, and neon everything—the 1980s was a decade of excess and unforgettable brands. But what happened to the trademarks that defined the era? Many of them are still sitting in the USPTO database, marked as "dead," "abandoned," or "expired," waiting for an entrepreneur with a bold vision to bring them back to life.
Below is a curated list of 50 trademarks from the 1980s that are no longer in use, followed by a step‑by‑step guide on how you can apply to claim one for your own business.
50 ‘80s Trademarks That Have Gone Silent
| # | Trademark | Original Owner / Context | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OLD STYLE | Beatrice Foods Co. (USPTO Serial 73404036) | Beer |
| 2 | 8 | West Flagler Associates, Ltd. (USPTO Serial 73334171) | Gaming / Hospitality |
| 3 | GENERATION 80'S | Palm Beach Company (Reg. 1185922) | Apparel |
| 4 | FOSTERS SUPER OLD FASHION | Meyenberg Milk Products, Inc. (Serial 73021952) | Sandwiches / Food Service |
| 5 | THE TOWNE CRIER | Bob G. & Wava G. Skaggs (USPTO Serial 73288322) | Retail / Publishing |
| 6 | OLD NO. 8 BRAND | Diageo North America, Inc. (Serial 73400753) | Beverages / Spirits |
| 7 | PIECES OF THE OLD SOUTH | Cloyd Enterprises, Inc. (USPTO Serial 73279582) | Home Goods / Gifts |
| 8 | GEOFFREYMOBILE | Toys "R" Us, Inc. (USPTO Serial 73288634) | Toys / Children's Products |
| 9 | STAND-OFF | Omni Video Games, Inc. (USPTO Serial 73303550) | Video Games |
| 10 | MISCELLANEOUS | USPTO Serial 73352911 | General Merchandise |
| 11 | EXPLORER | Ford Motor Company (Serial 73306648) | Automotive |
| 12 | LOGO (NUGGET DISTRIBUTORS) | Nugget Distributors' Cooperative (Serial 73121187) | Food / Beverage Distribution |
| 13 | OLD DUTCH | Old Dutch Foods, Inc. (Reg. 648659) | Snack Foods |
| 14 | MONARCH | Consolidated Foods Corporation (Serial 72170035) | Food Products |
| 15 | FARM FRESH | Ward Foods, Inc. (Serial 73021050) | Bakery Goods |
| 16 | TESTAROSSA | Ferrari (German trademark, cancelled for non-use) | Automobiles |
| 17 | PREMIUM | Griffin Produce, Inc. (USPTO Serial 73779060) | Produce / Grocery |
| 18 | GRANDPA PIDGEON | Unknown (abandoned late 1980s) | Household / Automotive Products |
| 19 | JOHNNY DEE AN' THE ROCKET 88'S | USPTO Serial 73226037 | Entertainment / Music |
| 20 | STARLET | USPTO Registration 1149743 | Apparel / Accessories |
| 21 | TECH | Newell Operating Company (Reg. 1539352) | Housewares / Hardware |
| 22 | GENERIC | Potlatch Corporation (Reg. 1325720) | Paper Products / Packaging |
| 23 | CHESS KING | Melville Corporation (defunct men's retailer) | Retail / Apparel |
| 24 | BUGLE BOY | Founded 1980s (went out of business 2001) | Denim / Apparel |
| 25 | JOHN COLLIER | British men's clothing chain (defunct 1980s) | Retail / Apparel |
| 26 | COMMODORE | Commodore International (C= logo, dead) | Computers / Electronics |
| 27 | NATIONAL | Panasonic Corporation (discontinued in Europe 1980) | Home Appliances |
| 28 | OLIVETTI | Italian computer/typewriter brand (abandoned) | Office Equipment / Computers |
| 29 | DATSUN | Nissan (dropped brand name in 1980s) | Automobiles |
| 30 | BOSTON LOBSTERS | Classic Ink, Inc. (defunct sports team logo) | Sports Apparel |
| 31 | PIED PIPER | CIPO Registration 0449365 (expunged 1980) | Unknown |
| 32 | KALA | CIPO Registration 0436754 (expunged) | Unknown |
| 33 | ROGUE | CIPO Registration 0306566 (cancelled 1983) | Automotive |
| 34 | VANILLA SCHNAPPS | Unknown (dead trademark) | Beverages |
| 35 | ACT I | Golden Valley Microwave Foods, Inc. (Serial 73361102) | Frozen Foods |
| 36 | SPECIAL BOND | Swan Brewery (abandoned mid-1980s) | Beer |
| 37 | THINKER TOYS | George Clifford Morrow (Serial 73145054) | Toys |
| 38 | GRANDMA'S ART KITCHEN SINCE 1980 | USPTO Serial 86528719 | Kitchenware / Food |
| 39 | ASET CLOTHING CO. EST. 1980 | USPTO Serial 85353379 | Apparel |
| 40 | KONG (dog toys) | Bounce, Inc. (abandoned after legal battle) | Pet Products |
| 41 | SNO CHASER | Southeast Toyota Distributing, Inc. | Automotive |
| 42 | NATIONAL AUTO | GKN Parts Industries | Auto Parts |
| 43 | PALMPILOT | Palm Computing (abandoned after legal disputes) | PDAs / Electronics |
| 44 | AMIGA | Commodore (line of computers, trademark changed hands) | Computers |
| 45 | PSION netBOOK | Psion PLC (product discontinued 2003) | Computers |
| 46 | FRITOS RACERZ | Frito-Lay | Snack Foods |
| 47 | CDTV | Commodore Electronics | Computer Hardware |
| 48 | ZIPSTER | Pi Electronics | Electronics |
| 49 | DELICIOUS SMAXX CANDIES | Unknown | Candy |
| 50 | BART SIMPSON (toy line) | 20th Century Fox Film Corp. | Toys / Entertainment |
Why Do Trademarks Die?
Before you claim an abandoned mark, it helps to understand how it ended up in the graveyard in the first place. Trademarks typically become "dead" for three reasons:
-
Non‑renewal. USPTO registrations must be renewed every 10 years. If the owner fails to file the required maintenance documents (Section 8 and Section 9), the registration is cancelled.
-
Non‑use (abandonment). Under the Lanham Act, a trademark is legally abandoned if it has not been used in commerce for three consecutive years, creating a legal presumption of abandonment.
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Failed prosecution. The application may have been abandoned because the applicant failed to respond to an Office Action within the six‑month deadline.
Any of these scenarios can make a trademark "dead" and potentially available for a new owner to register.
How to Apply for an Abandoned Trademark
You cannot simply "take over" an abandoned registration. Instead, you must file a new application with the USPTO as if you were registering a brand‑new mark. Here's the roadmap.
Step 1: Verify the trademark is truly dead
Search the USPTO's Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) to confirm the current status. Look for status codes such as "DEAD," "ABANDONED," "CANCELLED — SECTION 8," or "EXPIRED." Once a trademark is abandoned or canceled, it's effectively up for grabs — you can file a new application using that same name.
Step 2: Investigate why it died
Understanding the reason for abandonment helps you assess risk. A trademark that was cancelled for non‑payment of renewal fees is generally safer to pursue than one abandoned after an opposition or legal dispute. Also check whether the original owner may still hold common‑law rights through continued use in a specific geographic area.
Step 3: Conduct a comprehensive clearance search
Even if the federal registration is dead, a similar or identical mark may still be live on the register. You'll need to search not only TESS but also common‑law sources (business directories, social media, Amazon, Etsy) to ensure no third party is already using a confusingly similar mark.
Step 4: File a new trademark application
File through the USPTO's TEAS (Trademark Electronic Application System). You can file based on:
-
Actual use in commerce — if you are already selling goods or services under the mark.
-
Intent to use — if you have a bona fide plan to use the mark in the near future.
The filing fee is typically $250–$350 per class of goods/services.
Step 5: Respond to Office Actions
After filing, a USPTO examining attorney will review your application. If they issue an Office Action (e.g., a refusal based on likelihood of confusion with a live mark, or a request for more information), you must respond within six months. Failure to respond will cause your own application to be abandoned. Deadlines matter: if an application is abandoned due to a missed deadline, you may be able to revive it by filing a petition within two months of receiving a Notice of Abandonment.
Step 6: Publication and opposition
If your application passes examination, it will be published in the USPTO's Official Gazette for 30 days. During this period, any third party (including the original trademark owner) can file an opposition. If no opposition is filed, the mark proceeds to registration.
Step 7: Maintain your registration
Once registered, you must file Section 8 declarations (between the 5th and 6th year, then every 10 years) and Section 9 renewals (every 10 years) to keep the mark alive. Many of the trademarks listed above died precisely because their owners failed to do this.
A Word of Caution
Just because a trademark is listed as "dead" at the USPTO does not mean it is automatically free to use. The original registrant may still have common‑law rights, or a third party may have been using the mark in a different geographic area without ever registering it. Always conduct thorough due diligence and consider consulting a trademark attorney before investing in a brand revival.
That said, for the 50 trademarks listed above, the original federal registrations have been abandoned, cancelled, or expired. With the right strategy and a healthy respect for the law, any one of them could become the next great retro revival.
The 1980s are calling — and they're bringing their best brand names with them.
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Smartikcus
April 23, 2026Trademarks may appear “dead” in the USPTO database due to non-renewal, non-use abandonment, or failed prosecution. However, these statuses only indicate the loss of a federal registration—not the elimination of all trademark rights. Prior owners may still retain common-law rights, residual goodwill, or the ability to rebut abandonment. Additionally, new applications for similar marks may still be refused or opposed based on likelihood of confusion or prior use in commerce.