The World's Oldest Trademarks Still in Use Today

The world's oldest trademarks still in active use include Bass Ale's distinctive red triangle (registered in 1876), Löwenbräu's lion crest dating to 1383, and Stella Artois tracing its mark to 1366. Under Nepal's Patent, Design and Trademark Act 1965, trademark rights are acquired through registration with the Department of Industry — not through use — making the longevity of these historic marks a powerful lesson for any business building a brand.

Key Takeaways

• The oldest registered trademark still in use is the Bass Ale red triangle, filed on 1 January 1876 under the UK's Trade Marks Registration Act 1875.
• Several European brewery marks predate formal registration by centuries — Löwenbräu (1383) and Stella Artois (1366) used their marks continuously long before trademark laws existed.
• Nepal follows a first-to-file system under the Patent, Design and Trademark Act 1965, administered by the Department of Industry — rights belong to whoever files first, not whoever used it first.
• A registered trademark in Nepal lasts 7 years and is renewable indefinitely every 7 years — unlike patents and designs, a brand can theoretically live forever.
• Many of the world's oldest marks are simple shapes and words — a reminder that distinctiveness matters more than complexity in building an enduring brand.
• Searching existing marks before you file — something you can start through IP Sewa's trademark database search — helps you avoid conflicts with long-established brands.

What is the oldest trademark still in use today?

The Bass Ale red triangle, registered on 1 January 1876 under the UK's Trade Marks Registration Act 1875, is widely recognised as the world's oldest continuously used registered trademark. It was the very first mark entered on the UK register. Bass Brewery, founded in 1777, had used the triangle as a distinguishing mark long before, but formal registration turned it into a legally enforceable right. The mark still appears on Bass bottles and cans sold globally, and it famously features in Édouard Manet's 1882 painting A Bar at the Folies-Bergère.

Which famous old brands still use their original marks?

Several European breweries and consumer-goods firms have used their marks continuously for centuries — well before any trademark statute existed anywhere. Löwenbräu in Munich has used its lion emblem since 1383. Stella Artois traces its horn symbol to the Den Hoorn brewery in Leuven, first documented in 1366. Guinness adopted the Brian Boru harp device in 1862, though the brewery itself started in 1759. Nestlé's bird-and-nest logo dates to 1868. Twinings tea has used its black-and-gold wordmark unchanged since 1787. These marks survived wars, mergers, and changing consumer tastes — a testament to the commercial power of a consistent visual identity.

What was the first trademark ever registered?

The Bass red triangle holds the title of the first trademark registered under a formal statutory system — the UK registration system launched on 1 January 1876. A staff member of the brewery allegedly waited overnight outside the registrar's office on New Year's Eve to secure the number-one spot. There is no equivalent single "first" mark for other jurisdictions. In Nepal, there is no public registry of the earliest marks filed with the Department of Industry, and the Patent, Design and Trademark Act 1965 established the modern registration framework only from 1965 onward.

How did the oldest trademarks survive so long?

Longevity comes from three things: continuous commercial use, active renewal, and strong enforcement. Brands that lasted centuries renewed their registrations religiously, policed imitators aggressively, and adapted the mark sparingly — small refinements, never complete redesigns. In Nepal, a registered trademark lasts 7 years and is renewable for further 7-year terms without limit. If you fail to renew within 35 days of expiry, a 6-month grace period applies, after which the mark is automatically cancelled. The lesson from Bass and Twinings is simple: build a distinctive mark, file it early, and never let a renewal deadline slip.

Are old trademarks stronger than new ones?

Age alone doesn't confer legal strength — but it builds the commercial recognition that makes a mark harder to challenge. Under Nepal's first-to-file system, a mark's strength comes from its distinctiveness, not its age. A newly registered mark that is highly distinctive can be just as enforceable as a century-old one. That said, marks with long continuous use often become well-known marks under the WIPO-administered Paris Convention standards. Nepal's Department of Industry may consider the reputation of a mark when examining conflicts, though the statutory test in Sec. 18 of the Act focuses on distinctiveness and the risk of deception or confusion.

What can Nepali businesses learn from the world's oldest trademarks?

Every business starts somewhere — and a trademark registered today with the Department of Industry can, in theory, live as long as Bass Ale's red triangle. The practical lessons for a Nepali business are immediate. File early: Nepal is first-to-file, so delaying your application means someone else could register your mark first. Keep it simple: the world's oldest surviving marks are shapes, words, and crests — not elaborate multi-colour logos that are expensive to reproduce and defend. Renew diligently: a 7-year term might feel short, but indefinite renewals mean your mark can outlast your lifetime. And enforce your rights: a mark only remains strong if you challenge imitators. If you're unsure whether your proposed brand conflicts with an existing registration, start with a trademark database search and then get advice through our contact page.

What legal protection did early marks have before modern trademark laws?

Before statutory trademark registration existed, merchants relied on guild marks, hallmarks, and the common-law tort of passing off. Goldsmiths' marks date to the 14th century. Medieval brewers and bakers used proprietary seals to distinguish their goods. In England, the first reported passing-off case was Southern v How in 1618. These pre-registration protections were limited — they required proof of reputation and actual deception, and they were costly to litigate. Nepal's legal framework under the Patent, Design and Trademark Act 1965 provides a far clearer and more accessible path: file an application with the Department of Industry, pass examination, survive the 90-day opposition period after publication in the Industrial Property Bulletin, and receive your certificate. The old guild system is no match for a modern registration system.

Which NICE classes cover the oldest trademark categories?

Most of the world's oldest marks fall into a handful of NICE classes. Alcoholic beverages sit in Class 33 — that's where Bass Ale, Stella Artois, Löwenbräu, and Guinness all file their primary registration. Tea and coffee products fall in Class 30, covering Twinings. Food and dairy products are in Class 29, where Nestlé maintains registrations alongside Class 30. Every trademark application in Nepal covers only one class — so a brewery exporting bottled beer would file in Class 33, and if it later opened a pub chain, it would need a separate application in Class 43 for restaurant and bar services. You can explore which classes your business might need using our NICE class finder tool.

How to register a trademark in Nepal: the process

Nepal follows a straightforward registration route, administered by the Department of Industry. Because Nepal is first-to-file, the date you submit your application locks in your priority — so there's no reason to delay once you've confirmed your mark is available. Here are the steps:

1. Search existing marks. Before you commit to a brand name, logo or wordmark, check the Department of Industry's register to see if an identical or confusingly similar mark already exists. You can start with IP Sewa's trademark database search.
2. Identify your NICE class. Every application covers one class of goods or services. Use the NICE Classification — Classes 1–34 for goods, 35–45 for services — to pick the right class. If your brand spans multiple categories, you'll need multiple applications.
3. Prepare your documents. You'll need the application form, a notarised Power of Attorney, your company's board resolution, four specimens of the mark, and, for foreign applicants, a certified copy of your home registration certificate.
4. File the application at the DoI. Submit your documents and the government application fee. The Department will issue an acknowledgment with a filing number.
5. Examination. The DoI examiner reviews your mark for distinctiveness and conflicts with existing registered marks. If there's an objection, you'll have a chance to respond and defend your application.
6. Publication and opposition. If your mark passes examination, the DoI publishes it in the Industrial Property Bulletin. There is then a 90-day window during which any third party can file an opposition.
7. Registration and certificate. If no opposition is filed — or if any opposition is resolved in your favour — you pay the registration fee and receive your certificate. The entire process typically takes 12–14 months when unopposed.

What documents are needed for trademark registration in Nepal?

The document checklist is the same whether you're registering a new logo for a Kathmandu café or a heritage-inspired brand that you hope will last a century. Domestic applicants file an application form, a notarised Power of Attorney signed by the applicant and attested by two witnesses, a board resolution from the company, four copies of the trademark label, and a certificate of industry registration with the latest tax clearance letter. Foreign applicants add a notarised copy of their home-country registration certificate. Every document must be in English or accompanied by a notarised translation. Our team can help you compile these through our contact page — a small error in documentation is one of the most common causes of delay.

How long does trademark registration take in Nepal?

A straightforward, unopposed trademark registration in Nepal typically takes 12 to 14 months from filing to certificate. In favourable cases with no examiner objections and no opposition, the timeline can be as short as 6 to 8 months. The biggest variable is the opposition period: if a third party files an opposition within 90 days of publication in the Industrial Property Bulletin, the process can extend considerably while the Department of Industry's Law Division conducts its inquiry. For a fuller breakdown, see how long trademark registration takes in Nepal.

Cost factors for registering a trademark in Nepal

What you pay to register a trademark in Nepal depends on three things: the number of classes you file in, whether you're a domestic or foreign applicant, and the professional fees you choose to incur. Government fees are per class — one application equals one class equals one set of fees. Foreign applicants pay higher government rates and must file through a locally registered agent. Professional fees vary depending on whether you need help with the trademark search, document preparation, responding to examiner objections, or handling an opposition. There is no single flat price. For a current fee breakdown tailored to your situation, use our trademark fee calculator.

Common mistakes when registering a long-term brand

A mark meant to last decades needs the right start. A common mistake we see is choosing a mark that's too descriptive — "Best Beer" can't function as a trademark because it describes the product, not its source. Another is filing in the wrong class: a brewery that registers only in Class 33 for bottled beer and then opens a taproom discovers too late that it should have also filed in Class 43 for bar services. Some businesses wait to file, assuming first use gives them rights — but Nepal is first-to-file, and waiting means someone else can register your mark first. Finally, failing to renew before the 35-day post-expiry window closes is an expensive oversight. Unlike the multi-century brands that survived by renewing on time, a lapsed Nepali registration is automatically cancelled.

A realistic Nepal example: building a brand that lasts

Imagine a craft brewery in Patan called "Yeti's Breath Brewing." The founders design a simple yet distinctive logo — a stylised snow-capped peak with barley sheaves. Before printing a single bottle label, they run a trademark database search and find no conflicting marks in Class 33. They file their application with the Department of Industry, specifying the logo as a device mark and the brand name as a wordmark. The application passes examination, is published in the Industrial Property Bulletin, survives the 90-day opposition window without challenge, and receives its certificate 13 months later. Seven years on, they renew on time. If they later launch a taproom, they file a fresh Class 43 application. That's the pattern the world's oldest marks followed — consistent, renewed, enforced. Yeti's Breath could be selling beer with the same mark in 2176, and nobody in Nepal could lawfully copy it.

In short: the world's oldest trademarks — whether Bass, Löwenbräu, or Twinings — teach a lesson that applies just as strongly to a startup in Biratnagar as to a centuries-old brewery in Burton-upon-Trent. File early. Renew on time. Keep it distinctive. And if you want the legal certainty that those old brewers could only dream of, Nepal's registration system, administered by the Department of Industry, makes it possible. The only question is whether you'll take the first step.

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Ready to start building a brand that could last generations? Search the Nepal trademark database to see if your mark is available, use our fee calculator to estimate costs, or contact our team to begin your application with the Department of Industry today.