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Wondering if Keep Calm sayings are trademarked? You know the ones I’m talking about – Keep Calm and Carry On, Keep Calm and Use Glitter, Keep Calm and (insert anything here).
Where Did Keep Calm Sayings Come From?
Keep Calm sayings originated in the late 1930’s and were commissioned by Britain’s Ministry of Information. The original saying, Keep Calm and Carry On, began in Britain during WWII as a morale booster for soldiers.
The Keep Calm and Carry On posters were to be hung when Germany invaded Britain. Since Germany never invaded Britain, these posters were mostly destroyed when the war ended.
Are Keep Calm Sayings Trademarked?
Keep Calm and Carry On is currently in the public domain.
However, some spinoffs of Keep Calm sayings have been trademarked. A few examples: Keep Calm and Camp On is trademarked. Keep Calm and Roll On is trademarked. And, Keep Calm and Self Fund is also trademarked.
Before you use a Keep Calm saying, you need to check the TESS database for potential trademark infringements. Don’t know how to check the TESS database? Read my tutorial.
Since 2015, Christine Schinagl has been helping crafters start and run craft businesses through her blog, Cutting for Business. As a Silhouette and Cricut crafter herself, she has a unique take on what works and what doesn’t work in the craft business world. She also enjoys teaching other crafters how to create digital SVG designs, available through the Design with Me series.